PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sid Franks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Wanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sid Franks is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Franks
vs
Wanaka

181 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

168 cm
25
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sid Franks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jimmy Wanaka!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Paul Gruel and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wanaka gets tackled into the cage by Franks. Franks maintains the clinch.

Franks breaks the clinch.
No joy there for Wanaka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wanaka misses with a combination

and Franks counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Franks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Franks shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Wanaka napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Wanaka is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Wanaka trying to remain calm as Franks controls from the top position.
Franks has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Franks working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Wanaka seems a little lost for a moment, as Franks dominates the positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franks decides to stand back up.
Nice sprawl there from Franks as Wanaka shoots in.
A combination from Wanaka does no damage.

Franks closes the distance and clinches.
Wanaka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stalling in the clinch from Franks.
Franks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Wanaka tries to break the clinch but Franks is controlling the position.
Wanaka has a couple of punches blocked by Franks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franks is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Wanaka throws an elbow but it misses.

Wanaka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wanaka with a poor takedown

and Franks counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sid Franks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Wanaka.

Wanaka has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Franks uses from the top position.
Franks 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wanaka looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Franks content to stall in guard here.
Franks seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Wanaka for as long as he can get away with.
Franks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Franks postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Wanaka is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Franks defends well.
Franks is standing up over Wanaka. Wanaka looks to escape but Franks dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Franks working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Wanaka is trying to escape the position but Franks is controlling the position.

Franks wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Wanaka, who protects the arm well.

Franks wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Wanaka, who protects the arm well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wanaka is trying to escape the position but Franks is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sid Franks dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Wanaka misses with a head kick.

Wanaka takes the fight into the clinch.
Wanaka throws an elbow but it misses.

Franks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Wanaka has managed to clinch.
Wanaka is trying to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Franks manages to break the clinch.

Franks closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Franks lands in his opponent's guard.

Franks stands up and waves to Wanaka to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wanaka shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wanaka wants to take a breather but Franks is having none of it.
Franks trying to control but Wanaka postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franks misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Wanaka is looking to take a break and control but Franks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wanaka is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Franks blocking the ground and pound.
Wanaka thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Wanaka avoids the attempt from Franks to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wanaka wants to stand but Franks is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Wanaka dominating with strikes here.
Franks avoids a series of strikes thrown by Wanaka.
Wanaka controlling the position easily from mount.
Franks working to try and regain half guard.
Wanaka throws some wild stikes that Franks manages to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wanaka lands a couple of good shots and Franks has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Wanaka somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
A lull in the action here.
Wanaka is throwing shots to the body but Franks manages to wriggle free. Wanaka pounces on him again and ends up in Franks's guard.
Wanaka with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wanaka slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Wanaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Franks decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Franks seems content to control.

Franks stands up and beckons Wanaka to join him on the feet.

Franks clinches with his opponent.
Wanaka is trying to drag Franks to the mat but Franks just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wanaka working hard to break the clinch.
Franks has Wanaka pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franks pulls guard.
Franks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Wanaka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Franks is keeping the position for now.

Wanaka drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Franks manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Wanaka has Franks in his guard.

Franks gets to his feet. Wanaka looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Wanaka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Franks sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wanaka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wanaka shoots in for a takedown but Franks shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sid Franks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Wanaka.

Franks has Wanaka up against the cage in a clinch.
Franks keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Wanaka's efforts to push away.

Franks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wanaka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franks but Franks pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wanaka lands a head kick!
Wanaka pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Wanaka moves into the clinch successfully.
Wanaka working hard to break the clinch.
Wanaka wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Franks has him pressed against the cage.

Franks gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Wanaka throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Wanaka will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wanaka is working an open guard so Franks takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Franks has taken the fight to the clinch.

Franks breaks from the clinch.
Wanaka shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Franks eats them both and turns towards Wanaka to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Franks clinches up against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Wanaka creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Wanaka goes for a takedown in the clinch but Franks prevents it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wanaka tries to break free but Franks pushes him back against the cage.
Wanaka wants to break free but Franks has control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sid Franks showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Franks 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sid Franks!