PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sancho Zola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shante Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zola comes to the ring accompanied by Black Crow On A Tombstone by Satyricon. Shante Franklin 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!

Zola
vs
Franklin

185 cm
30
197 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

183 cm
26
195 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sancho Zola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shante Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Sosuke Kotani and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zola throws a right hand that misses
and Franklin counters with a left and a right that stings Zola.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Zola!
Zola fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Franklin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zola just misses with a punch to the body.
Franklin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Franklin digs a good body shot into Zola's ribs.
Zola fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zola uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Franklin.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zola is defended easily by Franklin.
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!
Zola shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franklin but Franklin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sancho Zola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franklin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Zola with that takedown attempt.
Franklin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice body punch from Zola.
Franklin takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Zola works the jab nicely.
Zola looks to land a left hand but Franklin moved out of range nicely.

Franklin has Zola up against the ropes in a clinch.
Franklin wants to stall.
Zola blocks a body shot from Franklin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zola blocks an uppercut.
A short right from Franklin on the inside.
Franklin works on Zola's body with a couple of short punches.
Franklin lands an uppercut.
Zola wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zola can't break the clinch.
Franklin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Zola's elbow.
Franklin taking a breather.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zola wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zola has Franklin pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Franklin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Zola takes a shot to the head.
Franklin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zola is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Franklin pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Franklin wants to stall.
Zola is trying to break free.
Zola goes for a takedown in the clinch but Franklin prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zola has had enough of the clinch but Franklin keeps him there for the moment.
Zola is working for takedown but Franklin is calmly controlling the position for now.
Zola is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Franklin throws a head punch that misses.
Franklin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franklin misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shante Franklin will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Franklin lands a nice hook to Zola's body. Zola takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Franklin misses the shot to the body.
Franklin is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Zola rather than just go for the knockout.
Franklin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zola.
Zola takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

It looks like Sancho Zola has been cut.
Franklin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zola closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Franklin throws a body punch but Zola moves out of range.
Zola misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Franklin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zola is defended easily by Franklin.
Franklin slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zola throws a lazy right hand but Franklin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zola throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zola lunges at Franklin with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Franklin's hand.
Zola throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Franklin's waist but Franklin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zola off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sancho Zola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franklin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No luck for Zola with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zola has a takedown stuffed.
A slow jab from Zola misses its intended target.
Franklin misses with a two punch combination.
Franklin misses with an uppercut. Zola saw that one coming.
Sancho Zola is winning the standup battle so far.
Franklin connects with a jab.
Zola jabs at Franklin's body.
Zola takes a swing at Franklin's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zola misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Franklin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zola on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Zola ducks under a wild hook from Franklin.
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 rushes Zola and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Franklin manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Nice body punch from Franklin.
Zola prevents a body shot from Franklin.
Zola blocks a body shot from Franklin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zola tries to break the clinch but Franklin is controlling the position.
Franklin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Franklin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Franklin's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Franklin stalling in the clinch but Zola improves position.
Franklin is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Zola has denied him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Shante Franklin.
Zola misses with a body kick.
Franklin slaps away a takedown attempt from Zola, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Franklin cracks Zola with a right hand to the side of the head.
Franklin scores with a three punch combo!
Zola just misses with a punch to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zola ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Franklin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zola scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shante Franklin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sancho Zola's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Franklin takes a swing at Zola's ribcage but misses.
Zola misses with a wild body shot.
Zola slips under a jab from Franklin.
Franklin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zola throws a nice looking combination but Franklin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zola takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Franklin throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zola stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Franklin tries to clinch but Zola moves out of range.
Franklin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zola.
Franklin lands a jab to Zola's midsection.
Zola has a takedown stuffed.
Zola takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Shante Franklin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin lands with a shot to the body.
Franklin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zola.
Zola throws an overhand right that lands on Franklin's shoulder, as Franklin tries to avoid the shot.
Zola rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Franklin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Jab by Franklin.
Franklin cracks Zola with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Franklin misses with a two punch combination.
Zola thows a left - swing and a miss!
Franklin digs a good hook to Zola's body.
Franklin throws a series of punches but Zola moves out of range.
Zola takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Zola misses with a two punch combination.
Franklin just misses with a punch to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zola avoids the body shot from Franklin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin misses with a looping right.
Franklin swinging wildly here.
Franklin with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Franklin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zola shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Franklin as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sancho Zola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franklin stuns Zola with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Franklin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zola.
Zola fails to land the takedown.
Franklin lands a nice hook to Zola's body. Zola takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Franklin scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zola throws a hook to the side of Franklin's head but Franklin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Franklin shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Zola eats them both and turns towards Franklin to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Zola is rocked!
Franklin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zola.
Oh Zola is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Franklin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Franklin throws a body punch but Zola moves out of range.
Franklin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Franklin lands a nice shot that snaps Zola's head back.
Franklin lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zola at a distance.
Franklin misses the shot to the body.
Franklin's jab looks to have found its range, popping Zola under the eye.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franklin drops Zola with a huge uppercut! Zola drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Franklin is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Shante Franklin!