PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Franklin Worner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Walter Rothko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Walter Rothko enters the cage!

Worner
vs
Rothko

180 cm
26
130 lbs
7 - 7 - 1

178 cm
25
147 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Franklin Worner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Walter Rothko !
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rothko throws a head kick that half lands.
Rothko with a lazy takedown attempt
and Worner counters with a one-two to the body.
Worner lands a slapping body shot.
Worner blocks a head kick by Rothko .
Worner really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rothko is looking to clinch.
Worner swats away the attempt to clinch by Rothko .
Rothko shoots in for a double leg but Worner sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Worner slaps away a takedown attempt from Rothko , before circling back to the center of the mat.
Franklin Worner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Walter Rothko .
Rothko misses with a takedown attempt
and Worner counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Worner tries to clinch but Rothko moves out of range.
Worner moves in looking to clinch but Rothko pushes him off.

Worner closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rothko quickly recovers to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Worner is working for a kimura but Rothko is defending it quite comfortably.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Worner is thwarting Rothko 's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Worner seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Rothko keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Rothko slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Rothko is looking for a triangle but Worner pushes his legs off easily.
Rothko is looking to stand up but Worner isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rothko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Worner doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Worner manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rothko is pulling down on Worner's head to control his posture.
Worner landing with the ground and pound.
Rothko being controlled here, momentarily.
Worner scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worner wants to stand but Rothko is controlling his posture from full guard.
Worner postures up.
Worner slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rothko wants to stand but Worner is controlling the position.
Worner tries to free his leg and advance position but Rothko is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Worner slaps away a takedown attempt from Rothko , before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rothko tries to close the distance and clinch but Worner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Worner gets a double leg takedown into Rothko 's guard.
Worner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Worner trying to control but Rothko is working from the bottom.
Worner sitting in guard here, content to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rothko keeping full guard, as Worner tries to pass.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Worner lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franklin Worner dominated that round.
That's time! Worner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Worner tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rothko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rothko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Worner.
Rothko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Worner ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Worner scores with a takedown into Rothko 's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Worner has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rothko is proving hard to escape from.
Worner stands up over Rothko , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Worner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rothko is on top in guard.
Rothko slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Rothko seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Worner is not content to let Rothko control the position.
Worner wants to control but Rothko postures up.
Rothko advances to full mount.
Worner wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Rothko struggling to keep hold of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Worner is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Franklin Worner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Worner is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Rothko gets his way!
Worner covering up well and avoiding damage.

Rothko patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Rothko tries to keep control of the position but Worner is staying busy.

Rothko is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
I really don't envy Worner right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worner is keeping busy.
Worner is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Rothko struggling to keep hold of the position.
Worner wants to get back to his feet.
Rothko is not going to allow Worner to sit and survive in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rothko just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Let's hope that Rothko has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Rothko tries to keep control of the position but Worner is staying busy.
Rothko is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Worner tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Rothko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Worner decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rothko regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rothko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rothko striking off his back but it's not causing Worner any problems.
Worner working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rothko 's head.
Rothko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Worner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rothko on the ground.
Rothko controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Worner is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Rothko there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Rothko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Worner squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Rothko prevents Worner from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothko wants to control the pace but Worner is squirming around nicely.
Rothko tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Worner wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
I really don't envy Worner right now.
Rothko just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Worner prevents Rothko from getting a body triangle.

Rothko working for a choke but Worner is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Worner preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Rothko .
Rothko has the hooks in. Worner is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Rothko throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Rothko has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Worner has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Worner is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Worner wants to get back to his feet.

Rothko looking for the choke from the back.
Worner just trying to survive but Rothko is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Worner tries to roll but Rothko sticks to his back.
Rothko avoiding Worner 's attempts to control his hands.
Rothko is riding his opponent, not letting Worner buck him off.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Worner trying to control the position but Rothko manages to sink in the hooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Rothko really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rothko tries to clinch up but Worner circles away and keeps his distance.
Worner shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rothko as he avoids it easily.
Worner shoots in for a takedown but Rothko shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rothko is looking to clinch.

Rothko gets a clinch.
Rothko prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franklin Worner. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rothko has hold of one of Worner's legs. Worner is fighting the takedown attempt but Rothko gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Rothko wants to control from the top but Worner keeps moving.
Rothko postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Worner wants to improve his position but instead Rothko has moved into half guard.
Rothko works his way into full mount!
Rothko controlling the pace for now.

Rothko is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Worner to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Worner shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rothko get's back to his feet.
Rothko tries to close the distance and clinch but Worner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Rothko tries to sprawl but Worner drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Worner is looking for a kimura but Rothko is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Worner to get the leverage.
Worner looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Rothko gets full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rothko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Worner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rothko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Worner is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rothko is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Worner is aware though and is defending well.
Rothko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Worner's guard.
Worner looking for a sweep. Not yet Worner, not yet.
Rothko wants to control from the top but Worner keeps moving.
Rothko forces his way into half guard.
Rothko is keen to just control but Worner is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rothko looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rothko tries to pass to full mount but Worner defends it.
Worner is looking for a sweep. Rothko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rothko is looking to take a break and control but Worner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Walter Rothko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Rothko wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walter Rothko dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Worner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Worner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rothko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Worner tries to avoid it but Rothko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Worner to the ground. Worner escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rothko fails with the takedown.
Franklin Worner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Walter Rothko .

Worner feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Worner trying to control the position from guard on top but Rothko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rothko is trying to keep Worner in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Worner trying to control the position from guard on top but Rothko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Worner wants to stand but Rothko has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rothko is adopting a defensive guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Franklin Worner wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rothko closes the distance but Worner moves to the side

and Worner counters with a shoot takedown. Rothko fights it but they end up in guard.
Rothko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Worner manages to get himself to full guard.

Worner looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rothko passes into half guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rothko is keen to just control but Worner is a slippery customer.
Rothko uses his free foot to push down on Worner's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Worner.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rothko looking to ground and pound but Worner is blocking nicely.
Rothko throws some wild stikes that Worner manages to avoid easily.
Worner on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Worner tries to get out of the position.
Rothko unloads with some shots from mount but Worner bucks and avoids them well.
Rothko looking to control but Worner is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worner is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Rothko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rothko controlling from mount.
Rothko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rothko avoids the attempt from Worner to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Worner is trying to escape the mount.

Rothko get's back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Rothko or perhaps it was just good defense by Worner which made him look bad.
Rothko with a poor takedown
and Worner counters with a straight right hand.
Worner tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rothko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Worner scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Worner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Worner moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Franklin Worner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Walter Rothko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rothko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Worner defends it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Franklin Worner.
I think Rothko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 46:49
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 46:49
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Walter Rothko !