PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jon Franks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Big Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Franks
vs
Joe

178 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

RAGS of a RONIN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jon Franks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Big Joe!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Damien Edna and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Franks half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Franks is trying hard to land a takedown here. Joe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Joe rushes Franks and presses him up against the cage.
Joe tries to work over Franks's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Joe lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Joe has Franks pressed against the cage, preventing Franks from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Joe has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Joe tries to land knees in the clinch but Franks avoids the damage to the body.
Franks jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Joe walks away with a smile on his face. Franks gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Franks dodges the punch combination from Joe.
Franks seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Franks moves into the clinch.
Joe tries for a takedown but Franks manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Franks.
Franks wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Joe has him pressed against the cage.
Franks working hard to break the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Joe fails to land.
Franks definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Franks is trying to drag Joe to the mat but Joe just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Franks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joe is looking for a takedown.
Franks tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Joe just stands there and leans against the cage.
Joe holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Joe has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Franks avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Franks wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Joe has him pressed against the cage.
Franks blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Franks blocks an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franks jumps guard but Joe stands there with Franks around his waist. Franks gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Joe throws a punch but it's blocked by Franks.
Joe effectively controlling the action here.
Joe looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Franks is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Joe is defending well.
Franks is trying to drag Joe to the mat but Joe just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Franks holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Joe has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Franks avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Joe works on Franks's body with a couple of short punches.
Franks is looking to break free of the clinch but Joe has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe prevents Franks from breaking the clinch.
Franks is trying to pull guard but Joe has him pressed against the cage.
Franks lands an uppercut.
Joe throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Franks blocks it with crossed arms.

Joe manages to pull guard.
Franks not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Joe looking to control.
Franks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Joe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Joe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joe can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Franks controls the pace.
Joe has control of Franks's left arm, preventing Franks from doing any damage.

Franks postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Joe is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Franks, into his guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Joe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big Joe dominated that round.
That's time! Franks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Franks fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Franks forces Joe back against the cage and clinches.
Franks jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Joe walks away with a smile on his face. Franks gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Franks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Joe circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Franks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Franks pushes Joe up against the cage in a clinch.
Joe is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Franks is defending well for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joe goes for a takedown in the clinch but Franks prevents it.
Joe with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Big Joe seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Joe trying to land knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Joe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franks is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Joe pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Joe drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Franks gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Joe throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Franks blocks it with crossed arms.
Franks gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Joe.
Franks tries to break free but Joe pushes him back against the cage.
Franks tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Franks jumps guard but Joe stands there with Franks around his waist. Franks gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Joe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Joe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Joe lands a good knee to the midsection. Franks won't want to take too many of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franks blocks an uppercut.
Joe tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Franks avoids it.
Joe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Franks is pressed up against the cage. Joe has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Franks down to the mat. Franks avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
No luck for Joe with that takedown attempt.
Franks misses with a takedown attempt

and Joe counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franks is holding on to half guard well.
Franks is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Franks is looking to control Joe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Franks avoid being mounted?

Franks actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joe winds up and cracks Franks with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Joe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Joe seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Franks has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Joe is working away from the top position though.

Joe is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Franks on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Franks knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Joe on the ground.

Joe wants to work for an arm triangle but Franks is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Franks trying to control but Joe postures up.

That's four 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.
Joe prevents Franks from standing back up.
Joe working Franks over with strikes.
Joe is looking to advance position but Franks won't allow it.
Joe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Franks defending well though.
Franks is doing well to control the position and prevent Joe from advancing to side control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Franks scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Franks closes the distance and clinches.
Franks is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Joe pulls him back up using the underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big Joe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Franks tries a head kick but it misses.
Franks shoots and misses

and Joe counters by clinching up.

Joe has hold of one of Franks's legs. Franks is fighting the takedown attempt but Joe gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Joe throws a big right hand that misses.
Joe trying to control the position from guard on top but Franks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franks is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Joe is controlling him.
Franks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joe pushing down on Franks's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Joe is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Franks is trying to maintain the position but Joe is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franks is looking for a sweep. Joe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nice strikes from Joe there.
Joe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Franks looks like he's trying to stand up.
Joe landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Joe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Franks defending well though.
Franks is trying to control but can't.
Franks is looking for a sweep. Joe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Joe works his way into side control.
Big Joe is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Joe wants to control but Franks is keeping him busy.
Joe is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Franks is looking to reverse the position.
Joe wants to control but Franks is keeping him busy.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Franks moves into range and clinches up with Joe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franks wants a takedown.
Franks misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Joe.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Franks is trying to push Joe away but Joe has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Joe is pushing Franks up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Franks wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Joe has him pressed against the cage.

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.
A nice left hand lands by Joe.
Franks drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Joe gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Franks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franks avoiding damage as Joe throws knees to the body.
Joe misses with the head strike.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Franks is trying to pull guard but Joe turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Jon Franks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franks misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Joe.

And that's the end of the fight!
Big Joe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Joe winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Big Joe!
A victorious Big Joe thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.