PBP Commentary

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

Franklin
vs
Hustler

151 cm
24
194 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 Los Angeles, Long Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hollywood Hustler !
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hustler will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Franklin is looking to counter the offense by Hustler and move into the clinch.

Franklin 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.

Hustler throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hustler is looking to stand up but Franklin isn't so interested in that idea.
Hustler managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hustler looking to control but Franklin passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hustler tries to roll over but Franklin keeps him under control.
Hustler keeps trying to improve his position.
Franklin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Franklin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hustler sees it coming and defends easily.
Franklin has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Hustler works to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hustler looking for a sweep. Not yet Hustler , not yet.
Franklin could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Hustler looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Franklin passes into half guard.
Franklin is thwarting Hustler 's attempts to control the position.
Hustler trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hustler can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Franklin is landing with some decent strikes but Hustler is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Franklin throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Hustler is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hustler tries to lock up and control but Franklin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hustler can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hustler takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Franklin controlling from mount.
Franklin lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hustler regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Long Franklin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hustler throws a half hearted mid kick.
Franklin seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Hustler defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Franklin.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown but Hustler shows good takedown defense.

Hustler looking to score a takedown here. Franklin is defending well but Hustler drives through and ends up in Franklin's guard.
Hustler stays in close to Franklin's body and controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hustler cracks Franklin with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hustler postures up in Franklin's guard and throws a big left but Franklin blocks it.
Hustler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hustler must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hustler advances position into side control!
Franklin is trying to get back to half guard.
Franklin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hustler can do to turn this around?
Hustler wants to control for a moment but Franklin uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hustler passes to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is squirming around, avoiding Hustler 's attempts to control the action.
Hustler with good strikes from the mount here!
Hustler lands a couple of good shots and Franklin has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Franklin manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hustler 's guard. Nice work there by Franklin.
Franklin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin throwing strikes from guard but Hustler blocks nicely.
Hustler seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Long Franklin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hustler looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Franklin passes into side control.
Hustler is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Franklin sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hustler is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franklin trying to control the position but Hustler is working away.
Hustler is looking to regain half guard here but Franklin keeps moving and retains side control.
Hustler wants to control but Franklin postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hustler dodges the ground and pound from Franklin.
Hustler is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Franklin off and has taken his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hollywood Hustler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hustler fails with a takedown attempt.
Hustler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Hustler throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Franklin tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hustler is in Franklin's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franklin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hustler landing some decent shots from guard.
Hustler looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Hustler from controlling successfully.
Hustler stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Franklin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hustler stopping the sweep attempt from Franklin.
Hustler slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Franklin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hustler 's guard.

That's two 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.
Hustler is trying to control the position but Franklin postures up.
Hustler is striking off his back. Franklin thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

Franklin is working for a submission of some sort.
Franklin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hustler defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hustler is looking to get back to full guard here but Franklin has managed to pass to side control instead.
Hustler wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Hustler manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hustler moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hustler 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.
Hustler controls Franklin momentarily but Franklin frees himself.

That's four 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franklin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Franklin blocks the body kick.
Hustler takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hustler fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hustler shoots in but no luck this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hustler displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Hollywood Hustler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hustler gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Franklin counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hustler is lucky that one didn't land flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hollywood Hustler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hustler 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hollywood Hustler !