PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rich Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ethan Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Gray's choice of entrance music: Can't be Touched. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Ethan Gray enters the cage!

Franklin
vs
Gray

190 cm
25
288 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

195 cm
25
235 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rich Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ethan Gray!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin wants to clinch.
Gray connects with a right hand. Franklin shakes it off.

It looks like Rich Franklin has been cut.
Franklin really is a fat lump.
Nice takedown defense from Franklin. No joy for Gray on that attempt.

Franklin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gray trying to stand up but can't free himself from Franklin's guard.
Gray wants to control from the top but Franklin keeps moving.
Franklin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gray content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Gray in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Franklin looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gray passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Gray.

Gray thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Franklin manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gray's best efforts.
Franklin trying to control but Gray postures up.
Gray controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin tries to roll over but Gray keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gray missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Franklin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gray.
Gray is nestled in close to Franklin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Franklin has one foot on Gray's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Jab from Gray.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Franklin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Gray wants to control but Franklin is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin prevents Gray from improving his position.
Franklin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gray is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gray wants to control but Franklin is keeping busy.
Franklin wants to take a breather but Gray is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gray looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ethan Gray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Gray fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Franklin sprawls well initially but Gray persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gray looks gassed!
The fighters are battling for position here. Franklin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Franklin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gray won't allow Franklin to get back to his feet.
Franklin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Franklin's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franklin working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Gray dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rich Franklin's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Gray shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Franklin is trying to defend but Gray finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Franklin pushes Gray off looking to stand but Gray dives back in and keeps control.
Gray is trying to control. Franklin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Franklin has one foot on Gray's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Gray. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Franklin misses with a head kick.
Gray shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Franklin as he avoids it easily.
A shot to the liver by Gray. Beautiful body shot.
Gray tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gray fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Franklin sprawls well initially but Gray persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gray wants to stand up but Franklin has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Gray is breathing heavily.
Franklin wants to get back to full guard.
Gray performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gray trying to control the action but Franklin is working from the bottom.
Franklin moves into full guard.
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Gray from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ethan Gray was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Gray fails to land the takedown.
Franklin fails with a takedown attempt.
Gray throws a sloppy head kick and Franklin moves out of range easily.
Franklin tries to clinch but Gray moves out of range.
Gray has a takedown stuffed.
Rich Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethan Gray.

Franklin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franklin thows a huge punch but Gray dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Gray throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Franklin wants to control but Gray is keeping him busy.
Franklin is nestled in close to Gray, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gray is trying to maintain the position but Franklin is very close to passing his half guard.
Franklin wants to control but Gray is keeping him busy.
Franklin prevents Gray from standing back up.
Gray is looking to control Franklin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gray avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franklin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Franklin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Franklin decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franklin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gray has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rich Franklin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rich Franklin's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gray avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gray fails with the takedown.
Rich Franklin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Franklin blocks a head kick by Gray.
Franklin stuffs the takedown attempt from Gray. Gray gets slowly back to his feet.
Gray takes one to the side of the head.
Franklin checks the leg kick nicely there.

Franklin gets a clinch.
Franklin is trying to drag Gray to the mat but Gray just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gray is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin tries to pull guard but Gray holds him up against the cage and eventually Franklin drops back down to his feet.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gray letting Franklin take a breather here.
Gray has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Franklin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rich Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethan Gray.

Franklin breaks the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gray.
Gray takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Franklin pushes Gray up against the cage in a clinch.
Gray being controlled against the cage.
Franklin jumps guard but Gray turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gray can't get the takedown.

Franklin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Franklin doesn't manage to clinch there - Gray circles away.
Gray shoots for a double leg takedown but Franklin sprawls well. He's pushed Gray's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gray looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Franklin is fending him off so far but Gray persists. Nope, Franklin circles away and we're back to standing.
Gray tries a head kick but it misses.
Franklin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Franklin misses with a few strikes there.
Franklin is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gray sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Franklin blocks a head kick by Gray.
Franklin moves in looking to clinch but Gray pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gray throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice sprawl there from Gray as Franklin shoots in.
Franklin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gray paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gray fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Franklin avoids it really well and circles away.
Gray throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Franklin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Franklin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Franklin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gray shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Franklin shoots in looking for a takedown. Gray tries to sprawl out of it but Franklin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gray manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gray fails with a takedown attempt.
Gray avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gray connects with the punch.
Nice sprawl there from Gray as Franklin shoots in.
Gray stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gray wants it to stay on the feet.
Franklin slaps away a takedown attempt from Gray, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ethan Gray seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franklin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Gray shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rich Franklin.
I think Franklin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Ethan Gray!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Ethan Gray!
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight for Ethan Gray!

Ethan Gray wins by unanimous decision!
Ethan Gray spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.