PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Saki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Franco
vs
Saki

179 cm
18
199 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan Saki!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saki closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Franco's guard.
Saki trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saki must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Franco 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.
Saki controlling from the top position.
Franco is trying to keep Saki in close.

Saki drops back, looking for a kneebar! Franco looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Franco looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Franco!
Saki tries to buck Franco off but Franco is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saki wants to control but Franco postures up.

Franco tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Franco trying to control the position but Saki is working away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Saki can do anything to dispel that myth.
Saki tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
An elbow from Franco crashes against the mat.
Saki is not content to let Franco control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saki tries to improve position but can't.
Saki seems a little lost for a moment, as Franco dominates the positioning.
Saki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Franco. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Saki wants to control but Franco postures up.
Saki wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Franco stands up and beckons Saki to his feet.
Franco tries for a takedown but Saki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Franco fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Saki sprawls well initially but Franco persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saki wants to improve his position but Franco is controlling well.
Saki is in trouble now - Franco has advanced to mount!
Franco avoids the attempt from Saki to control.
Franco tries to control but Saki wriggling away.
Saki is looking to improve his position but Franco isn't that keen on the idea.

Franco working for a submission but Saki is keeping him at bay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saki is squirming around, avoiding Franco's attempts to control the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Franco moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Saki has worked his arm free - good work by Saki!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Franco dominated that round.
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.

Franco looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Saki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Franco avoids it really well and circles away.
Franco throws a jab but it's blocked by Saki.
Saki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Saki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
James Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Saki.
Franco shoots in looking for a takedown. Saki tries to sprawl out of it but Franco keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Saki manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Some wild striking there from Franco.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saki throws a leg kick but Franco sees it coming and moves out of range.
Saki shoots in for a takedown but Franco shows good takedown defense.
Franco tries to clinch there but Saki circles away.
Franco shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Saki sprawls well. Saki wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Franco gets slowly back to his feet.
Saki slaps away a takedown attempt from Franco, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Saki closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Franco's face as Saki controls the position.
Franco is trying to improve his position.
Franco is not content to let Saki control the position.
Saki scores with a couple of short elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franco wants to control but Saki postures up.
Franco is looking to regain half guard here but Saki keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franco is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco sneaks back into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Saki in particular looking to stall.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Franco punching from the bottom.

Saki is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Franco still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Franco has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
James Franco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franco trying to control the action but Saki is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franco tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Franco has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Franco trying to control the action but Saki is working from the bottom.
Franco wants to stand but Saki is controlling his arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryan Saki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. And we move into the final round!

Saki gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Saki manages to pull guard.
Franco trying to control the position from guard on top but Saki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Saki holds on and takes a little breather.
Franco throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Saki wants to stand and escape but Franco is having none of it.

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

Franco drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Franco jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Saki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franco is looking to work some ground and pound but Saki has wrist control.
Saki wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Franco is now in half guard.
Saki has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Franco is working away from the top position though.
Franco is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco moves into full mount! Saki won't be happy about that!
Franco can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Saki is looking to escape.
A nice elbow there by Franco.
Saki is trying desperately to improve position.
Saki is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saki tries to reverse the position but Franco maintains control.
Franco controlling the pace for now.
Franco throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Franco wants to control the pace but Saki is squirming around nicely.

Franco stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Franco gets a takedown into half guard.
Franco sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Saki defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco works his way into full mount!
Franco content just to control the position here.
Franco lands a big shot there that rocks Saki but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Franco is working for a guillotine from mount but Saki frees his head quite easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Franco showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Franco 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight for James Franco!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for James Franco!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for James Franco!

James Franco wins by unanimous decision!