PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masahiko Akinawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franklin comes to the cage accompanied by Sandstorm. Akinawa has chosen Boots Randolph - Yakety Sax as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Franklin
vs
Akinawa

185 cm
18
195 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

184 cm
21
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Team S.W.A.T.

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anderson Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Masahiko Akinawa!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akinawa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Franklin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Akinawa wants to sweep but no luck.

Franklin stands up from Akinawa's guard - Franklin perhaps looking for a knockout.

Franklin clinches up against the cage.
Akinawa is trying to break free.
Franklin throws an elbow but it misses.
Akinawa is working for takedown but Franklin is calmly controlling the position for now.
Franklin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akinawa tries to clinch but Franklin is having none of it.
Franklin lands a head shot.
Akinawa tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Franklin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Akinawa has had enough of the clinch but Franklin keeps him there for the moment.
Franklin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Franklin manages to break the clinch.
Akinawa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Franklin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Akinawa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Akinawa tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Franklin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akinawa is trying to control but can't.
Franklin has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Franklin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Poor strikes thrown by Franklin there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Franklin goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Akinawa turns into him and now he's in Franklin's guard.
Franklin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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.

Franklin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Franklin working a defensive guard here.
Franklin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Franklin is breathing heavily.
Akinawa trying to control but Franklin is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin trying to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Franklin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Akinawa lands a body punch.
Akinawa goes for a takedown attempt but Franklin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A punch combination from Akinawa misses.
Franklin keeps the fight on the outside.
Akinawa is looking to clinch but Franklin is avoiding it.

Franklin has Akinawa up against the cage in a clinch.
Franklin stalling.
Akinawa fails to pull guard.
Anderson Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masahiko Akinawa.
Franklin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Akinawa is trying to break free.
Franklin is looking to break free of the clinch but Akinawa has double underhooks.
Franklin tries to break the clinch but Akinawa is controlling the position.
Akinawa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Akinawa has had enough of the clinch but Franklin keeps him there for the moment.
Akinawa tries to break the clinch but Franklin is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akinawa is trying to break the clinch but Franklin has him pressed against the cage.
Franklin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Akinawa tries to break the clinch but Franklin is controlling the position.

Akinawa pulls guard effortlessly.
Akinawa working a defensive guard here.
Akinawa is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Franklin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Akinawa's guard.
Franklin wants to stand and escape but instead Akinawa has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Franklin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Franklin is striking but Akinawa is not phased and passes to half guard.
Akinawa wants to stand but Franklin has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Franklin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Franklin misses with a double jab
and Akinawa counters with a three punch combo that has Franklin backing up. Franklin nods at Akinawa to acknowledge the strikes.
Franklin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Akinawa to counter with a crisp jab.
Franklin throws a left and a right that both miss

and Akinawa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Franklin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Akinawa wants to break free but Franklin has control.
Akinawa is looking to break free of the clinch but Franklin has double underhooks.
Akinawa is trying to stall.
Akinawa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Franklin prevents it.
Akinawa is looking to break free of the clinch but Franklin has double underhooks.
Akinawa wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Franklin prevents a takedown attempt there.

Franklin breaks the clinch.
Akinawa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Akinawa with a poor takedown
and Franklin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Anderson Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masahiko Akinawa.

Franklin has Akinawa up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Akinawa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Franklin with a knee to the head.

Akinawa breaks from the clinch.
Franklin scores with a head kick.
Akinawa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Franklin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Akinawa walks into a left hand.
Akinawa has his takedown stuffed

and Franklin counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Franklin.

Franklin breaks the clinch.
Akinawa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Franklin counters by moving into the clinch.
Akinawa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Franklin has him pressed against the cage.
Franklin is trying to break the clinch but Akinawa has him pressed against the cage.
Akinawa leaning against his opponent.
Akinawa lands a left hand that snaps the head of Franklin backwards.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franklin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Akinawa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Franklin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Akinawa's guard.
Akinawa trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Akinawa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Akinawa doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Akinawa throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Akinawa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Akinawa trying to keep a closed guard but Franklin is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Akinawa misses with a few strikes there.
Akinawa shoots in and drives through. Franklin sprawls well.
Franklin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Franklin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Akinawa looks to clinch
and Franklin counters with a left and a right that stings Akinawa.
Akinawa throws the kick towards the body but Franklin avoids it.
Franklin throws a left and a right that both miss
and Akinawa counters with an inside leg kick.
A punch combination from Akinawa misses.
Franklin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Anderson Franklin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Franklin throws a head kick that Akinawa semi-blocks.

It looks like Masahiko Akinawa has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Franklin clinches with his opponent.

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

Franklin closes the distance and clinches.

Franklin manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franklin closes the distance and clinches.
Akinawa fails to pull guard.
Franklin taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Franklin takes the fight into the clinch.

Franklin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Franklin misses with a combination
and Akinawa counters with a three punch combo that has Franklin backing up. Franklin nods at Akinawa to acknowledge the strikes.

Franklin takes the fight into the clinch.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Franklin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Franklin misses with a combination
and Akinawa counters with a stiff right hand.

Franklin forces Akinawa back against the cage and clinches.
Franklin keeps control of Akinawa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franklin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Akinawa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Franklin.
Akinawa moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin tests Akinawa's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Franklin moves into the clinch.
Franklin prevents Akinawa from breaking the clinch.

Franklin manages to break the clinch.
Anderson Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akinawa misses with a takedown attempt

and Franklin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Franklin scores with a shot to the side of Akinawa's head.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Franklin.
Franklin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Franklin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Some wild striking there from Franklin.
Franklin misses with a double jab
and Akinawa makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Franklin throws a combination that misses
and Akinawa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franklin lands a jab-cross combination.
Akinawa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Franklin counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Franklin clinches up against the cage.
Franklin can't break the clinch.

Akinawa breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Franklin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Masahiko Akinawa's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

No joy there for Akinawa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Franklin throws a left and a right that both miss
and Akinawa counters with a left and a right... And another left! Franklin is down! He's done! The ref dives in to save him and that's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:08 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Masahiko Akinawa!