PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rich Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hanamichi Sakuragi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franklin comes into the arena with I Need a Doctor blaring out of the sound system. Rich Franklin could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Hanamichi Sakuragi's chin.

Franklin
vs
Sakuragi

196 cm
27
185 lbs
9 - 10 - 1

190 cm
28
194 lbs
6 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Rich Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hanamichi Sakuragi!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakuragi misses with a right hand

and Franklin counters with a takedown into side control.
Franklin tries to move into full mount but can't pass Sakuragi's legs.
Franklin is looking to take a break and control but Sakuragi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Franklin throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sakuragi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Franklin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Franklin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sakuragi, who protects the arm well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sakuragi can do anything to dispel that myth.

Franklin tries for a kimura but Sakuragi is defending well.

Franklin tries for a kimura but Sakuragi is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakuragi wants to get back to his feet but Franklin drags him back down.
Franklin throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Franklin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sakuragi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Franklin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sakuragi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Franklin is trying to get an arm triangle but Sakuragi is defending well.

Franklin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sakuragi has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franklin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sakuragi has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sakuragi tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
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.

Franklin looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Sakuragi is trying to get to the ropes to help him get back to his feet.

Sakuragi is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Franklin locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Sakuragi is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rich Franklin!