PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rich Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shim Changmin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Franklin might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to I Need a Doctor. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Franklin
vs
Changmin

196 cm
26
185 lbs
9 - 8 - 1

189 cm
26
190 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 9 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Rich Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shim Changmin!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Franklin jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Franklin throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Changmin counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Franklin throws a right hand that Changmin ducks under and follows up with a left that Changmin also avoids with ease.

Changmin gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Franklin to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Changmin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Franklin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Changmin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Changmin keeping moving, preventing Franklin from controlling successfully.
Franklin is really struggling to control Changmin but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Franklin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Franklin won't allow Changmin to sweep him here.

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.
Franklin throws a big right hand that misses.
Changmin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Franklin is controlling him.
Changmin is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Franklin throwing strikes but missing.
Franklin throws a strike but Changmin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Changmin wanted to stand there but Franklin had control of the position.
Franklin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Franklin looking to control.
Changmin wants to pass the guard but Franklin is keeping the position.
Franklin is pulling down on Changmin's head to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rich Franklin.
Some wild striking there from Changmin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Franklin is defended easily by Changmin.
Changmin misses with a wild combination.
Changmin avoids the head kick by Franklin.
Shim Changmin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franklin drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A big right from Changmin misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Changmin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Franklin looks to land a combination but Changmin avoids it well.
Franklin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Changmin fails to land with a series of punches.
Changmin misses with a double jab
and Changmin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Changmin throws a shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franklin throws a quick inside leg kick.
Danga de danga de dang - Changmin scores with a four punch combination!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Franklin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Franklin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Franklin throws a combination that misses
letting Changmin counter with a right hand.
Changmin misses with a double jab.
Franklin throws a nice looking combination but Changmin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Changmin swinging wildly here.
Franklin scores with a jab to the jaw.
Changmin misses with the combination.
Changmin leaves Franklin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Changmin misses with a few strikes there.
Decent striking displayed by Changmin there.
Franklin slips a jab and a cross from Changmin.
Franklin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Franklin misses with a two punch combination.
Changmin scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Changmin lands with a nice combination. Franklin backs away looking to recover.
Changmin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Changmin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice sprawl there from Changmin as Franklin shoots in.
Franklin misses with a lunging right hand
and Changmin counters with a one-two to the body.
Changmin goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Changmin swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Changmin throws a series of punches but Franklin moves out of range.
Shim Changmin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Changmin scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Changmin throws a right hand that Franklin ducks under and follows up with a left that Franklin also avoids with ease.
Changmin throws a series of punches but Franklin avoids them all with ease.
Changmin pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Franklin back to the ropes. Changmin follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Some wild striking there from Franklin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Changmin lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Franklin closes the distance and clinches.
Franklin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Changmin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rich Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franklin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Changmin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Franklin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Changmin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Franklin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shim Changmin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Changmin throws a right and a left that Franklin avoids nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Franklin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Franklin slips a jab and a cross from Changmin.
Changmin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Changmin feints a jab promting Franklin to slip. Changmin then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Franklin slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Changmin throws a series of punches but Franklin moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Changmin misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Franklin.
Changmin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Changmin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Franklin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Franklin misses with a series of wild punches.
Changmin fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Changmin lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Franklin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Changmin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Franklin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Franklin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Franklin is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Franklin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Changmin lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Franklin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Franklin dodges the punch combination from Changmin.
Shim Changmin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Changmin.
Changmin throws a right hand that Franklin ducks under and follows up with a left that Franklin also avoids with ease.
Franklin avoids a punch combination nicely.
A left lands for Changmin.
Franklin throws a sloppy head kick and Changmin moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Franklin darts in trying to clinch
letting Changmin counter with a right hand.
Changmin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Changmin darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Changmin scores with a three punch combo!

Franklin closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Changmin quickly recovers to half guard.

Franklin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Franklin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Changmin's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shim Changmin.
I think Changmin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shim Changmin!
During a confident post fight interview, Shim Changmin thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.