PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Brice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rickard Franzen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Brice
vs
Franzen

185 cm
21
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
195 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Brice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rickard Franzen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brice throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Franzen.
Brice definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Brice scores with a kick to the midsection.
Brice misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Franzen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Franzen wants it to stay on the feet.
Brice lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Franzen at a distance.
Franzen stuffs the takedown attempt from Brice. Brice gets slowly back to his feet.
Franzen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Brice throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Brice misses with a looping right.
A slapping body kick lands there for Franzen.
Franzen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Franzen scores with a shot to the body.
Brice is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Brice moves into the clinch successfully.
Franzen missing with knees to the body.
Brice being controlled against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brice is trying to maintain a safe position but Franzen gets an underhook and turns Brice into the cage.
Franzen swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Brice breaks from the clinch.

Franzen moves into the clinch.
Franzen slows down the pace here.
Franzen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Franzen is trying to stall.
Franzen stalls.
Brice is looking to break free of the clinch but Franzen has double underhooks.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Franzen.
Brice misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franzen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Brice has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

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

Franzen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short right from Franzen on the inside.
Brice is trying to pull guard but Franzen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Brice. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brice wants to break the clinch but can't.
Franzen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Brice being controlled against the cage.

Brice manages to break the clinch.
Brice shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Franzen as he avoids it easily.
Franzen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franzen throws a hook but Brice avoids it easily.

Franzen has closed the distance and engaged Brice in a clinch.
Brice wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Brice takes an elbow to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brice tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Franzen just stands there and leans against the cage.

Franzen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franzen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Decent striking displayed by Franzen there.
Brice drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Brice throws a left and a right that both miss
and Franzen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Brice slips under a jab.

Franzen gets the takedown into side control.
Brice is trying to control Franzen's posture but Franzen avoids it.
Franzen working the body and head with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Brice takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Franzen working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franzen lands a decent elbow from side control.
Brice tries to buck Franzen off but Franzen is having none of it.
Franzen working the head with strikes.
Brice taking punishment in the form of punches.
Franzen working the head with strikes.
Franzen scoring with punches from side control.
Brice can't do much from the bottom here.
Franzen throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Franzen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Brice taking punishment in the form of punches.
Franzen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Franzen connects with the punch.
Brice darts in looking for a takedown but Franzen gets double underhooks and turns Brice into the cage.
Brice falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Franzen to counter with a crisp jab.
Franzen scores with a nice right hand.
Franzen delivers a nice body kick.
Franzen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Franzen scoring well with a low kick there.
Brice fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Franzen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Franzen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Brice backs up against the cage.
Rickard Franzen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Franzen clinches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Franzen.

It looks like James Brice has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franzen lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brice blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Franzen tries a body shot but Brice blocks it.
Franzen landing knees to the head.
Franzen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Brice is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Franzen is keeping busy.
Brice changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Franzen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Franzen thuds his right hand into Brice's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Oooooh!!! Franzen has knocked Brice down with a huge combo! Franzen steps away and waves a wobbly Brice back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Brice is rocked!
Franzen flashes Brice a smile before throwing a beast of a right hand, straight down the pipe. Brice's eyes follow the hand right onto his nose, taking in it's full glory... and then darkness. Brice crumples to the floor! He's out cold! Franzen punches the air and yells at the top of his lungs - yeeeeeeeeeeah!!!! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Rickard Franzen!
Rickard Franzen decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.