PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Norifumi Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for James Franklin has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Franklin
vs
Yamamoto

188 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
182 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Norifumi Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

It looks like Norifumi Yamamoto has been cut.
Jab by Franklin.
Franklin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yamamoto tries to avoid it but Franklin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yamamoto to the ground. Yamamoto escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Yamamoto rushes Franklin and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Franklin managing to block the knees to the body from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto lands a nice knee to the body.
Franklin is trying to drag Yamamoto to the mat but Yamamoto just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Franklin avoiding damage as Yamamoto throws knees to the body.

Yamamoto manages to break the clinch.
Franklin missing with a left hand there. Yamamoto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Yamamoto has managed to clinch.
Yamamoto lands a nice elbow.
Yamamoto goes for a takedown attempt but Franklin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A head kick misses from Franklin.

Yamamoto drives through and clinches with Franklin against the ropes.
Yamamoto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Yamamoto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Franklin trying to control here.
Yamamoto content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Franklin is looking to control Yamamoto's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Franklin avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is trying to stand up here but Yamamoto is controlling him well.
Yamamoto tries to pass the half guard into mount. Franklin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Yamamoto stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Yamamoto staying out of range there.
Yamamoto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Franklin.
Franklin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Yamamoto moves away.
Franklin is breathing heavily.
Franklin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Yamamoto counters with a nice body shot.

Yamamoto closes the distance and clinches.
Yamamoto is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Franklin pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Franklin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Franklin avoiding damage as Yamamoto throws knees to the body.

Franklin breaks from the clinch.

Yamamoto scores with a takedown into Franklin's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yamamoto wants to control from the top but Franklin keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin trying to keep a closed guard but Yamamoto is proving a slippery customer.
Yamamoto wants to pass the guard but Franklin is keeping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franklin is looking to stand up but Yamamoto isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norifumi Yamamoto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Norifumi Yamamoto's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Franklin has a takedown stuffed.
Franklin misses with a wild body shot.
Franklin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Franklin misses with a hook. Yamamoto ducked under it nicely.
Norifumi Yamamoto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Yamamoto wants to clinch up but Franklin keeps it at a distance.
Franklin misses with a hook.
Franklin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Yamamoto closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Franklin to the mat! Franklin manages to get full guard.

Yamamoto stands up from Franklin's guard - Yamamoto perhaps looking for a knockout.

Yamamoto gets a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yamamoto wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Franklin has had enough of the clinch but Yamamoto keeps him there for the moment.
Franklin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto tries to land knees in the clinch but Franklin avoids the damage to the body.
Franklin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Yamamoto.
Franklin is being controlled here.

Yamamoto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is trying to improve his position.
Yamamoto working the ground and pound but Franklin is defending the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto tries to advance to mount but Franklin denies him.
Yamamoto is looking to take a break and control but Franklin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Yamamoto has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Franklin closes the distance but Yamamoto moves to the side

and Yamamoto moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Franklin prevents Yamamoto from breaking the clinch.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Yamamoto fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Franklin, pushing him back against the ropes.
Franklin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Yamamoto avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Franklin managing to block the knees to the body from Yamamoto.
Yamamoto wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Franklin has him pressed against the ropes.
Yamamoto wants to break free but Franklin has control.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Franklin breaks from the clinch.
Yamamoto drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A cross from Franklin lands.
Franklin goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Yamamoto is rocked!
Franklin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Yamamoto is still on wobbly legs! Can Franklin finish him?
James Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franklin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Franklin tries to clinch but Yamamoto is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Norifumi Yamamoto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Norifumi Yamamoto's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Yamamoto takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Yamamoto seems to have recovered his senses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Yamamoto.
Franklin is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Franklin won't allow Yamamoto to pass to mount.
Franklin moves into full guard.
Yamamoto trying to stand up but can't free himself from Franklin's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto looking to pass the guard.
Franklin wants to stand and escape but Yamamoto is having none of it.
Yamamoto trying to move into half guard but instead Franklin has managed to sweep!
Yamamoto wants to get back to his feet but Franklin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Franklin tries to stand but Yamamoto is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Yamamoto working for submissions but it's allowed Franklin to get to half guard.
Franklin lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto looks like he's trying to stand up.
Yamamoto trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Franklin trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Franklin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Franklin wants to control the pace but Yamamoto is squirming around nicely.
James Franklin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Norifumi Yamamoto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Franklin avoids the attempt from Yamamoto to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Franklin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Yamamoto 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Norifumi Yamamoto!