PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Hara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hara comes to the cage accompanied by Armin van Buuren - Sail. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hara
vs
Franklin

185 cm
24
205 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

187 cm
22
205 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Hara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hara.
Hara avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hara shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Franklin sprawls well. Franklin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hara gets slowly back to his feet.
Franklin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hara avoids a punch combination nicely.
Franklin misses with a series of wild punches.
Hara avoids a punch combination nicely.
Franklin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hara shoots for a double leg takedown but Franklin sprawls well. He's pushed Hara's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Hara. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franklin uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hara has time to react.
Hara avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Franklin. No joy for Hara on that attempt.
Nice uppercut lands for Franklin. That snapped Hara's head back.
Nice sprawl there from Franklin as Hara shoots in.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hara.
Franklin scores with a nice strike.
Josh Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice cross by Franklin.
Franklin tests Hara's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Franklin scores with a sloppy right hand. Hara should have avoided that one.
Franklin throws a right hand that Hara ducks under and follows up with a left that Hara also avoids with ease.
Franklin scores with the left hand. Hara knows he should have avoided that one.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franklin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Hara counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hara.
Hara is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Hara has gone for a leg lock! Franklin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hara's guard.
Hara not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Franklin is looking to stand up but Hara won't let him.
Franklin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hara. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hara trying to control the position.
Franklin is looking to stand up but Hara won't let him.
Franklin is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Hara trying to keep a closed guard but Franklin is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Josh Hara wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hara dodges the punch combination from Franklin.
Hara dodges the punch combination from Franklin.
No luck for Hara with that takedown attempt.
Some wild striking there from Franklin.
Hara closes the distance and clinches up with Franklin, looking for a takedown. Hara pushes Franklin against the cage but Franklin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Josh Franklin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Franklin looks to land a combination but Hara avoids it well.
Franklin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Hara closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hara is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Franklin looks calm but he's in trouble here. Hara gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Franklin is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Hara lets go of the hold and Franklin can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Josh Hara!