PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dake Mansfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mansfield
vs
Franklin

175 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Merciless Gladiators

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dake Mansfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Adam Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Mansfield on the side of the head.
Franklin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mansfield tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Franklin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Franklin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Franklin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mansfield might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Franklin wants to pass the guard but Mansfield is keeping the position.
Franklin wants to stand but Mansfield has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Franklin sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Adam Franklin hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Mansfield tries to clinch but Franklin moves away

and Franklin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Franklin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Franklin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Adam Franklin was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Mansfield wants to clinch up but Franklin keeps it at a distance.
Mansfield throws a hook but Franklin avoids it easily.

Franklin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franklin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Franklin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Franklin is taking a breather. Mansfield says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Adam Franklin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Mansfield throws a head kick that misses.

Franklin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Franklin successfully pulls guard.
Franklin is controlling Mansfield's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin 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.
Franklin pulls Mansfield in close to prevent any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mansfield tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Franklin paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Mansfield gets tackled into the cage by Franklin. Franklin maintains the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mansfield trying to land knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Mansfield.
Mansfield is trying to maintain a safe position but Franklin gets an underhook and turns Mansfield into the cage.
Franklin tries a knee to the head but Mansfield blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adam Franklin dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mansfield tries to clinch up

and Franklin moves into the clinch.
Franklin managing to block the knees to the body from Mansfield.

Franklin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Franklin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mansfield is looking to clinch.

Franklin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mansfield to the mat! Mansfield manages to get full guard.
Franklin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Franklin won't allow Mansfield to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mansfield is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Franklin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Franklin managing to control the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Adam Franklin wasn't active enough on the ground.
Mansfield connects with an inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Mansfield tenderised Franklin's leg. Franklin is trying to keep his angry face on.
Dake Mansfield is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick misses from Mansfield.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mansfield as he avoids it easily.
Mansfield feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Franklin's calf.
Franklin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Franklin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mansfield can't break the clinch.

Franklin drags the fight down to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mansfield wants to stand but Franklin is controlling his posture from full guard.

Franklin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin looking for a sweep. Not yet Franklin, not yet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Franklin can do anything to dispel that myth.

Mansfield decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Franklin, up you get!

Franklin rushes Mansfield and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Franklin managing to block the knees to the body from Mansfield.
Mansfield scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mansfield missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin blocks an elbow strike.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Franklin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Franklin lands in his opponent's guard.
Mansfield wants to stand and escape but Franklin is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franklin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Franklin stops Mansfield from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Adam Franklin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A slapping leg kick lands for Mansfield.
Mansfield keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Mansfield throws a leg kick but Franklin sees it coming and moves out of range.
A solid body kick from Mansfield.
Mansfield lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Franklin tries to clinch but Mansfield moves out of range.
Franklin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mansfield with a hook.
Mansfield tries to clinch but Franklin moves out of range.
Mansfield tries to clinch up.
Franklin looks to land a body kick but Mansfield moved away.
Franklin misses with a double jab.
Mansfield doesn't manage to clinch there - Franklin circles away.

Mansfield moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin is trying to pull guard but Mansfield turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mansfield throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Franklin has Mansfield pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Franklin pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Mansfield tumbling to the mat - Franklin dives into Mansfield's guard.
Mansfield trying to control the position.
Franklin sitting in guard here, content to control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mansfield.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mansfield tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Franklin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mansfield goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Franklin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mansfield is trying to push Franklin away but Franklin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Franklin tries to pull guard but Mansfield holds him up against the cage and eventually Franklin drops back down to his feet.
Mansfield wants to break the clinch but can't.
Franklin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mansfield misses with an elbow over the top.
Mansfield on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Franklin keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mansfield's efforts to push away.
Franklin lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mansfield gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dake Mansfield has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Franklin.
Franklin is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mansfield to keep the fight standing.
Franklin misses with a knee to the head.
Franklin is trying to pull guard but Mansfield has him pressed against the cage.
Franklin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The referee is keeping an eye on Franklin - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Mansfield lands a body punch in the clinch.
Mansfield misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mansfield throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mansfield tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Dake Mansfield has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mansfield landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Franklin avoiding damage as Mansfield throws knees to the body.
Mansfield is trying to break the clinch but Franklin is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mansfield taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Mansfield using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Mansfield trying to land knees to the body.
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!
Mansfield lands with a short shot to the head.
Franklin is trying to break the clinch but Mansfield has him pressed against the cage.
Mansfield swings wildly with an uppercut but Franklin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mansfield lands an elbow that stopped Franklin in his tracks for a moment.
Mansfield missing with knees to the body.
Dake Mansfield has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franklin lands a body punch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mansfield looking to stall.
Mansfield struggles to land a body shot inside as Franklin controls his hands.
Adam Franklin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A knee to the head by Mansfield.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dake Mansfield showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Franklin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adam Franklin!
In defeat, Dake Mansfield stepped up to the mic, saying 'Buy the ticket, take the ride.'.