PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mohammed Franks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Thornton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mohammed Franks has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Franks
vs
Thornton

225 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
21
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 Amsterdam, Mohammed Franks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jeff Thornton!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Paul Aken and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thornton closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Franks did well to prevent Thornton getting side control.
Thornton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franks keeps working.
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.
Thornton is looking to stall here but Franks recovers full guard.
Thornton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Thornton 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 Thornton has Franks in his guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franks controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Thornton working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franks 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.
Franks stands up over Thornton, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Franks drops back, looking for a kneebar! Thornton looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Thornton looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Thornton!

Thornton trying to control the position but Franks is working away.
Franks is trying to buck Thornton off.
Franks is being controlled here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thornton looking to control but instead Franks has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Thornton wants to stand up but Franks is controlling the position.
Thornton trying to pass the guard but Franks defending well.
Franks preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Thornton wants to control but Franks is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franks is trying is best to control the position here.

Franks looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thornton trying to control the action but Franks is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Thornton looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Franks!

Franks throws Thornton to one side and escapes!

Thornton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thornton misses with a head shot. Franks uses the momentum to regain guard.
Franks seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Thornton postures up in Franks's guard and throws a big left but Franks blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Thornton decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Franks, up you get!

Thornton rushes Franks and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mohammed Franks will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thornton looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Franks regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Thornton.
Thornton tries to free his leg and advance position but Franks is retaining full guard.
Thornton wants to stand and escape but instead Franks has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Franks trying to control but Thornton is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franks looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Franks gets to his feet - Thornton follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Thornton.
Franks is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Franks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thornton.
Jeff Thornton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thornton has taken the fight to the clinch.

Thornton manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Thornton misses
and Franks counters with a left and a right that stings Thornton.
Franks tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thornton swivels and escapes.
Thornton with the counter takedown but Franks avoids it easily.

Thornton darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Thornton wants to pass to mount but Franks is defending the position.
Thornton stalling away here and it's allowed Franks to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Thornton wants to stand and escape but instead Franks has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton is looking to stand up but Franks isn't so interested in that idea.
Franks with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Thornton is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Thornton has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Franks off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Thornton stuffs the takedown attempt from Franks. Franks gets slowly back to his feet.
Thornton throws a sloppy head kick and Franks moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franks on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thornton. Thornton obviously looking to wear him down.

Franks gets caught napping as Thornton dives in and scores a takedown. Franks manages to retain guard.
Thornton is breathing heavily.
Franks is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Thornton is looking to pass into half guard but Franks pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Franks is in guard.

Franks forces his way into half guard.
Thornton is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Franks scores with a couple of nice shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franks is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Franks content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jeff Thornton will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

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

Thornton turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Franks is trying to control Thornton's posture but Thornton avoids it.

Thornton goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Franks has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Thornton but great work by Franks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thornton is not content to let Franks control the position.
Franks slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Thornton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton tries to hold on but Franks postures up.
Mohammed Franks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franks manages to capitalize on a mistake by Thornton to take his back!

Franks working for the choke.

Thornton is trying to defend against the choke here but Franks has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Franks Tightens the hold and Thornton taps out furiously! Franks displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mohammed Franks!