PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rich Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucky Robertson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rich Franklin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Franklin
vs
Robertson

196 cm
21
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

187 cm
19
195 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rich Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lucky Robertson!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franklin drives through with a takedown into guard.
Franklin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Franklin gets to his feet. Robertson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Franklin gets a clinch.

Franklin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Robertson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Robertson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Franklin circles away.
Franklin misses with a two punch combination.
Franklin throws a series of strikes that have Robertson backpedaling.
Robertson wants to clinch up but Franklin keeps it at a distance.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Franklin.
Robertson fails with the takedown

and Franklin moves into the clinch.
Robertson can't break the clinch.

Robertson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Robertson closes the distance and clinches.

Robertson manages to break the clinch.
Franklin displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Franklin scores a takedown into full mount!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Robertson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robertson wants to try and get back to his feet.
Robertson is trying to escape the mount.
Robertson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franklin punishing his opponent with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franklin breaks from Robertson's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Franklin is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Robertson is surviving well by controlling Franklin's body position as best he can.
Robertson tries to lock up and control but Franklin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Robertson really wants to buck Franklin off and get back to his feet.
Franklin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Franklin working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin lands a big shot there that rocks Robertson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Robertson working to try and regain half guard.
Robertson regains half guard.
Robertson manages to get to full guard.
Franklin is breathing heavily.
Franklin wants to stand and escape but instead Robertson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Franklin manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Robertson.
Rich Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucky Robertson.
Robertson shoots in for a takedown but Franklin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Franklin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Franklin shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Robertson is trying to defend but Franklin finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Franklin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Robertson kicks off Franklin and gets to his feet.
Franklin moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Franklin throws the kick towards the body but Robertson avoids it.

Robertson pushes Franklin up against the cage in a clinch.
Franklin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Franklin wants to break free but Robertson has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin jumps guard but Robertson stands there with Franklin around his waist. Franklin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Robertson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Franklin's elbow.
Robertson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Robertson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Franklin is trying to stand back up but Robertson is controlling him
Robertson is taking a breather. Franklin says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Franklin is not content to let Robertson control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Robertson looks to land a strike but Franklin avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Franklin dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Franklin throws a series of strikes that have Robertson backpedaling.
Franklin lands a lovely overhand right.
Franklin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Franklin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Robertson.
Franklin lands a high kick!
Franklin tries to clinch but Robertson moves out of range.
Robertson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Franklin just misses with a punch to the body.
Franklin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Robertson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Franklin tries to land a front kick but Robertson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Some wild striking there from Franklin.
Franklin misses with an attempted mid kick.
A right-left combo lands from Robertson.

It looks like Rich Franklin has been cut.
A punch combination from Franklin misses.
Franklin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Robertson counters by clinching up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robertson swings wildly with an uppercut but Franklin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Franklin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Franklin has Robertson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Robertson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Franklin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Franklin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Robertson is defending well for now.
Robertson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Franklin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Franklin throws a right and a left that Robertson avoids nicely.
Franklin keeps the fight on the outside.
Franklin throws a series of punches but Robertson moves out of range.
Franklin wants to clinch up but Robertson keeps it at a distance.
Franklin throws a right hand that Robertson ducks under and follows up with a left that Robertson also avoids with ease.
Robertson is looking to clinch but Franklin is avoiding it.
Franklin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rich Franklin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Franklin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Robertson counters with a low kick, right behind Franklin 's knee.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rich Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Robertson.
Robertson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Franklin counters by moving into the clinch.

Robertson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Robertson shoots in and drives through. Franklin sprawls well.

Robertson closes the distance and clinches.
Franklin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Robertson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Robertson breaks from the clinch.
Robertson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Robertson tries for a takedown but Franklin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Franklin avoids the body shot from Robertson.

Robertson moves into range and clinches up with Franklin.

Robertson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Robertson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Robertson looks to score with a jab to the body but Franklin is just out of range.
Franklin tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Robertson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Robertson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Franklin to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Franklin shrugs it off.

Robertson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Robertson avoids the attempt from Franklin to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robertson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Robertson content just to control the position here.
Franklin looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucky Robertson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rich Franklin's cut.
That's time! Franklin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Franklin falls off balance throwing a combination

and Robertson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Franklin's guard.
Robertson wants to control from the top but Franklin keeps moving.
Robertson looking to pass the guard.
Franklin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Robertson is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Robertson looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Robertson.
Robertson looking to pass the guard.
Franklin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Robertson throws and elbow that misses. Franklin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Robertson's guard. Nice move by Franklin!
Robertson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Franklin manages to get himself to full guard.
Robertson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Franklin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Robertson pushes down on Franklin's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robertson trying to control from half guard but Franklin is working away.
Robertson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Robertson is keen to just control but Franklin is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Robertson is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Franklin as he works his way to full guard.
Robertson wants to control from the top but Franklin keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucky Robertson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Robertson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucky Robertson!