PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rick Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Zieniek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Zieniek

185 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
23
200 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Fight 4 America

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rick Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Zieniek!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Daniel Bishop and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Franklin rushes Zieniek and presses him up against the ropes.
Franklin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Franklin can't break the clinch.

Zieniek gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Zieniek is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Franklin defends it well.
Zieniek wants to take a breather but Franklin is having none of it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zieniek in particular looking to stall.
Zieniek missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
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 wants to improve his position but Zieniek is controlling well.
Franklin is refusing to be controlled, as Zieniek sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin wants to get back to his feet.

Zieniek is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Franklin is just riding it out for now. Zieniek eventually gives up the hold.
Zieniek looks gassed!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Franklin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Zieniek sprawls well initially but Franklin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Zieniek has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Franklin is working away from the top position though.
Zieniek is refusing to be controlled, as Franklin sits in half guard.
Zieniek looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franklin stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Zieniek to get to his feet.
Franklin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Franklin jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Nice shot by Franklin.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zieniek looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Some wild striking there from Franklin.
Franklin lands a really nice looking cross but Zieniek seems unphased.
Zieniek stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Franklin.
Zieniek uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Franklin.
Franklin scores with a jab.
Zieniek fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Franklin tries to close the distance and clinch but Zieniek swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin moves in looking to clinch but Zieniek pushes him off.
Franklin scores with a crisp jab that stopped Zieniek in his tracks.
Zieniek ducks under a wild hook from Franklin.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Franklin!
Franklin closes the distance looking to clinch

so Zieniek counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Zieniek slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Franklin is trying to control Zieniek's posture but Zieniek avoids it.
Zieniek grinds an elbow into Franklin's temple.

Zieniek tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zieniek has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Zieniek wants to control but Franklin is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Zieniek in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Zieniek wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franklin keeps working.
Franklin wants to get back to his feet.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Zieniek passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Franklin!

Zieniek has hold of Franklin's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Franklin manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Zieniek swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Franklin is now in Zieniek's guard. A big mistake from Zieniek there, giving up the dominant position!
Franklin postures up.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Franklin wants to stand but Zieniek has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zieniek not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Zieniek working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Franklin has passed into half guard!
Zieniek wants to control but Franklin passes into side.
Zieniek tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Franklin presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Zieniek wants to control but Franklin is having none of it.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Franklin thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Franklin gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Franklin throws a hook to the side of Zieniek's head but Zieniek sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Franklin fails to land the takedown.
Zieniek shoots in for a double leg but Franklin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rick Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Zieniek.
Zieniek walks into a jab.
Zieniek fails with the takedown.
Good exchange - Franklin coming out on top.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Zieniek shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Franklin pinned against the cage. Franklin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Franklin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Zieniek stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Franklin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zieniek working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Franklin lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zieniek!
Franklin prevents Zieniek from getting the reversal.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Zieniek gets back to half guard.

Zieniek looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Franklin passes to side control.
Zieniek is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Zieniek's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zieniek manages to work his way to half guard, despite Franklin's best efforts.
Zieniek controlling the position well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rick Franklin will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Franklin plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Franklin lands with a slapping head kick.

Franklin closes the distance and clinches.
Zieniek keeps control of Franklin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Franklin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zieniek circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zieniek walks into a left hand.
Zieniek takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Zieniek takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Franklin throws a head kick but Zieniek moves out of range.
Franklin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Franklin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Franklin misses with a series of wild punches.

Franklin instigates a clinch.
Franklin looking for a takedown.
Zieniek is breathing heavily.
Franklin gets underhooks to prevent Zieniek's takedown attempt.
Zieniek tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Zieniek stops a takedown attempt from Franklin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zieniek tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Franklin just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Rick Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Zieniek.
Zieniek is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Franklin is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Zieniek jumps into guard, dragging Franklin to the mat.
Zieniek wants to sweep here but Franklin controlling him for the moment.
Zieniek controlling the position.

Zieniek is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Franklin wants to stand but Zieniek has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Franklin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zieniek closes the distance and clinches up with Franklin, looking for a takedown. Zieniek pushes Franklin against the ropes but Franklin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zieniek gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Zieniek gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Franklin.
Franklin throws a series of strikes that have Zieniek backpedaling.

Franklin gets a clinch.

Zieniek pulls Franklin into guard.
Zieniek working a defensive guard here.
Franklin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zieniek's guard.

Zieniek working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Franklin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Franklin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Franklin tries to stand but Zieniek is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin trying to control the position from guard on top but Zieniek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Zieniek has his foot on Franklin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Franklin works his way back into a safe position though.

Franklin decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Franklin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Franklin cracks Zieniek with a good jab.
Franklin misses with a takedown attempt - Zieniek sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rick Franklin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Franklin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Franklin scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Zieniek closes this distance looking for a takedown but Franklin circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franklin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zieniek tries to pull guard but Franklin holds him up against the ropes and eventually Zieniek drops back down to his feet.

Zieniek pulls guard.
Zieniek looking for a sweep. Not yet Zieniek, not yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zieniek is on top in guard.
Zieniek advances position into side control!
Zieniek tries to move to mount but Franklin blocks the move with his legs.
The strikes coming from Zieniek are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Zieniek is controlling him well.
Franklin tries to improve position but can't.
Franklin prevents Zieniek from improving position.
Zieniek trying to control the action but Franklin is working from the bottom.
Zieniek cracks Franklin with a big right hand but Franklin just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Zieniek looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Franklin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zieniek changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Franklin tries to avoid it but Zieniek manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Franklin to the ground. Franklin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jab from Franklin.
Franklin digs a good hook to Zieniek's body.
Zieniek takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Franklin closes the distance and clinches.

Franklin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Franklin misses with a wild combination.
Franklin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Franklin closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Franklin has taken the fight to the clinch.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Franklin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Zieniek forces Franklin back against the ropes and clinches.
Zieniek prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Zieniek prevents Franklin from breaking the clinch.
Franklin wants to get back to striking at distance but Zieniek won't allow it.
Franklin wants to break the clinch but can't.

Franklin manages to break the clinch.
Franklin is looking to slow Zieniek down with leg kicks.
Franklin swinging wilding here.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nice cross by Franklin.
Franklin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Franklin lands a nice looking body shot.

Zieniek moves into range and clinches up with Franklin.
Zieniek tries to pull guard but Franklin holds him up against the ropes and eventually Zieniek drops back down to his feet.
Franklin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zieniek has him pressed against the ropes.

Franklin pulls guard effortlessly.
Franklin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zieniek is controlling him.
Zieniek stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Franklin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Zieniek won't allow Franklin to get back to his feet.
Zieniek trying to control but Franklin is working from the bottom.
Franklin wants to stand and escape but Zieniek is having none of it.
Zieniek slips nicely into half guard.
Franklin is looking to control Zieniek's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Franklin avoid being mounted?
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zieniek connects with a nice short shot to Franklin's temple.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zieniek connects with a nice short shot to Franklin's temple.
Franklin is trying to stand back up but Zieniek is controlling him
Zieniek is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Franklin is trying to stand.
Franklin wants to improve his position but Zieniek is controlling well.

Zieniek looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Franklin showed his dominance in that final round.
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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight for Rick Franklin!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Rick Franklin!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Rick Franklin!

Rick Franklin wins by unanimous decision!