PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shante Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pyotr Kalashnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pyotr Kalashnikov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Franklin
vs
Kalashnikov

183 cm
25
195 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

183 cm
27
185 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shante Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pyotr Kalashnikov!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kalashnikov throws a low kick but Franklin moves out of range easily.
Franklin misses with a hook.
A bone on bone clash there as Franklin blocks the leg kick.
Franklin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Franklin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kalashnikov moves away.
Franklin cracks Kalashnikov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
An inside leg kick lands from Kalashnikov.
Kalashnikov lands with a nice body punch.
Kalashnikov is looking to chop away at Franklin's legs.
Kalashnikov misses with a low kick.
Franklin lands with a shot to the body.
Kalashnikov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Franklin checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalashnikov cracks the inside of Franklin's front leg.
A clash of legs there as Franklin blocks the low kick.
Kalashnikov clobbers Franklin with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Pyotr Kalashnikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franklin avoids a punch combination nicely.

Franklin moves into the clinch.
Franklin lands a hook that snaps the head of Kalashnikov backwards.
Franklin lands a shot to the body.
Franklin works on Kalashnikov's body with a couple of short punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Franklin.
Franklin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Franklin lands a body punch.
Kalashnikov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Franklin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Franklin presses Kalashnikov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Good body shot from Franklin.
Franklin lands a body punch.
Kalashnikov takes a shot to the head.
Franklin lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kalashnikov or not.
Franklin lands a nice uppercut.
Franklin makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Franklin lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kalashnikov looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is working Kalashnikov over against the cage.
Kalashnikov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Franklin lands a left hand.
A short left from Franklin.
Franklin content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Franklin lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Franklin lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Franklin lands a body shot in the clinch.
Franklin lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kalashnikov or not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Franklin.
Kalashnikov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shante Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pyotr Kalashnikov.
Franklin works on Kalashnikov's body with a couple of short punches.
Franklin just leaning against Kalashnikov, taking a breather.
Franklin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Franklin works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Franklin.
Kalashnikov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franklin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kalashnikov backwards.
Kalashnikov fails to pull guard.
Franklin displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kalashnikov up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kalashnikov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Franklin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Franklin throws a shot to the body.
Franklin misses with a body shot.
Kalashnikov throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Franklin is working Kalashnikov over against the cage.
Franklin lands with a right to the head.
Franklin scores with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalashnikov tries to pull guard but Franklin holds him up against the cage and eventually Kalashnikov drops back down to his feet.
Franklin pressing his opponent against the cage.
Franklin lands with a right to the head.
Franklin gets through Kalashnikov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kalashnikov fails to pull guard.
Franklin lands a body shot.
Kalashnikov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Franklin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shante Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pyotr Kalashnikov.
Franklin effectively controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A right hook to the body lands for Franklin.
Franklin digs a right hand into Kalashnikov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kalashnikov's gas tank.
Franklin slowing the pace effectively.
Kalashnikov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Franklin smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kalashnikov's head backwards.
Franklin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Franklin throws a lazy right hand but Kalashnikov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Franklin on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kalashnikov with a jab.
Kalashnikov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Franklin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kalashnikov thinking.
Kalashnikov is breathing heavily.
Franklin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kalashnikov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Danga de danga de dang - Franklin scores with a four punch combination!
Kalashnikov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Franklin has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short right from Franklin on the inside.
Franklin lands a body shot in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Franklin.
Franklin scores with a hook to the body.
Franklin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A bit of stalling here from Franklin.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A right hook to the body lands for Franklin.
Franklin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Franklin digs a right hand underneath Kalashnikov's ribcage. Kalashnikov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shante Franklin dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Franklin has closed the distance and engaged Kalashnikov in a clinch.
Franklin controlling the action here for a moment.

Franklin breaks from the clinch.
Kalashnikov throws a leg kick but Franklin checks it.
Kalashnikov throws a combination that misses

and Franklin counters by clinching up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franklin scores with a hook to the body.
Franklin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kalashnikov backwards.
Franklin makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin is working Kalashnikov over against the cage.
Franklin's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Franklin works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Franklin stalls.
Franklin lands a body shot.
Pyotr Kalashnikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

Franklin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kalashnikov throws a leg kick

and Franklin moves into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Franklin.
Franklin will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kalashnikov up against the cage.
Kalashnikov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Franklin smiles and moves away.
Franklin scores with a hook to the body. Kalashnikov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kalashnikov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin scores with a three punch combo!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Franklin stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Franklin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Franklin cracks Kalashnikov with an open hand slap.
Franklin swings for the body but Kalashnikov moves out of range.

Kalashnikov gets tackled into the cage by Franklin. Franklin maintains the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Franklin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin lands a nice shot to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Franklin.
A short body shot lands from Franklin as the two fighters clinch.
Franklin leaning against his opponent.
Shante Franklin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kalashnikov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Franklin walks away with a smile on his face. Kalashnikov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Franklin takes a swing at Kalashnikov's ribcage but misses.
Kalashnikov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Franklin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Franklin connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kalashnikov. Kalashnikov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kalashnikov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shante Franklin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Franklin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

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