PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shante Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donnie Darko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Donnie Darko told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Franklin
vs
Darko

190 cm
24
183 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

172 cm
26
182 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shante Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Donnie Darko!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Albert Achterberg and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Darko slips a straight right by Franklin.
Franklin misses with a wild body shot.
Franklin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shante Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Darko closes the distance and pushes Franklin back into the cage.
A short uppercut from Franklin.
Franklin is trying to force a seperation but Darko has the dominant position.
Darko is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Franklin is defending well for now.
Franklin gets underhooks to prevent Darko's takedown attempt.

Darko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Franklin slips a jab from Darko.
Franklin looks to land a combination but Darko avoids it well.
Darko takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Darko has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Franklin sends Darko crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Franklin is motioning to the referee to let Darko up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

Darko is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franklin throws a right and a left that Darko avoids nicely.
Franklin throws a right and a left that Darko avoids nicely.

Darko darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Darko is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darko trying to pass the guard but Franklin defending well.
Darko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Franklin is trying to control but can't.
Darko is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Darko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Franklin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Franklin wants to improve his position but Darko is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Darko is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Darko thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Darko throws some wild stikes that Franklin manages to avoid easily.
Darko looking to finish with strikes here!
Darko thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darko unloading with bombs!
Franklin in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Darko avoids the attempt from Franklin to control.
Darko sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Franklin tries to reverse the position but Darko maintains control.
Darko landing strikes from the mount.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Darko scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Franklin?
Franklin tries to hold on but Darko pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Darko unloads with some shots from mount but Franklin bucks and avoids them well.
Darko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Darko sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Darko throwing strikes but Franklin bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
Darko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Darko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Darko trying to control but Franklin is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franklin controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Donnie Darko will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Franklin throws a shot from downtown. Darko moves away and avoids it.
Darko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Franklin manages to avoid it.
Franklin misses with a two punch combination.
Franklin throws a right hand that Darko ducks under and follows up with a left that Darko also avoids with ease.
Darko swinging wildly here.
Darko takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A punch combination from Franklin misses.
Darko ducks right into an uppercut from Franklin.
Franklin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Darko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Darko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Franklin.
Darko slips a jab and a cross from Franklin.

Darko bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Darko.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franklin prevents Darko from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Darko in side control, throwing shots but Franklin defends.
Darko trying to control the action but Franklin is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Darko misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Darko is trying to ground and pound but Franklin uses the momentary lack of control by Darko to regain half guard.
Darko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Darko is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Franklin reverses the position - he's now on top in Darko's guard.
Franklin preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Darko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Franklin wants to pass the guard but Darko is keeping the position.
Franklin trying to control the position from guard on top but Darko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franklin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four 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.
Darko seems keen to control Franklin's posture.

Darko is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Franklin is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Shante Franklin will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Good exchange - Franklin coming out on top.
Darko tries to clinch but Franklin is having none of it.
Darko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Franklin misses with a few strikes there.
Franklin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Darko takes one to the chin there.

Darko gets a clinch.

Darko turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Darko landing a few strikes.
Darko sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Franklin is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Darko wants to control but Franklin is keeping him busy.
Franklin tries to buck Darko off but Darko is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Darko.
Franklin dodges the ground and pound from Darko.
Franklin being controlled for a moment.
Darko tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Franklin avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Darko.

That's two 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 regains half guard, as Darko was trying to land strikes.
Franklin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Darko seems to be looking for submissions.
Darko trying to pass the guard but Franklin defending well.
Darko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Darko wants to control but Franklin is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darko might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Franklin kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Darko is looking to advance position but Franklin won't allow it.
Franklin tries to get to full guard but Darko has control of the leg.
Darko is looking to take a break and control but Franklin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Franklin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Darko.
Franklin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Franklin.
Franklin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Darko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Franklin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Franklin working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Donnie Darko.
I think Darko 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Donnie Darko!