PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shaquille Oneal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Krsto Frankopan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Oneal
vs
Frankopan

217 cm
25
280 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

208 cm
19
250 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shaquille Oneal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Krsto Frankopan!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oneal misses with a few strikes there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Oneal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Frankopan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Oneal tries to get to full guard but Frankopan has control of the leg.
Oneal punching from the bottom.
Oneal flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Oneal avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Frankopan.
Frankopan trying to control the pace.
Oneal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Frankopan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Oneal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oneal has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Frankopan is working away from the top position though.
Oneal is trying to stand back up but Frankopan is controlling him
Oneal trying to hold on to Frankopan's head to control him but Frankopan postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Frankopan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Oneal did well to prevent Frankopan getting side control.
Oneal avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Frankopan.
Frankopan trying to pass the guard but Oneal defending well.
Frankopan looks gassed!
Oneal is looking to improve his position.
Oneal misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Oneal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Frankopan blocks the strikes from Oneal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Frankopan tries to pass to full mount but Oneal defends it.
Oneal wants to control but Frankopan is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oneal missing with punches from the bottom.
Oneal missing with punches from the bottom.
Oneal moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Frankopan trying to control the position from guard on top but Oneal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Frankopan throws a big right hand that misses.
Oneal trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Oneal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Frankopan wants to control from the top but Oneal keeps moving.
Oneal throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Frankopan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Oneal 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Frankopan stands up out of Oneal's guard for a moment - Oneal manages to land a nice upkick.
Oneal trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Oneal with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Frankopan can't handle though.
Oneal striking from the bottom.
Oneal throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Frankopan won't allow Oneal to sweep him here.
Oneal bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Frankopan's guard.
Oneal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Frankopan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Oneal postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Oneal lands a couple of digs.
Oneal scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oneal thows a big elbow that misses.
Oneal is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Oneal postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Oneal has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frankopan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Oneal.
Oneal postures up in Frankopan's guard and throws a big left but Frankopan blocks it.
Oneal with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Oneal scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Frankopan is trying to keep Oneal in close.
Oneal slips nicely into half guard.
Oneal winds up and cracks Frankopan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Oneal lands with a punch from half guard.
Oneal drops an elbow to the side of Frankopan's head.
Oneal working Frankopan over with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Oneal passes to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaquille Oneal dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A left and a right from Oneal both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Krsto Frankopan has been cut.
Oneal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Frankopan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Oneal throws a right hand that Frankopan ducks under and follows up with a left that Frankopan also avoids with ease.
Frankopan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Oneal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Frankopan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Frankopan shoots in and drives through. Oneal sprawls well.
Oneal lands a jab-cross combination.
Shaquille Oneal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Oneal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Frankopan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Oneal throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Oneal scores with a one two! Frankopan had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Oneal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Frankopan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Frankopan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Frankopan lands in his opponent's guard.
Oneal throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Oneal keeping moving, preventing Frankopan from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Oneal is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oneal missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Frankopan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Oneal throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Oneal makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Oneal is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Oneal postures up in Frankopan's guard and throws a big left but Frankopan blocks it.
Oneal stopping the sweep attempt from Frankopan.
Oneal scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Oneal working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Oneal working some strikes from top position.
Oneal postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Oneal chips away with some ground and pound.
Oneal postures up in Frankopan's guard and throws a big left but Frankopan blocks it.
Oneal connects with a couple of short punches.
Oneal postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Frankopan wants to get back to his feet but Oneal is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Oneal lands a couple of digs.
Frankopan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Oneal scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oneal keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Frankopan's head.
Shaquille Oneal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Oneal cracks Frankopan with a solid left hand.
Oneal makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Frankopan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Oneal.
Frankopan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Oneal cracks Frankopan with a solid left hand.
Frankopan controls Oneal momentarily but Oneal frees himself.
Frankopan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Oneal postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Frankopan has momentary wrist control but Oneal slips an elbow through the middle.
Oneal connects with a couple of short punches.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Frankopan can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oneal scoring with some ground and pound.
Oneal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Frankopan is keeping the position for now.
Oneal working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Frankopan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Oneal's guard.
Oneal wants to sweep but no luck.
Frankopan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Frankopan trying to control the position from guard on top but Oneal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Frankopan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaquille Oneal dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Krsto Frankopan's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Oneal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Frankopan fails with a takedown attempt.
Oneal throws a one two combo.
Frankopan keeps the fight on the outside.
Oneal throws a series of punches but Frankopan avoids them all with ease.
Oneal connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That has opened up Krsto Frankopan's cut even more.
Oneal tries to close the distance and clinch but Frankopan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Frankopan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shaquille Oneal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Oneal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Oneal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Oneal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Oneal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Frankopan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Oneal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Frankopan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Oneal looks to land a combination but Frankopan avoids it well.
Oneal fails to land with a series of punches.
Sloppy strikes from Oneal. Those never looked like landing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Frankopan scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oneal is looking for a sweep. Frankopan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Oneal avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Frankopan.
Frankopan is trying to control the action in half guard but Oneal is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Oneal lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Oneal wants to control but Frankopan is keeping busy.
Frankopan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Frankopan is looking to advance position but Oneal won't allow it.
Frankopan trying to control from half guard but Oneal is working away.
Oneal landing strikes from the bottom.
Oneal gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Oneal is looking to stand up but Frankopan isn't so interested in that idea.
Frankopan trying to control the position from guard on top but Oneal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Oneal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Frankopan trying to control the position from guard on top but Oneal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Oneal working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Krsto Frankopan.
Oneal misses with a two punch combination.
Oneal is looking to clinch.
Oneal fails with an attempt to clinch.
Oneal throws a one two combo.
Frankopan walks forward, straight into a front kick from Oneal.
Oneal misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oneal tries to clinch there but Frankopan circles away.
Oneal will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Oneal moves in looking to clinch but Frankopan pushes him off.
Oneal throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Oneal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Frankopan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Oneal moves in looking to clinch but Frankopan pushes him off.
Frankopan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A combination from Oneal does no damage.
Danga de danga de dang - Oneal scores with a four punch combination!
Shaquille Oneal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Oneal slaps away a takedown attempt from Frankopan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Oneal misses with a wild combination.

Frankopan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Frankopan showed some decent athleticism there.
Oneal misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frankopan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Frankopan trying to mount his opponent but Oneal defends it.
Krsto Frankopan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Oneal is pressing down on Frankopan's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Frankopan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Oneal is trying to keep Frankopan in close.
Oneal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Frankopan throwing strikes from guard but Oneal blocks nicely.
Frankopan postures up.
Shaquille Oneal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Oneal throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Frankopan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Frankopan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shaquille Oneal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Oneal has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shaquille Oneal!