PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Enzo Soprano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Franklin
vs
Soprano

190 cm
27
265 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

195 cm
24
279 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chuck Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Enzo Soprano!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soprano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Franklin manages to avoid it.
Soprano throws an overhand right that lands on Franklin's shoulder, as Franklin tries to avoid the shot.
Soprano thows a body shot but no joy.
Franklin takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Soprano darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Soprano misses with a looping right.

Soprano gets a clinch.
A short left from Soprano.
Soprano lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Soprano trying to control the position but instead, Franklin has worked for underhooks and has pushed Soprano into the cage.

Franklin jumps guard and drags Soprano to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Franklin is trying to control the position but Soprano postures up.

Franklin working for a triangle but Soprano defends it easily.
Soprano engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franklin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Soprano looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Soprano gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Franklin swings for the body but Soprano moves out of range.
Soprano throws a shot from downtown. Franklin moves away and avoids it.
Soprano lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Soprano misses with a hook. Franklin ducked under it nicely.
Soprano misses with a looping left.

Soprano clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin fails to pull guard.
Soprano pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Soprano lands a shoulder strike.
Soprano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Franklin is trying to pull guard but Soprano turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Franklin fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soprano lands a hook that snaps the head of Franklin backwards.
Soprano stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Franklin being controlled against the cage.
Franklin tries to pull guard but Soprano forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Franklin pulls guard successfully.
Franklin keeping full guard, as Soprano tries to pass.
Soprano controlling from the top position.
Soprano wants to stand but Franklin is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Franklin is keeping the position for now.
Soprano trying to control the position from guard on top but Franklin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Franklin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Soprano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Franklin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Soprano wants to control from the top but Franklin keeps moving.

Franklin has his foot on Soprano's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Soprano works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Franklin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Soprano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Soprano trying to control but Franklin is working from the bottom.
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.
Soprano wants to pass the guard but Franklin is keeping the position.

Franklin working for a triangle but Soprano defends it easily.
Soprano wants to control from the top but Franklin keeps moving.
Soprano tries to free his leg and advance position but Franklin is retaining full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Franklin trying to control the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Soprano forces his way into half guard.
Soprano is keen to just control but Franklin is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Enzo Soprano dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Soprano gets a clinch.
Franklin is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Soprano tries to land knees in the clinch but Franklin avoids the damage to the body.
Soprano drops down looking for an ankle pick but Franklin pulls his leg out and moves away.
Soprano misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Franklin drops Soprano with a nice combination! Franklin dives into Soprano's guard, looking to finish!

Soprano is rocked!

It looks like Enzo Soprano has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Franklin loads up on a big left hand. Soprano felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Franklin looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Soprano can't hide his disappointment, as Franklin celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chuck Franklin!
Chuck Franklin seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.