PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Officer Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Poncjusz Zabawka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Poncjusz Zabawka has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Officer Franklin's chin.

Franklin
vs
Zabawka

171 cm
23
142 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

163 cm
24
151 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30)
L.A. Elite Clothing Co

L.A. Elite Clothing Co

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 14 - 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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Poncjusz Zabawka!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zabawka throws a leg kick but Franklin sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Zabawka swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Franklin throws a lazy right hand but Zabawka sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Good exchange - Zabawka coming out on top.
Franklin connects with the punch.
Zabawka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zabawka takes a swing at Franklin's ribcage but misses.
Franklin feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Zabawkas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Zabawka walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Zabawka takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zabawka takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Zabawka doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Franklin takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Franklin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zabawka moves away.
Zabawka misses with a low kick.
Officer Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin scores with a sloppy right hand. Zabawka should have avoided that one.
Zabawka missing with a left hand there. Franklin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A right-left combo lands from Franklin.
Zabawka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Franklin was well out of range. Poor timing from Zabawka.
Franklin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zabawka circles away quickly and effectively.
Franklin is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Franklin dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Zabawka misses with a punch to the body.
Zabawka wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zabawka tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Franklin's elbow.
Franklin taking a breather.
Franklin working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin digs a right hand underneath Zabawka's ribcage. Zabawka let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Franklin has Zabawka pushed against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franklin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Zabawka backwards.
Franklin tries a body shot but Zabawka blocks it.
Franklin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Franklin missing with knees to the body.
Franklin swings wildly with an uppercut but Zabawka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zabawka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Franklin tries to throw a body punch but Zabawka avoids it by throwing Franklin back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Franklin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zabawka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zabawka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Franklin throws the left hand but Zabawka avoids the punch easily.
Zabawka is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nice uppercut there from Franklin.
Zabawka cracks Franklin with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Franklin lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zabawka at a distance.
Zabawka keeps the fight on the outside.
Zabawka throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zabawka shoots in looking for a takedown but Franklin manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zabawka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zabawka misses with a body kick.
A jab from Zabawka misses.
Franklin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Franklin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin wants to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zabawka moves out of range of the strikes.
Franklin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zabawka.
Franklin moves out of range as Zabawka strikes.
Franklin fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Zabawka on the side of the head.
Zabawka lands with a cross.
Franklin connects with a jab.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Franklin throws a sloppy body shot
letting Zabawka counter with a right hand.
Franklin is looking to clinch.
Zabawka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Franklin is fending him off so far but Zabawka persists. Nope, Franklin circles away and we're back to standing.
Zabawka connects with a solid leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Officer Franklin dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zabawka.
Franklin checks a low kick from Zabawka.
Franklin wants to clinch up but Zabawka keeps it at a distance.
Zabawka slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Franklin connects with a body shot that sends Zabawka's belly button to the back.
Zabawka throws a body punch but Franklin moves out of range.
Zabawka slips a jab and a cross from Franklin.
Franklin ducks under a wild hook from Zabawka.
Franklin lands a jab-cross combination.
Zabawka throws a right hand that misses
and Franklin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Zabawka misses with a hook
and Franklin counters with a stiff right hand.
Franklin bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zabawka's head backwards.
Franklin throws a big shot that misses.
Nice sprawl there from Franklin as Zabawka shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zabawka takes one to the chin there.
Zabawka lands a front kick.
Franklin scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Franklin gets caught napping as Zabawka dives in and scores a takedown. Franklin manages to retain guard.
Zabawka with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zabawka throws a big right hand that misses.
Zabawka throwing strikes from guard but Franklin blocks nicely.
Zabawka has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zabawka trying to control the position from guard on top but Franklin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zabawka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zabawka content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Franklin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Franklin managing to control the position.
Zabawka wants to pass the guard but Franklin is keeping the position.
Franklin can't keep his opponent in guard - Zabawka advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin keeping hold of Zabawka's head, controlling as best he can.
Franklin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zabawka.
Franklin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zabawka scores with a couple of nice shots.

Zabawka is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Zabawka is looking for a kimura but Franklin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zabawka to get the leverage.
Zabawka landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Franklin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zabawka is working away from the top position though.
Franklin moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zabawka postures up in Franklin's guard and throws a big left but Franklin blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franklin is adopting a defensive guard.
Zabawka trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zabawka wants to pass the guard but Franklin is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zabawka throws a big elbow that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franklin is controlling Zabawka's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Poncjusz Zabawka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zabawka misses with a takedown attempt - Franklin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Franklin lands a body shot.
Franklin feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Zabawkas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Franklin.

Franklin has Zabawka up against the cage in a clinch.

Zabawka successfully pulls guard.
Poncjusz Zabawka has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zabawka looking to control.
Franklin being controlled here momentarily.
Zabawka controls Franklin momentarily but Franklin frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabawka keeping full guard, as Franklin tries to pass.

Franklin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zabawka trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Zabawka is striking but Franklin is not phased and passes to half guard.
Zabawka trying to control here.
Franklin prevents Zabawka from improving his position.
Zabawka is pressing down on Franklin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zabawka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Franklin wants to pass the guard but Zabawka is keeping the position.

Zabawka had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Franklin defends it easily.
Franklin trying to control but Zabawka is working from the bottom.
Zabawka trying to keep a closed guard but Franklin is proving a slippery customer.
Franklin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Franklin wants to control from the top but Zabawka keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Officer Franklin wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Good leg kick by Zabawka there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Franklin lands a glancing blow to the side of Zabawka's head.
Zabawka takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Zabawka fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zabawka fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Franklin checks it well.
Zabawka takes one on the button.
Zabawka tries to work over Franklin's front leg with a kick but Franklin checks it.
Franklin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zabawka shoots in but no luck this time.
Officer Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Poncjusz Zabawka.
A decent looking cross lands there for Franklin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin tries to clinch up.
Zabawka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
No joy there for Franklin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zabawka uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Franklin.
Franklin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A punch lands to the side of Zabawka 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Franklin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zabawka moves away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zabawka misses the shot to the body.
Zabawka tries to land a front kick but Franklin steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zabawka throws a hook but Franklin avoids it easily.
Franklin stuffs the takedown attempt from Zabawka. Zabawka gets slowly back to his feet.
Franklin avoids the body shot from Zabawka.

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 Officer Franklin.
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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Officer Franklin!
Officer Franklin gave a mention to Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30) in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).