PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Bowman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shante Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bowman
vs
Franklin

182 cm
28
177 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

190 cm
26
183 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Wolfpack Threadz

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nathan Bowman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shante Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paul Aken and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bowman manages to avoid it.
Franklin throws a shot from downtown. Bowman moves away and avoids it.
A left and a right from Franklin both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Nathan Bowman has been cut.
Franklin throws a right hand that Bowman ducks under and follows up with a left that Bowman also avoids with ease.
Franklin swings widly with a right hand
and Bowman counters with a nice body shot.
Franklin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bowman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Franklin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Franklin swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Bowman shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Bowman is trying to work for a kimura but Franklin is defending well.

Bowman is working for a submission of some sort.

Bowman looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bowman seems to be working for a kimura but Franklin defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Bowman is working for a kimura but Franklin is defending it quite comfortably.
Bowman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bowman prevents Franklin from improving his position.

Bowman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowman wants to pass the guard but Franklin is defending well.
Bowman is working hard here to advance position.

Bowman is trying to work for a kimura but Franklin is defending well.
Bowman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowman looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Franklin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Bowman is looking for a kimura here.
Franklin regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Bowman.
Bowman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bowman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Bowman drops back, looking for a kneebar! Franklin looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Franklin looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Franklin!
Bowman sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Bowman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nathan Bowman's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bowman tries to bum rush Franklin with a series of wild strikes but Franklin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A big right from Franklin misses.
Bowman takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Bowman throws a right and a left that Franklin avoids nicely.
Bowman lands an overhand right.
Some wild striking there from Franklin.
Bowman shoots in looking for a takedown. Franklin tries to sprawl out of it but Bowman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Franklin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Franklin tries to bum rush Bowman with a series of wild strikes but Bowman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bowman blocks a jab.
Bowman on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Franklin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bowman.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Bowman shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Bowman was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Franklin wants to get back to his feet.

Bowman has hold of Franklin's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Franklin manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bowman working for a submission but Franklin is keeping him at bay.
Franklin is trying desperately to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bowman trying to control but Franklin is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bowman is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Franklin has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Bowman wants to take Franklin's back but he can't do it this time.

Bowman working for a guillotine from mount but Franklin is in no mood to give up.
Bowman with shots to the head and body - Franklin looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowman unloads with some shots from mount but Franklin bucks and avoids them well.
Bowman looking to finish with strikes here!
Bowman throws a sloppy strike and Franklin uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Franklin has ended up in Bowman's guard.

Bowman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Franklin defends well.
Bowman wants to sweep but no luck.
Bowman is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bowman is looking for a triangle but Franklin pushes his legs off easily.
Franklin stops Bowman from standing up.

Franklin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Bowman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Franklin is aware though and is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bowman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bowman is looking to stand up but Franklin isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Bowman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nathan Bowman's cut.
That's time! Bowman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Franklin fails to land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Franklin misses.
Bowman scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Bowman shoots for a takedown but Franklin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bowman fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Franklin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Franklin fails to land with a series of punches.
Bowman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Franklin.
Bowman tries to land a front kick but Franklin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bowman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Franklin.
A punch lands to the side of Franklin 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Franklin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bowman is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Horrible takedown by Bowman or perhaps it was just good defense by Franklin which made him look bad.
Shante Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Franklin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Shante Franklin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Franklin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Bowman can pounce on him.
Bowman misses with a two punch combination.
Bowman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bowman dodges the punch combination from Franklin.
Bowman takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Franklin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bowman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Bowman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bowman fails with a takedown attempt.
Franklin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Franklin on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Bowman tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Franklin swivels and escapes.
Bowman misses with a series of wild punches.
A combination from Franklin does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin feints a jab promting Bowman to slip. Franklin then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Bowman slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sloppy strikes from Franklin. Those never looked like landing.
Franklin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bowman throws a wild body kick that Franklin sees coming a mile off.
Franklin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Franklin bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bowman's head backwards.
Franklin misses with a two punch combination.
Franklin blocks the body kick.
Horrible takedown by Bowman or perhaps it was just good defense by Franklin which made him look bad.
Franklin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bowman counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Bowman fails with a takedown attempt.
Franklin lands a jab to the nose.
Franklin lands with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin misses with a wild combination.
Franklin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Bowman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bowman shoots in for a takedown but Franklin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Franklin fails to land with a series of punches.
Bowman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Franklin looks to land a combination but Bowman avoids it well.
Nice sprawl there from Franklin as Bowman shoots in.
No joy there for Franklin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bowman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
The fighters circle momentarily. Franklin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Franklin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bowman scores with a nice head shot.
Shante Franklin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bowman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A combination from Franklin does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin misses with a series of wild punches.
Franklin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bowman.
Bowman shoots in and drives through. Franklin sprawls well.
Franklin misses with a two punch combination.
Franklin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bowman lands a jab to the head.

Bowman closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franklin takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Bowman swings around for an armbar but Franklin sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Bowman's guard.
Nathan Bowman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Franklin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bowman manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Franklin has Bowman in his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nathan Bowman.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bowman, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Bowman!