PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Bulpin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franklin is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Hotel Califonia. Joe Bulpin has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Bulpin
vs
Franklin

180 cm
18
180 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

160 cm
20
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Bulpin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Franklin!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franklin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bulpin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Franklin looking to sit in guard and control but Bulpin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bulpin throws a big right hand that misses.
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Bulpin from controlling successfully.

Bulpin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bulpin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Franklin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Bulpin from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Franklin stuffs the takedown attempt from Bulpin. Bulpin gets slowly back to his feet.
Jack Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bulpin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Franklin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bulpin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Franklin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bulpin tries to close the distance and clinch but Franklin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Franklin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Bulpin will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Bulpin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bulpin is breathing heavily.
Franklin wants to control from the top but Bulpin keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bulpin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Franklin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Franklin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bulpin is trying to control the position but Franklin postures up.

Bulpin working for a triangle but Franklin defends it easily.
Bulpin keeping moving, preventing Franklin from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulpin controls Franklin momentarily but Franklin frees himself.
Franklin trying to control but Bulpin is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Bulpin scores a takedown into full mount!
Franklin is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Bulpin has taken his back.
Bulpin is hanging on to Franklin's back as he tries to escape.
Franklin manages to reverse the position and now he's in Bulpin's guard. Nice work there by Franklin.
Franklin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Franklin wants to control from the top but Bulpin keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jack Franklin will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Franklin feints and as Bulpin raises his hands in defense, Franklin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bulpin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bulpin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bulpin will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Franklin wants to stand and escape but instead Bulpin has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Franklin is trying to control the position but Bulpin postures up.
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Bulpin from controlling successfully.
Bulpin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Franklin is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bulpin distracts Franklin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bulpin passes into half guard.
Bulpin is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Franklin!
Bulpin tries to control but Franklin wriggling away.
Franklin taking shots to the head.

Bulpin moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Franklin has worked his arm free - good work by Franklin!

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bulpin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Bulpin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Franklin has escaped the position, nice work there.
Bulpin working the body and head with strikes.
Bulpin is looking to take a break and control but Franklin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bulpin scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bulpin looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Franklin is not content to let Bulpin control the position.

Bulpin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
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.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bulpin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Franklin struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Bulpin dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Franklin misses with a takedown

and Bulpin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Franklin's guard.
Franklin trying to keep a closed guard but Bulpin is proving a slippery customer.
Bulpin advances position into side control!
Franklin is looking to regain half guard here but Bulpin keeps moving and retains side control.
Franklin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Franklin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bulpin advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bulpin swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Franklin is now in Bulpin's guard. A big mistake from Bulpin there, giving up the dominant position!
Franklin won't allow Bulpin to sweep him here.

Franklin is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bulpin is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bulpin has escaped and now he's on top!

Bulpin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two 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.
Franklin pulls Bulpin in close to prevent any damage.
Franklin working a defensive guard here.

Bulpin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Franklin looking for a sweep. Not yet Franklin, not yet.
Bulpin trying to control the position from guard on top but Franklin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franklin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin tries to stand but can't do so whilst Bulpin controls his leg.
Bulpin misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Franklin controlling the pace.

Franklin stands up out of the half guard.

That's four 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 gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Franklin looking for a takedown.
Franklin has had enough of the clinch but Bulpin keeps him there for the moment.

Bulpin is trying to trip Franklin. He has hold of a leg but Franklin is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Bulpin persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Bulpin looking to pass the guard.
Franklin trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Bulpin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bulpin looking to pass the guard.
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Bulpin from controlling successfully.
Bulpin wants to pass the guard but Franklin is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Bulpin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bulpin 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Bulpin!