PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jarrod Franklin (ranked 4233 p4p, 2939 weight class) and Saidyokub Khabilov (ranked 0 p4p, 352 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Franklin
vs
Khabilov

170 cm
22
154
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
156
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jarrod Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Saidyokub Khabilov!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Paul Gruel and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Khabilov feints and as Franklin raises his hands in defense, Khabilov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Franklin pushes Khabilov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Danga de danga de dang - Franklin scores with a four punch combination!
A right-left combo lands from Franklin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khabilov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Franklin goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Khabilov misses with a takedown attempt - Franklin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Franklin misses with the combination.

Khabilov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Franklin's guard.
Khabilov stops Franklin from standing up.
Franklin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Franklin is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khabilov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khabilov tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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

Khabilov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Franklin looking for a sweep. Not yet Franklin, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franklin pushes Khabilov off and gets back to his feet.
Franklin moves in looking to clinch but Khabilov pushes him off.

Khabilov gets the takedown into side control.
Franklin is breathing heavily.
Khabilov throws an elbow but Franklin slips to the side and avoids it well.
Khabilov is looking to take a break and control but Franklin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Khabilov tries to move into full mount but can't pass Franklin's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov wants to control but Franklin is keeping him busy.
Khabilov tries to score with some ground and pound. Franklin controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Franklin pushes Khabilov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Khabilov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Khabilov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Franklin pushes Khabilov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Franklin lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Khabilov misses with a takedown attempt - Franklin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Khabilov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jarrod Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saidyokub Khabilov.
Horrible takedown attempt by Khabilov or perhaps it was just good defense by Franklin, which made it look bad.
Khabilov walks forward, straight into a front kick from Franklin.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Khabilov as he avoids it easily.
Franklin misses with a few strikes there.
Khabilov shoots in and drives through. Franklin sprawls well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Horrible takedown attempt by Khabilov or perhaps it was just good defense by Franklin, which made it look bad.
Franklin is looking to clinch.
Franklin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Franklin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khabilov shoots in looking for a takedown. Franklin tries to sprawl out of it but Khabilov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Franklin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Franklin seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Khabilov dives in and scores a takedown into Franklin's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khabilov trying to control the position from guard on top but Franklin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin working a defensive guard here.
Jarrod Franklin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franklin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Franklin prevents Khabilov from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Franklin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Khabilov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Franklin stands up and beckons Khabilov to join him on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Franklin is defended easily by Khabilov.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Franklin as he jumps to the side.
As Khabilov looks to move away, Franklin throws a big counter combo but Khabilov just gets out of the way.
Jarrod Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saidyokub Khabilov.
Khabilov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Franklin tries to avoid it but Khabilov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Franklin to the ground. Franklin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Franklin both land. Nice combination.

Khabilov shoots in and gets a takedown into Franklin's guard.
Khabilov wants to control from the top but Franklin keeps moving.

Franklin is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Khabilov presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Khabilov tries to pull guard but Franklin holds him up against the cage and eventually Khabilov drops back down to his feet.
Khabilov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Franklin's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Khabilov jumps into guard, dragging Franklin to the mat.

Khabilov pushes Franklin off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Khabilov gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khabilov wants to take a breather but Franklin is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jarrod Franklin will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Khabilov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Franklin avoids it really well and circles away.
Franklin connects with a body shot.
A left and a right from Franklin both land. Nice combination.
Nice sprawl there from Franklin as Khabilov shoots in.
Franklin scores with a spinning back kick!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Khabilov.
Jarrod Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saidyokub Khabilov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franklin lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Franklin throws a quick inside leg kick.
Franklin lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Khabilov swats away the attempt to clinch by Franklin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Khabilov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franklin tries to roll over but Khabilov keeps him under control.
Franklin is not content to let Khabilov control the position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Khabilov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is looking for a sweep. Khabilov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Khabilov trying to mount his opponent but Franklin defends it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Khabilov content to control rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Franklin looks for a takedown but Khabilov sprawls well.
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown but Franklin shows good takedown defense.
Jarrod Franklin is winning the standup battle so far.
Franklin misses with a double jab.
Khabilov shoots for a takedown but Franklin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Franklin misses its target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khabilov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Khabilov trying to control the position from guard on top but Franklin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franklin is trying to control the position but Khabilov postures up.
Khabilov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Khabilov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Khabilov prevents Franklin from improving his position.
Jarrod Franklin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Franklin wants to control but Khabilov passes into side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov trying to control the position but Franklin is working away.
Khabilov controls the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khabilov is looking to take a break and control but Franklin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Saidyokub Khabilov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franklin fails to land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jarrod Franklin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Franklin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

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