PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Greg Bustack (ranked 23489 p4p, 6456 weight class) and Frank Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 630 weight class). Franklin has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Frank Franklin acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Bustack
vs
Franklin

174 cm
25
166
0 - 12 - 0

190 cm
18
169
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Greg Bustack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Frank Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Summer Carpenter and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bustack moves into the clinch.
Franklin looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Bustack wants to take the fight to the mat but Franklin manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Franklin goes for a takedown attempt but Bustack pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Bustack closes the distance and pushes Franklin back into the cage.
Bustack goes for a takedown attempt but Franklin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Bustack wants to clinch up but Franklin keeps it at a distance.
Greg Bustack seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franklin keeps the fight on the outside.
Franklin changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Bustack tries to close the distance and clinch but Franklin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bustack tries to clinch but Franklin is having none of it.

Bustack moves into the clinch.
Bustack changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Franklin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Greg Bustack. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bustack has closed the distance and engaged Franklin in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bustack drops down looking for an ankle pick but Franklin pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bustack wants to clinch up but Franklin keeps it at a distance.
Bustack is looking to clinch but Franklin is avoiding it.
Bustack tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bustack is looking to clinch but Franklin is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bustack is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bustack is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Greg Bustack is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bustack fails in his attempt to clinch.
Franklin keeps the fight on the outside.
Bustack is looking to clinch.
Bustack tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Franklin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Franklin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bustack tries to clinch there but Franklin circles away.
Bustack tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Franklin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bustack fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bustack tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Franklin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bustack doesn't manage to clinch there - Franklin circles away.
Franklin keeps the fight on the outside.

Bustack clinches up with Franklin and pushes him back against the cage.
Franklin gets underhooks to prevent Bustack's takedown attempt.
Bustack is trying to drag Franklin to the mat but Franklin just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Bustack is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Franklin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Franklin 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bustack can't get the takedown.
Franklin is pressed up against the cage. Bustack has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Franklin down to the mat. Franklin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bustack fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bustack doesn't manage to clinch there - Franklin circles away.
Franklin feints the counter takedown.
Bustack tries to clinch but Franklin moves out of range.
Bustack stuffs the takedown.
Franklin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Franklin is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Bustack tries to clinch up but Franklin circles away and keeps his distance.
Bustack tries to clinch up but Franklin circles away and keeps his distance.
Franklin tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Bustack moves in looking to clinch but Franklin pushes him off.
Franklin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bustack tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Franklin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bustack moves in looking to clinch but Franklin pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franklin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bustack did well to prevent Franklin getting side control.
Franklin slows the pace down in half guard.
Franklin scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Franklin is looking for a kimura but Bustack is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Franklin to get the leverage.
Franklin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Franklin working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin slows the pace down in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Franklin lands a nice short elbow.
Franklin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Franklin is nestled in close to Bustack, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Bustack knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Franklin on the ground.
Franklin passes the guard and advances to mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Franklin looking to secure an arm triangle but Bustack defends it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Franklin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Franklin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Franklin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Franklin working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Bustack's thigh. Bustack counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Franklin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Franklin postures up in Bustack's guard and throws a big left but Bustack blocks it.
Franklin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Franklin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Frank Franklin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franklin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Franklin is stalling in the full guard.
Franklin chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Franklin working the ground and pound from side control.
Franklin lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Franklin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bustack is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Franklin content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bustack some visible discomfort.
A lull in the action here as Franklin stalls from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin lands a decent elbow from side control.
Franklin working the ground and pound from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franklin lands an elbow.

Franklin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bustack, who protects the arm well.
Franklin working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Franklin creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Bustack takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Franklin lands a nice forearm strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin scores with punches from side control.

Franklin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Franklin landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Franklin passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Bustack!
Bustack wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Franklin with good strikes from the mount here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Franklin working for a submission but Bustack is keeping him at bay.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franklin fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Franklin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Bustack closes the distance but Franklin moves to the side

and Franklin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bustack's guard.
Franklin trying to control the position from guard on top but Bustack is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franklin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bustack swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Franklin looking to sit in guard and control but Bustack gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bustack drops back looking for a leg! Franklin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Franklin manages to kick Bustack off! Bustack jumps back into Franklin's guard.
Bustack stopping the sweep attempt from Franklin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Franklin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bustack gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bustack stopping the sweep attempt from Franklin.
Franklin seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Bustack drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bustack jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bustack tries to free his leg and advance position but Franklin is retaining full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Franklin is on top in guard.

Franklin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Franklin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin controlling from the top position.
Franklin is working Bustack over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Franklin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Franklin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bustack is looking to stand up but Franklin isn't so interested in that idea.
Franklin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Franklin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin advances position into side control!
Franklin is putting a hurting on Bustack here, landing some big shots from side control.
Franklin content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

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 lands an elbow.
Bustack is trying to escape the position but Franklin is controlling the position.
Franklin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30

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