PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cono Slash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Slash
vs
Franklin

177 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cono Slash!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Franklin!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Slash swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Franklin wants to clinch.
Slash shoots in looking for a takedown. Franklin tries to sprawl out of it but Slash keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Franklin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Slash keeps the fight on the outside.
Franklin tries to clinch there but Slash circles away.
James Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Slash avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slash avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Horrible takedown by Slash or perhaps it was just good defense by Franklin which made him look bad.
Slash shoots in looking for a takedown. Franklin tries to sprawl out of it but Slash keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Franklin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cono Slash. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Franklin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Slash scores a takedown into full mount!
Slash pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

Slash goes for an armbar but Franklin turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Franklin.
Slash is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slash looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Franklin puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Slash tries to roll over but Franklin keeps him under control.
Franklin is looking to advance position but Slash won't allow it.

Slash looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Franklin is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Slash is trying to get back to full guard.
Franklin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Slash. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Franklin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slash circles away from the clinch attempt.
Franklin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Franklin tries for a takedown but Slash circles away easily

and Slash counters with a shoot takedown. Franklin fights it but they end up in guard.
Franklin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Franklin keeping full guard, as Slash tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slash is breathing heavily.

Slash postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Franklin is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Slash, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slash is looking to sweep but instead, Franklin has passed into half guard.
Slash wants to get back to full guard.
Franklin tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Slash.
Slash tries to roll over but Franklin keeps him under control.
Slash is pressing down on Franklin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Slash is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cono Slash dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Slash avoids a punch combination nicely.

Slash shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Franklin's guard.
Franklin controlling Slash's posture.
Slash looking to pass the guard.
Slash is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Slash is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Franklin keeping full guard, as Slash tries to pass.
Franklin looking to control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Slash darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Franklin is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slash wants to free his trapped foot but Franklin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Franklin is looking to control Slash's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Franklin avoid being mounted?

Slash is looking for a kimura but Franklin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Slash to get the leverage.

Slash is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Franklin to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Franklin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Slash is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Slash takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Slash swats away the attempt to clinch by Franklin.
Franklin misses with a series of wild punches.
Franklin throws a one two combo.

Slash darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Slash in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Franklin tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Slash!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Cono Slash!