PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shante Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elio Mohorovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mohorovic has chosen Roots by Sepultura as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Elio Mohorovic 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
Mohorovic

183 cm
27
195 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

182 cm
27
202 lbs
20 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shante Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Elio Mohorovic!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Sosuke Kotani and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mohorovic cracks Franklin with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Franklin doesn't manage to clinch there - Mohorovic circles away.
Mohorovic jabs Franklin right on the nose. Franklin blinks but takes it well.
Franklin swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mohorovic.
Franklin wants to clinch.
Mohorovic shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Franklin as he avoids it easily.
Franklin throws out a loose jab but Mohorovic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Franklin takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mohorovic.
Franklin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mohorovic avoids the body shot from Franklin.
The fighters circling - Mohorovic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mohorovic connects with a jab.
A left and a right from Franklin both land. Nice combination.
Mohorovic shoots in for a double leg but Franklin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Franklin throws a looping overhand right but Mohorovic ducks down to avoid it.
Franklin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mohorovic.
Shante Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elio Mohorovic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mohorovic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Franklin.
Mohorovic tries for a takedown but Franklin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franklin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mohorovic.
A jab from Franklin does it's job there.

Mohorovic changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Franklin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Franklin is trying to get back to half guard.
Mohorovic tries to score with some ground and pound. Franklin controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Mohorovic tries to advance to mount but Franklin denies him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Mohorovic looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Franklin is avoiding damage well.
Mohorovic lands a decent elbow from side control.
Franklin wants to control but Mohorovic postures up.
The strikes coming from Mohorovic are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Mohorovic throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Franklin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mohorovic scoring with punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Franklin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is looking to reverse the position.
Franklin gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Mohorovic has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mohorovic is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mohorovic works his foot free and advances to mount.
Mohorovic thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Franklin regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franklin trying to control but Mohorovic postures up.
Mohorovic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shante Franklin 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 stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Franklin wants it to stay on the feet.

Mohorovic shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mohorovic stops Franklin from getting back to his feet.
Franklin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mohorovic.
Franklin wants to get back to his feet.
Franklin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Franklin.
Franklin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Franklin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mohorovic is not content to let Franklin control the position.
It looks like Franklin is going to stand back up.
Mohorovic trying to hold on to Franklin's head to control him but Franklin postures up.
Franklin stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Shante Franklin.
Franklin scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mohorovic doesn't seem bothered though.
Shante Franklin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mohorovic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franklin but Franklin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mohorovic misses with a takedown
and Franklin counters with a nice body shot.
Shante Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elio Mohorovic.
Mohorovic is breathing heavily.
A shot to the liver by Franklin. Beautiful body shot.
Franklin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mohorovic moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Mohorovic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Franklin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mohorovic manages to avoid it.
Franklin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mohorovic moves away.
Franklin feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mohorovic's calf.
Franklin misses with a wild combination.
Mohorovic misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mohorovic throws the left hand but Franklin avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is looking to clinch but Mohorovic is avoiding it.

Franklin darts in and clinches Mohorovic up against the ropes.
Mohorovic drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Franklin trying to control the position but instead, Mohorovic has worked for underhooks and has pushed Franklin into the ropes.
A nice left hand lands by Franklin.
Franklin stops a takedown attempt from Mohorovic.
Franklin lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Franklin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franklin lands a body punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Still in the clinch, Franklin scores with a nice short uppercut.
Franklin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mohorovic's elbow.
Franklin is trying to maintain a safe position but Mohorovic gets an underhook and turns Franklin into the ropes.
Franklin lands a hook to the side of the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shante Franklin dominated that second 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Franklin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
No luck for Mohorovic with that takedown attempt.
Franklin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mohorovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Franklin tries to clinch there but Mohorovic circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mohorovic is defended easily by Franklin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mohorovic.
Mohorovic circles away from the clinch attempt
and Mohorovic counters with a nice body shot.

Franklin clinches with his opponent.
Franklin is pushing Mohorovic up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Franklin can't find room to land a body shot as Mohorovic controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin tries to stall but Mohorovic uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Franklin is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mohorovic is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Franklin to the mat. Franklin regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Franklin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mohorovic's guard.
Franklin wants to stand but Mohorovic has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Franklin is stalling in the full guard.
Franklin trying to control the position from guard on top but Mohorovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Mohorovic 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.

We're going to have a standup here because Shante Franklin wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Mohorovic closes this distance looking for a takedown but Franklin circles away.
Shante Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elio Mohorovic.

Mohorovic throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Franklin tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mohorovic is in Franklin's guard.
Franklin trying to control the position here.
Franklin is trying to control the position but Mohorovic postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Shante Franklin just wasn't active enough.
Mohorovic scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Shante Franklin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shante Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mohorovic shoots for a double leg takedown but Franklin sprawls well. He's pushed Mohorovic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mohorovic dodges the punch combination from Franklin.
Mohorovic fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Elio Mohorovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franklin lands with a straight right. Mohorovic didn't see that one coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shante Franklin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Franklin, 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shante Franklin!
A victorious Shante Franklin thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.