PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ben Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richie Strath (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Strath has chosen Parallel Universe as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Franklin
vs
Strath

180 cm
22
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Richie Strath!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Eliza Hachem and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strath closes this distance looking for a takedown but Franklin circles away.
Strath tries to clinch but Franklin is having none of it.
Strath fails with the takedown
and Franklin counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Richie Strath has been cut.

Franklin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Franklin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Strath is bucking up trying to escape but Franklin cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Strath is trying desperately to improve position.

Franklin working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Franklin get's back to his feet.
Strath looks to land a combination. Franklin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strath tries to clinch but Franklin is having none of it.
Richie Strath seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strath wants to clinch up but Franklin keeps it at a distance.
Franklin misses with a head kick.
Strath misses with a two punch combination.
Strath misses with a takedown

and Franklin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ben Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richie Strath.
Strath looks gassed!
Strath can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Franklin controls the pace.
Strath wants to sweep here but Franklin controlling him for the moment.
Franklin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Franklin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Strath, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franklin decides to stand back up. Franklin steps back and let's Strath get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Strath shoots in but no luck this time.
Strath shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Franklin counters with a single leg into guard. Strath didn't expect that.
Strath being controlled here, momentarily.
Franklin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Strath's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strath actively working from the bottom here.
Franklin is taking a breather. Strath says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Franklin is working for a kimura but Strath is defending it quite comfortably.
Franklin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strath on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Franklin slows the pace down in half guard.
Franklin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Strath on the ground.
Franklin trying to pass the guard but Strath defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franklin has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Franklin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Richie Strath's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Strath misses with a hook.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Strath is defended easily by Franklin.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Franklin here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Franklin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Strath looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Franklin controls the position.
Strath is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ben Franklin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Franklin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Well, if Franklin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin tries to stand and escape but Strath is controlling the position.
Franklin slows the pace down in half guard.
Franklin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Strath!
Strath tries to hold on but Franklin pushes him away.
Franklin controlling the position easily from mount.
Strath tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Franklin goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Strath is on top in guard.
Franklin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strath trying to control the position from guard on top but Franklin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strath passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Franklin tries to improve position but can't.
Franklin is trying to control Strath's posture but Strath avoids it.
Franklin holding on.

Franklin bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strath lands a glancing blow to the side of Franklin's head.

Franklin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Strath looking to control.
Strath is breathing heavily.
Franklin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Franklin stands up over Strath, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
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 is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Strath is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Franklin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Richie Strath's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Strath will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Strath misses with a double jab.
Strath shoots in for a takedown but Franklin shows good takedown defense.
Strath tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Franklin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Strath won't allow Franklin to pass to mount.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Franklin in particular looking to stall.

Franklin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Strath defends it well.
Franklin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Strath takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin prevents Strath from standing back up.
Strath on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Franklin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Franklin decides to return to a standing position.
Strath swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franklin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Franklin is struggling to control the position.

Franklin jumps into guard, dragging Strath to the mat.
Franklin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Franklin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Strath from controlling successfully.
Franklin pulls Strath in close to his closed guard and prevents Strath from doing any damage or advancing position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Strath has gone for a leg lock! Franklin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Strath's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Franklin landing with the ground and pound.
Strath is trying to keep Franklin in close.
Franklin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franklin stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Franklin walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Franklin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Franklin is putting a hurting on Strath here, landing some big shots from side control.
Strath is letting Franklin control him for a moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Franklin tries for a kimura but Strath is defending well.
Richie Strath has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ben Franklin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franklin controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Franklin!