PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rich Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bernard Watson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bernard Watson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Franklin
vs
Watson

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

180 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rich Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bernard Watson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Franklin throws a one two combo.

It looks like Bernard Watson has been cut.

Watson gets a takedown into half guard.
Watson prevents Franklin from standing back up.
Watson wants to pass to mount but Franklin is defending the position.
Franklin is staying active underneath Watson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Watson wants to pass the guard but Franklin is defending well.
Franklin wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Some wild striking there from Franklin.
Franklin misses with a wild combination.
Watson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rich Franklin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Watson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Watson content to stall in guard here.
Franklin wants to stand and escape but Watson is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is breathing heavily.
Watson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Watson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Watson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Watson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Franklin.

Watson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Watson is nestled in close to Franklin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Watson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Watson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Watson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Franklin defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Watson decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Watson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Franklin to the mat! Franklin manages to get full guard.
Franklin keeping full guard, as Watson tries to pass.
Watson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Franklin wants to stand but Watson is controlling the position.
Watson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franklin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson landing with the ground and pound.

Franklin is working an open guard so Watson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Watson moves away from the strike by Franklin.
Rich Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franklin wants to clinch up but Watson keeps it at a distance.

Franklin tries to keep at a distance but Watson has taken the fight into the clinch.

Watson pulls Franklin into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Watson is on top in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franklin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernard Watson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bernard Watson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Franklin lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Franklin.
Franklin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Franklin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Watson drives through with a takedown into guard.

Franklin kicks Watson off and gets to his feet.
Franklin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Franklin lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Watson has managed to clinch.

Watson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Watson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Watson kicks Franklin off and gets to his feet.
Franklin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Franklin misses with an uppercut. Watson saw that one coming.
Watson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Watson walks into a straight right hand from Franklin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson throws a looping overhand right but Franklin ducks down to avoid it.
Franklin stuffs the takedown attempt from Watson. Watson gets slowly back to his feet.
Franklin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Watson drops his hands momentarily and Franklin takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Watson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Watson keeps control of Franklin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Franklin wants to get back to striking at distance but Watson won't allow it.
Franklin misses with an elbow over the top.
Franklin tries to break the clinch but Watson is controlling the position.
Franklin has had enough of the clinch but Watson keeps him there for the moment.

Watson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Franklin clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Franklin trying to get back to his feet but Watson is in full control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Can Franklin hold on?! Watson is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Watson is working the ground and pound. Can Franklin escape?
Franklin has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Watson lands strikes to the head.
Can Franklin hold on?! Watson is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franklin showing good submission defense here.

Franklin is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Watson lands shots from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Franklin's body.
Watson scores with punches from the back.
A lull in the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Franklin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Watson's hands.
Watson misses with a combination
and Franklin counters with a slapping leg kick.
Franklin throws a head kick but Watson moves out of range.
Franklin clinches but Watson breaks the clinch

and Watson counters with a takedown into side control.
Franklin pushes Watson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Watson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Franklin trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Franklin taking a bit of punishment here - Watson scoring with strikes.
Watson cracks Franklin with a big right hand but Franklin just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watson is working Franklin over with some ground and pound from side control.
Watson scores with punches from side control.

Watson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Franklin, who protects the arm well.
Watson wants to control but Franklin is keeping him busy.
Watson working the body and head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin prevents Watson from moving into mount.
Franklin is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Watson has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Watson decides to stand back up. Watson steps back and let's Franklin get back to his feet.
Franklin jabs at Watson's body.

Watson instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin has had enough of the clinch but Watson keeps him there for the moment.
Franklin tries to break the clinch but Watson is controlling the position.
Franklin can't break the clinch.
Franklin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Watson has him pressed against the cage.
Watson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Franklin is trying to break free.
Franklin is trying to break the clinch but Watson has him pressed against the cage.

Watson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Franklin throws a right and a left that Watson avoids nicely.

Watson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Watson is pressing down on Franklin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Franklin is holding on for now.
Watson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watson is looking to take a break and control but Franklin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Franklin tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Watson manages to move to mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernard Watson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Watson 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernard Watson!