PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grigoriy Rasputin (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
Rasputin

190 cm
26
265 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

187 cm
25
260 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Chuck Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Grigoriy Rasputin!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paul Aken and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Franklin checks the leg kick.
Franklin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Franklin scores with a jab to the body.

Rasputin gets a clinch.
Rasputin misses with a knee strike.
Franklin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rasputin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rasputin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Franklin is defending well for now.
Rasputin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rasputin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rasputin landing knees to the head.
Rasputin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Franklin managing to block the knees to the body from Rasputin.
Rasputin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Franklin.
Franklin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rasputin looking to throw knees to the head but Franklin is blocking nicely.
Franklin blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rasputin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rasputin throws an elbow that misses.

Franklin decides to pull guard.

Franklin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rasputin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Franklin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rasputin defends well.
Rasputin wants to pass the guard but Franklin is keeping the position.

Franklin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Franklin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rasputin defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin is looking to work some ground and pound but Franklin has wrist control.
Rasputin looking to pass the guard.

Franklin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rasputin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rasputin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rasputin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Franklin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rasputin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rasputin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Franklin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Franklin scores with a shot to the body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rasputin working the ground and pound but Franklin is defending the strikes.
You can see the frustration on Franklin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rasputin trying to control the position but Franklin is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Franklin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Franklin striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Rasputin blocks the strikes from Franklin.
Franklin is looking to regain half guard here but Rasputin keeps moving and retains side control.

Rasputin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Franklin is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rasputin cracks Franklin with a big right hand but Franklin just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rasputin scores with punches from side control.
Franklin gets back to half guard.
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 Chuck Franklin will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Franklin works Rasputin's body with a nice hook.
Franklin buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Franklin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rasputin lands a nice looking body shot.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown but Rasputin shows good takedown defense.
Franklin shoots for a takedown but Rasputin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Franklin.
Franklin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rasputin throws a sloppy head kick and Franklin moves out of range easily.
Franklin moves away from the strike by Rasputin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rasputin slips under a jab from Franklin.
Rasputin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Franklin was well out of range. Poor timing from Rasputin.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rasputin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rasputin drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A looping hook to the body misses from Franklin. Rasputin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rasputin misses with a hook to the body

and Franklin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Franklin.

Rasputin has his feet on Franklin's thighs here. He's pushed Franklin off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Franklin screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Grigoriy Rasputin!
Grigoriy Rasputin thanked the fans post fight for their support.