PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kermit Wilcox (ranked 23359 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buddy Franklin (ranked 6680 p4p, 0 weight class). Kermit Wilcox has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Wilcox
vs
Franklin

160 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

180 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kermit Wilcox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Buddy Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franklin feints and as Wilcox raises his hands in defense, Franklin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Franklin wants to control from the top but Wilcox keeps moving.

Wilcox escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Franklin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Wilcox looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Franklin passes into side control.
Wilcox tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Wilcox is trying to get back to half guard.
Wilcox manages to work his way to half guard, despite Franklin's best efforts.
Franklin trying to advance position but Wilcox counters by regaining guard.
Franklin wants to control from the top but Wilcox keeps moving.
Franklin looking to sit in guard and control but Wilcox gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilcox missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wilcox really is a fat lump.
Franklin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Franklin wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Wilcox is now in half guard.
Wilcox is thwarting Franklin's attempts to control the position.
Franklin is looking to improve his position.
Franklin is trying to maintain the position but Wilcox is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin wants to improve his position but Wilcox is controlling well.
Wilcox lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Wilcox connects with a nice short shot to Franklin's temple.
Franklin trying to control but Wilcox postures up.

Wilcox is working for a submission of some sort.
Wilcox trying to control from half guard but Franklin is working away.

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.
Franklin tries to get to full guard but Wilcox has control of the leg.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Franklin tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Wilcox is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Wilcox fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Franklin tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Franklin tries to close the distance and clinch but Wilcox swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wilcox throws a big counter combination but Franklin scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Franklin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Wilcox napping and manages to drive through into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Buddy Franklin will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Franklin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Wilcox napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Franklin wants to stand but Wilcox has his arm trapped.
Wilcox is not content to let Franklin control the position.

Franklin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilcox tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franklin goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Wilcox rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Franklin's guard! Nice work there by Wilcox!
Wilcox lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Franklin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Franklin looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Franklin trying to keep a closed guard but Wilcox is proving a slippery customer.
Wilcox lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Franklin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Wilcox manages to get himself to full guard.

Franklin wants to control from the top but Wilcox keeps moving.

Wilcox working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Franklin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Franklin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wilcox swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wilcox looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Franklin is stalling in the full guard.
Wilcox looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franklin stands up from Wilcox's guard - Franklin perhaps looking for a knockout.

Franklin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Wilcox trying to control here.
Wilcox wants to improve his position but Franklin is controlling well.
Franklin works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilcox is in all sorts of trouble here.
Wilcox takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Franklin is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Wilcox can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Wilcox wants to control but Franklin is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buddy Franklin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Franklin tries a head kick but it misses.

Wilcox closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Franklin did well to prevent Wilcox getting side control.

Franklin manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Wilcox keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Franklin taking a breather.
A head punch on the inside from Wilcox fails to land.
Franklin looking to stall.
Franklin blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilcox throws a head punch that misses.
Franklin swings wildly with an uppercut but Wilcox uses good head movement to avoid it.
Franklin is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Wilcox's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wilcox darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wilcox is trying to control. Franklin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Franklin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

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

Wilcox looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilcox trying to control the action but Franklin is working from the bottom.
Wilcox thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Franklin wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wilcox is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Franklin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Buddy Franklin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Franklin is trying to control but can't.

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

Franklin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Franklin showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Franklin lands a nice short elbow.
Franklin wants to pass to mount but Wilcox is defending the position.

Wilcox is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Franklin pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wilcox does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Franklin tries to pass to full mount but Wilcox defends it.
Franklin wants to take a breather but Wilcox is having none of it.
Franklin tries to stand and escape but Wilcox is controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wilcox regains full guard. Nicely done.
Franklin won't allow Wilcox to sweep him here.
Kermit Wilcox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Buddy Franklin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wilcox might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Franklin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buddy Franklin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Franklin 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buddy Franklin!