PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zion Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gonzalez has chosen St. Anger by Metallica as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Franklin
vs
Gonzalez

189 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eddie Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zion Gonzalez!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, David Schapiro and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin has a takedown stuffed.
Franklin shoots in looking for a takedown. Gonzalez tries to sprawl out of it but Franklin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gonzalez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gonzalez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Franklin.
Franklin misses with a double jab.
Franklin misses with a two punch combination.
Franklin tries to clinch up.
Franklin misses with a straight right.

Franklin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gonzalez was covering up waiting for the punch and Franklin finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Franklin decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez misses with a takedown attempt - Franklin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Franklin misses with a takedown

and Gonzalez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddie Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gonzalez has gone for a leg lock! Franklin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gonzalez's guard.

Gonzalez is looking for a triangle but Franklin pushes his legs off easily.

Gonzalez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin wants to stand but Gonzalez is controlling his posture from full guard.
Franklin trying to control the position from guard on top but Gonzalez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gonzalez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Franklin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gonzalez is keeping the position for now.
Franklin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Gonzalez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Franklin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Franklin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gonzalez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Franklin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

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.

Gonzalez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Franklin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gonzalez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zion Gonzalez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Franklin with a poor takedown

and Gonzalez counters with a takedown into side control.

Gonzalez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gonzalez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Gonzalez prevents Franklin from escaping the position.

Gonzalez goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Franklin has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gonzalez but great work by Franklin.
Gonzalez tries to bench press Franklin off him but Franklin keeps the position.
Gonzalez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Franklin stands up and beckons Gonzalez to his feet.
Franklin throws an overhand right that lands on Gonzalez's shoulder, as Gonzalez tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin lands with a nice combination. Gonzalez backs away looking to recover.
Gonzalez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Franklin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gonzalez ducks under a wild hook from Franklin.
Franklin lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gonzalez takes one to the side of the head.
Franklin scores with the left hand. Gonzalez knows he should have avoided that one.
Franklin misses with a takedown

and Gonzalez counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franklin is pushing Gonzalez's head away, looking to escape. Gonzalez manages to hold on to the position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gonzalez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Gonzalez goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Franklin has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gonzalez but great work by Franklin.
Gonzalez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gonzalez sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin wants to pass the guard but Gonzalez is defending well.

Gonzalez actively working from the bottom here.

Gonzalez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Franklin pulls his head out easily.
Gonzalez is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Franklin decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Franklin with a poor takedown

and Gonzalez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddie Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gonzalez has gone for a leg lock! Franklin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gonzalez's guard.
Franklin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zion Gonzalez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Franklin scores with a nice strike.

Franklin drives through and clinches with Gonzalez against the cage.
Franklin is trying to force a seperation but Gonzalez has the dominant position.
Franklin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Franklin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Gonzalez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Gonzalez swings around for an armbar but Franklin sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Gonzalez's guard.

Franklin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gonzalez is looking for a triangle but Franklin pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin trying to control but Gonzalez is working from the bottom.

Gonzalez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Gonzalez looking for a triangle here. Franklin is fighting it but it looks tight! Gonzalez pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Franklin is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Zion Gonzalez!