PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vallar Morghulis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franklin's entrance music is Tron Cat- Tyler, The Creator. A fine choice. Vallar Morghulis has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Franklin
vs
Morghulis

170 cm
24
145 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

169 cm
23
155 lbs
6 - 5 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Very strong

Excellent grappler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vallar Morghulis!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morghulis looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Franklin!
Franklin's coaches at Rabid Dog have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franklin is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Morghulis is working for a kimura but Franklin is defending it quite comfortably.

Franklin is defending against the submission attempts here by Morghulis.

Morghulis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Franklin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Franklin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Morghulis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Morghulis is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Franklin is just riding it out for now. Morghulis eventually gives up the hold.
Morghulis is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Franklin!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin is desperately trying to improve his position but Morghulis has a good base and remains in mount.
Franklin manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Morghulis is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Franklin sees it coming and defends easily.

Franklin actively working from the bottom here.

Morghulis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Franklin looking for submissions off his back.

Franklin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Franklin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Franklin actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morghulis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Franklin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Morghulis.
Franklin gets full guard.

Morghulis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Morghulis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Franklin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Morghulis is aware though and is defending well.

Morghulis is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Morghulis drops back looking for a leg! Franklin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Franklin manages to kick Morghulis off! Morghulis jumps back into Franklin's guard.

Morghulis avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Morghulis passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Morghulis's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Morghulis's back!

Franklin is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Morghulis preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Franklin.

Franklin looking for the choke from the back.
The referee is taking a good look at Morghulis as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Franklin!
Morghulis tries to break free.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Franklin. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

Morghulis defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Franklin's arms.

Franklin looking for the RNC.
Franklin throwing damaging strikes from the back! Morghulis could be in trouble here!

Morghulis fending off the submission attempt from Franklin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
You can see the frustration on Morghulis's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Franklin patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Morghulis tries to escape the position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Morghulis is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Franklin gets his way!
Morghulis rolls, trying to escape but Franklin keeps control of the position.
Franklin softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Franklin is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Morghulis. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Franklin has the hooks in. Morghulis is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Franklin is landing with strikes. Morghulis can't take much more of this.
Morghulis turns into Franklin and is now in his guard.

Franklin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Morghulis defends well.

Franklin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Franklin gets caught napping as Morghulis dives in and scores a takedown. Franklin manages to retain guard.

Franklin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Franklin looking for a guillotine here but Morghulis defends easily.

Morghulis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Morghulis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Morghulis is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Franklin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Morghulis defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franklin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Morghulis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Franklin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
James Franklin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Franklin is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Morghulis has his hands clasped together but Franklin extends and breaks Morghulis's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Franklin.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). James Franklin!
Our winner, James Franklin, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.