PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Isreal Franks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oleksandr Petronovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Isreal Franks has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Franks
vs
Petronovich

166 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

175 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Isreal Franks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oleksandr Petronovich!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Valeri Chadov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Petronovich shoots in and bounces Franks off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Petronovich throwing strikes from guard but Franks blocks nicely.

Franks looking for subs off his back but Petronovich has passed one foot through into half guard.

Franks looking for submissions off his back.
Ground and pound from Petronovich.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petronovich is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Petronovich jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Franks manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Petronovich controlling the position from side mount.
Franks tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Petronovich is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Franks knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Franks striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

Petronovich stands up.

Petronovich closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Franks wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Petronovich has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petronovich tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Franks avoids it.

Petronovich breaks from the clinch.
Petronovich scores with a decent looking hook.
Franks fails with the takedown

and Petronovich counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Franks's guard now.

Franks has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Petronovich is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Franks.
Petronovich content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Petronovich stands up and beckons Franks to his feet.
Oleksandr Petronovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Petronovich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Franks closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Petronovich dives in and scores a takedown into Franks's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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

Franks is working an open guard so Petronovich takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Petronovich changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Franks looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Franks could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Petronovich is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Franks will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Franks tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Petronovich cracks Franks with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Petronovich has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Petronovich raining down hammerfists from mount.
Petronovich loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Franks scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Petronovich land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Petronovich stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Oleksandr Petronovich!