PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Officer Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anthony Johnson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Franklin
vs
Johnson

171 cm
23
142 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

175 cm
22
147 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30)
Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30)

1337 ANZAC

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 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Officer Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anthony Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson is looking to clinch but Franklin is avoiding it.

Franklin rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses.
Franklin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Johnsons head.
Franklin scores with a nice hook to the head.
Franklin tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Franklin back against the cage.
Franklin stalling.
Franklin avoids the elbow strike from Johnson, against the cage.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Franklin to keep the fight standing.
Johnson has Franklin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Franklin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johnson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Johnson throws an elbow but misses.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Franklin.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Johnson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Franklin's brow.
Johnson being controlled against the cage.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Franklin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Officer Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Johnson.
Franklin lands a nice shot to the body.
Franklin blocks an elbow strike from Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin lands with a short shot to the head.
Johnson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Johnson lands an elbow that stopped Franklin in his tracks for a moment.
Franklin stops a takedown attempt from Johnson.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Franklin.
A short uppercut from Franklin.
Nice body punch from Franklin.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses.
Nice elbow from Johnson.
Johnson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Johnson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Johnson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Franklin's defenses.
Franklin blocks an elbow strike from Johnson.
Franklin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Johnson manages to pull guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Johnson is looking for a triangle but Franklin pushes his legs off easily.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Franklin from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin tries to stand but Johnson is controlling from the bottom.
Franklin stands and throws Johnson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson is letting Franklin control him for a moment.
Johnson defending against the ground and pound.
Franklin tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Johnson struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Franklin is staying active.
Johnson is trying to get back to half guard.
Franklin is staying tight to Johnson's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Franklin throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Franklin trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franklin working away.
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.
Franklin scores with a couple of short elbows.
Franklin trying to control the position but Johnson is working away.
Johnson is trying to improve his position.
Franklin content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johnson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Franklin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Officer Franklin will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Franklin just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson takes one on the button.
Franklin stuffs the takedown.
Franklin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Franklin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Franklin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Franklin throws a solid leg kick but Johnson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Franklin.
A looping hook to the body misses from Franklin. Johnson does a little dance to reset his feet.

Franklin forces Johnson back against the cage and clinches.
Franklin looking to stall.
Come on Franklin - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Franklin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin blocks an elbow strike from Johnson.
Franklin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Franklin is trying to stall.
Johnson misses with an elbow over the top.
Franklin blocks an elbow strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Franklin throws an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Johnson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Franklin's brow.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson throws an elbow but it misses.
Franklin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Johnson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Johnson has Franklin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Franklin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johnson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Johnson throws an elbow but misses.
Officer Franklin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Johnson pushes off an throws an elbow but Franklin leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Franklin misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands an elbow inside that Franklin shrugs off.
Johnson misses with an elbow strike.
Franklin lands a body shot in the clinch.
Franklin takes an elbow to the temple.
Johnson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Johnson blocks an uppercut.
Johnson lands an elbow inside.
Franklin looking to slow down the pace here.
Johnson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Franklin's defenses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson blocking some punches.
Franklin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johnson pushes off an throws an elbow but Franklin leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Johnson avoiding damage as Franklin throws knees to the body.
Franklin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Johnson gets control of Franklin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Johnson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Johnson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Franklin defends well.
Franklin wanted to stand there but Johnson had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is pulling down on Franklin's head to control his posture.
Johnson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Franklin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Officer Franklin just wasn't active enough.
Franklin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Johnson.
Franklin works over Johnson's head and body with a nice combination.
Officer Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson throws a head kick but Franklin moves out of range.
Franklin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Franklin checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Franklin moves into the clinch.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses.
Johnson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Johnson misses with an elbow strike.
Johnson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Come on Franklin - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Franklin blocks an elbow strike from Johnson.
Johnson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Johnson misses with an elbow strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice elbow from Johnson.
Franklin lands with a left to the head.
Franklin avoids the elbow strike from Johnson, against the cage.
Franklin blocks an elbow strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Johnson as Franklin tries to tie him up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Officer Franklin dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Franklin pushes him off.
Johnson shoots in but no luck this time.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johnson.
Johnson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Franklin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Franklin throws out the jab.
Franklin works the jab nicely.
Franklin lands with an uppercut that bounces Johnson off the cage and back into range.
Franklin feints a jab promting Johnson to slip. Franklin then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Johnson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
An inside leg kick from Johnson misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Franklin gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Johnson to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson looking to pass the guard.
Johnson pushes down on Franklin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Johnson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Johnson is looking for a kimura but Franklin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Johnson to get the leverage.
Anthony Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is trying to get back to full guard.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but Franklin defending well.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Franklin has managed to free his arm - good work.

Johnson seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Franklin has recovered full guard.
Johnson passes Franklin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control but Franklin is keeping him busy.
Johnson is thwarting Franklin's attempts to control the position.
Johnson wants to take a breather but Franklin is having none of it.

Johnson is looking for a kimura here.

Johnson seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin won't allow Johnson to pass to mount.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Franklin's head.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Franklin's head.
Officer Franklin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Franklin controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Johnson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Franklin has managed to free his arm - good work.

Johnson is working for a submission of some sort.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Franklin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Officer Franklin!
Officer Franklin very nearly forgot to thank Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30) amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.