PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Stonefield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh Franklin could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Nate Stonefield's chin.

Franklin
vs
Stonefield

187 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nate Stonefield!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin has a takedown stuffed.
A left and a right from Franklin both land. Nice combination.
Franklin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Franklin.
Stonefield wants to get back to his feet.
Stonefield takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stonefield is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Franklin is controlling him well.
Franklin landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Franklin is looking to take a break and control but Stonefield is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Franklin throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Franklin is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Stonefield's shoulder. That is not cool.
Stonefield tries to escape but Franklin is in control.

Stonefield throws Franklin to one side and escapes!
Nate Stonefield seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice sprawl there from Stonefield as Franklin shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stonefield smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Franklin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stonefield.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Franklin.

Franklin decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Stonefield displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Franklin.

Stonefield gets caught napping as Franklin dives in and scores a takedown. Stonefield manages to retain guard.
Franklin cracks Stonefield with a solid left hand.
Franklin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Franklin scoring with punches to the head and body.
Franklin throwing strikes from guard but Stonefield blocks nicely.
Stonefield wants to stand and escape but Franklin is having none of it.

Stonefield has his feet on Franklin's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Franklin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Franklin lands in his opponent's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Stonefield pushes Franklin off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Stonefield looks gassed!

Franklin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stonefield did well to prevent Franklin getting side control.
Franklin stalling away here and it's allowed Stonefield to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Stonefield is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stonefield can do anything to dispel that myth.
Franklin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stonefield wants to get back to his feet but Franklin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Franklin is looking to work some ground and pound but Stonefield has wrist control.
Franklin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Franklin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin throws and elbow that misses. Stonefield uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Franklin's guard. Nice move by Stonefield!
Franklin wants to stand and escape but Stonefield is having none of it.
Stonefield wants to stand and escape but instead Franklin has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stonefield keeping moving, preventing Franklin from controlling successfully.
Stonefield is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Franklin is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Franklin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stonefield works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Stonefield is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stonefield is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Stonefield pushes Franklin off and gets back to his feet.

Franklin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Franklin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franklin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stonefield is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Franklin dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Franklin fails to land the takedown.
Stonefield is looking to clinch but Franklin is avoiding it.
Franklin blocks a head kick by Stonefield.
Good leg kick by Stonefield there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Stonefield wants to clinch.
Stonefield fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Franklin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Stonefield is not content to let Franklin control the position.
Franklin lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Stonefield down.
Stonefield is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
You can see the frustration on Stonefield's face as Franklin controls the position.
Franklin lands a decent elbow from side control.
Stonefield managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Franklin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stonefield wants to get back to his feet.
Stonefield is not content to let Franklin control the position.
Stonefield wants to get back to his feet but Franklin drags him back down.
Stonefield is breathing heavily.
Franklin trying to control the position but Stonefield is working away.
The ground and pound from Franklin seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Stonefield prevents Franklin from moving into mount.
Franklin throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Josh Franklin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franklin cracks Stonefield with a big right hand but Stonefield just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Stonefield being controlled for a moment.
Franklin trying to control the action but Stonefield is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Franklin in side control lands a decent elbow.
Stonefield is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Franklin asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Stonefield avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Franklin.
Franklin misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Franklin looks up at the clock and then as Stonefield takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Franklin smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Stonefield is not content to let Franklin control the position.
Stonefield wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Stonefield taking punishment in the form of punches.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Franklin trying to control the action but Stonefield is working from the bottom.
Franklin is chipping away with strikes.
Stonefield takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Franklin lands a decent elbow from side control.
Stonefield defending against the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stonefield is trying to buck Franklin off.
Franklin cracks Stonefield with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Franklin scores with punches from side control.
Franklin misses with the ground and pound.
Franklin cracks Stonefield with a big right hand but Stonefield just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Stonefield takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Franklin working the ground and pound from side control.
Franklin lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Stonefield down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Franklin working the ground and pound.
Franklin trying to control the position but Stonefield is working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stonefield is pushing Franklin's head away, looking to escape. Franklin manages to hold on to the position though.
Franklin is working Stonefield over with some ground and pound from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stonefield misses with a few strikes there.
Franklin shoots for a takedown but Stonefield saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Stonefield misses with a wild combination.
Franklin looks for a takedown but Stonefield sprawls well.
Stonefield tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Franklin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Josh Franklin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stonefield takes a swing at Franklin's ribcage but misses.
Franklin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stonefield misses with the combination.

Franklin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Stonefield is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Franklin has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Stonefield takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Stonefield takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Franklin trying to control the position but Stonefield is working away.

Stonefield bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Franklin shoots in looking for a takedown but Stonefield manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Franklin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Franklin dodges the punch combination from Stonefield.
Stonefield moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A left and a right from Franklin both land. Nice combination.

Franklin scores with a takedown into Stonefield's guard.
Franklin wants to control from the top but Stonefield keeps moving.

Stonefield pushes Franklin off and scrambles back to his feet.
Stonefield throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stonefield misses with a combination

and Franklin counters with a shoot takedown. Stonefield fights it but they end up in guard.
Franklin trying to control the position from guard on top but Stonefield is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Stonefield has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Franklin off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stonefield looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Franklin has a takedown stuffed.
Stonefield misses with a combination
and Franklin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Franklin misses with a takedown
and Stonefield counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Franklin is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Franklin throws a series of punches but Stonefield avoids them all with ease.
Stonefield tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stonefield throws the left hand but Franklin avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stonefield but Stonefield pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stonefield goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Franklin.
Franklin takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Franklin takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Nice body kick there by Stonefield.
A punch combination from Stonefield misses.
Stonefield misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stonefield pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Franklin misses with a double jab.
Stonefield throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The fighters circle momentarily. Stonefield darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Franklin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stonefield napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Stonefield is trying to buck Franklin off.
Franklin trying to control the position but Stonefield is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stonefield is trying to buck Franklin off.
Franklin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stonefield keeps working.
Franklin is putting a hurting on Stonefield here, landing some big shots from side control.
Franklin grinds an elbow into Stonefield's temple.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franklin lands a decent elbow from side control.
Stonefield is not content to let Franklin control the position.
Check out the look on Franklin's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Josh Franklin.
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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

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