PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rich Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tatsuya Komada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franklin comes to the ring accompanied by I Need a Doctor. Komada is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Little Busters. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Franklin
vs
Komada

196 cm
27
185 lbs
10 - 10 - 1

187 cm
28
196 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 10 - 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 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tatsuya Komada!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Franklin fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Franklin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Komada closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Franklin did well to prevent Komada getting side control.
Komada thows a huge punch but Franklin dodges it nicely.
Komada thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Franklin's head.
Komada slows the pace down in half guard.
Komada lands with a punch from half guard.
Franklin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Komada.
Komada wants to take a breather but Franklin is having none of it.
Komada thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Franklin's head.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Komada sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Franklin defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Komada sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Franklin defending well though.
Komada with the ground and pound but Franklin uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Komada loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Franklin has momentary wrist control but Komada slips an elbow through the middle.
Komada throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Komada looking to sit in guard and control but Franklin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Franklin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Franklin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Komada has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Franklin has managed to get both his arms back between Komada's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin trying to control but Komada is working from the bottom.
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.
Franklin trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Komada manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Franklin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Komada with a flurry of punches that miss.
Franklin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Komada wants to control from the top but Franklin keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Komada tries to free his leg and advance position but Franklin is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Komada keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Franklin's head.
Komada in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Franklin trying to control the position here.
Komada looking to pass the guard.
Komada looking to sit in guard and control but Franklin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Franklin throws an elbow that misses. Komada uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Franklin's guard. Nice move by Komada!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Komada throwing strikes from guard but Franklin blocks nicely.
Komada postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Komada in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Komada stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Franklin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Komada throws a big right hand that misses.
Komada postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franklin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Komada.
Franklin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tatsuya Komada dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Komada tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Franklin swivels and escapes.
Franklin moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Komada doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Franklin lands a left and a right that sends Komada crashing to the canvas! Franklin dives into mount looking to finish!

Komada is rocked!

It looks like Tatsuya Komada has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Komada tries to hold on but Franklin postures up.
Komada is still in real trouble! Can Franklin finish him?

Franklin looking for a guillotine from mount but Komada is having none of it.
Komada seems to have recovered his senses.
Franklin cracks Komada with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Tatsuya Komada has got the better of the ground game so far.
Franklin looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Komada is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

Franklin goes for an armbar but Komada turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Komada.

Franklin uses the ropes to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Komada scores with a four punch combination!
Franklin shoots in but no luck this time.
Komada swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rich Franklin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Komada misses.
Komada misses with a few strikes there.
Rich Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franklin lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Franklin throws a right hand that Komada ducks under and follows up with a left that Komada also avoids with ease.
A decent looking cross lands there for Franklin.

Komada closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Franklin did well to prevent Komada getting side control.
Komada trying to control from Franklin's half guard. Franklin has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Komada landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Komada throwing strikes but missing.
Komada looking to sit in guard and control but Franklin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Komada controls Franklin momentarily but Franklin frees himself.
Franklin wants to control from the top but Komada keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franklin has gone for a leg lock! Komada slips out almost immediately though and dives into Franklin's guard.
Komada slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sloppy strikes there by Komada.
Komada working the ground and pound but Franklin is defending the strikes.
Komada working the ground and pound.
Komada working the ground and pound from side control.
The referee asks Komada politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Komada prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin taking a bit of punishment here - Komada scoring with strikes.
Komada has knee on belly and moves into mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Komada putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Franklin taking shots to the head.
Komada lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Komada lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Franklin takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Franklin taking shots to the head.
Komada fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tatsuya Komada will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tatsuya Komada's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Franklin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Franklin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Komada throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Franklin.
Franklin blocks the body kick.
A punch combination from Komada misses.
A left and a right from Komada both land. Nice combination.
Franklin fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Komada dodges the punch combination from Franklin.
Franklin fails with an attempt to clinch.
No joy there for Komada, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Franklin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Komada was well out of range. Poor timing from Franklin.
A punch combination from Komada misses.
Franklin clobbers Komada with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Franklin throws a right and a left that Komada avoids nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Franklin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Franklin cracks a nice hook into Komada's ribs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Komada takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Franklin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Franklin lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Komada manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Franklin on his heels. He'll look to pass Franklin's guard now, I'm sure.
Komada trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Franklin wants to stand and escape but Komada is having none of it.
Komada is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Komada scoring with punches to the head and body.
Komada looking to sit in guard and control but Franklin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Komada utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin lands a couple of digs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franklin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Franklin wants to pass the guard but Komada is keeping the position.
Komada working a defensive guard here.
Franklin trying to control the position from guard on top but Komada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Komada pulls Franklin in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Komada is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Franklin is aware though and is defending well.
Franklin trying to control but Komada is working from the bottom.
Franklin throws an elbow that misses. Komada uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Franklin's guard. Nice move by Komada!
Komada stopping the sweep attempt from Franklin.
Franklin wants to stand and escape but Komada is having none of it.
Tatsuya Komada is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Komada in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
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 four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Komada.
Komada landing with the ground and pound.
Komada trying to control the position from guard on top but Franklin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Komada throws an elbow that misses. Franklin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Komada's guard. Nice move by Franklin!
Komada wants to stand and escape but Franklin is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franklin is looking to advance position but Komada has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Rich Franklin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Komada is landing with some decent strikes but Franklin is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tatsuya Komada.
I've got Komada winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tatsuya Komada!