PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Willie Franks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neal Erickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Franks
vs
Erickson

190 cm
25
285 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

225 cm
19
270 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Willie Franks !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Neal Erickson!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Erickson moves out of range of the strikes.
Franks definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Franks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A combination from Erickson does no damage.
Franks has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Erickson finds it's way round the side to connect with Franks 's head.

Franks closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Erickson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Franks works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Franks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Franks is trying to break free.
Franks prevents a takedown attempt there.

Franks manages to break the clinch.
Erickson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Franks will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson misses the shot to the body.
Erickson throws a hook but Franks blocks it.
Franks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Erickson.
Erickson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson scores with a shot to the body.
Erickson lands a nice shot to the body.
Erickson looks to score with a jab to the body but Franks is just out of range.
A quick step to the side and Franks tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Franks misses with a body shot.
And Erickson tries to counter it with a takedown but Franks pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Erickson cracks Franks with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Erickson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Franks gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Erickson can't get the takedown.
Franks is trying to break the clinch but Erickson has him pressed against the cage.
Erickson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Willie Franks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neal Erickson.

Franks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Franks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Erickson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Franks 's hands.
Franks throws a hook but Erickson avoids it easily.
Erickson slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Franks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erickson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Erickson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Franks .
Franks looks to throw the jab but Erickson is out of range.
Franks throws a right hand that Erickson ducks under and follows up with a left that Erickson also avoids with ease.
Franks misses with a jab, cross combination.
Franks avoids the body shot from Erickson.
Erickson avoids the body shot from Franks .
Erickson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Franks in his tracks.
Erickson cracks Franks with a right hand to the side of the head.
Franks misses with a wild body shot.
Franks needs to keep his hands up - Erickson had a free shot at his head there.
Erickson is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Franks had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Erickson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Erickson smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Franks tries to clinch there but Erickson circles away.
Erickson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Franks manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erickson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Franks s jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Erickson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Franks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Erickson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Franks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Franks misses with a wild body shot.
Erickson lands a nice shot to the body.
Franks fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Franks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Erickson.
A nice combination there by Erickson.
Erickson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Franks throws the left hand but Erickson avoids the punch easily.
Erickson now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Franks is looking to wear down Erickson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Erickson avoids the body shot from Franks .
Franks avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Franks was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Franks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Erickson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Franks throws a hook but Erickson avoids it easily.
Franks throws a jab when Erickson was well out of range.
And Erickson tries to counter it with a takedown but Franks pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Erickson does it's job there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franks throws a leg kick but Erickson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Franks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Erickson manages to avoid it.
Erickson misses with the combination.
Erickson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Franks .
Franks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Erickson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Erickson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Franks just misses with a punch to the body.
And Erickson tries to counter it with a takedown but Franks pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Erickson scores with a hook to the body. Franks takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Franks is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Erickson's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

Erickson gets tackled into the cage by Franks . Franks maintains the clinch.
Erickson tries for a takedown but Franks manages to get underhooks.
Franks stalls.
Erickson is trying to drag Franks to the mat but Franks just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Erickson is looking to take this one to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neal Erickson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Erickson throws a body shot but no joy.
Erickson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Franks gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Franks prevents a takedown attempt there.
A right hook to the body lands for Franks .

Franks breaks from the clinch.
Erickson slips a jab and a cross from Franks .
Franks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Erickson circles away quickly and effectively.
Franks throws a series of punches but Erickson moves out of range.

Franks fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Erickson, pushing him back against the cage.
Erickson managing to block the knees to the body from Franks .
Franks makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Erickson wants a takedown.
Willie Franks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neal Erickson.

Franks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Willie Franks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from Franks does no damage.
Erickson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Franks misses with an uppercut. Erickson saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franks swings for the body but Erickson moves out of range.
Erickson lands a jab to the nose.
Erickson slips under a jab from Franks .
Erickson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Erickson scores with a shot to the body.
Franks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Erickson throws a good cross that connects.
A combination from Erickson does no damage.
Franks misses with a jab, cross combination.
Willie Franks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Erickson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Franks .
Erickson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Franks .
Franks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Neal Erickson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Erickson just misses with a punch to the body.

Franks has taken the fight to the clinch.

Franks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Franks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Franks takes a jab right on the kisser.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Erickson is looking to chop away at Franks 's legs.

Franks rushes Erickson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Erickson has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Franks seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Erickson can turn it around.
Erickson wants a takedown but no success here.

Franks 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Franks moves into range and connects with a jab.
Franks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Erickson.

Franks takes the fight into the clinch.
Erickson wants to take the fight to the mat but Franks manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Erickson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Franks 's efforts to push away.
Good body shot from Franks .
Erickson is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Franks .

Franks breaks from the clinch.

Franks has Erickson up against the cage in a clinch.

Franks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Franks throws a series of punches but Erickson avoids them all with ease.
Franks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Erickson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Franks .
Franks tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Erickson manages to circle out of the way.
Franks throws a jab when Erickson was well out of range.
Franks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Franks throws a body shot but no joy.
Erickson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Franks .
Franks takes a swing at Erickson's ribcage but misses.
Erickson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Franks manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erickson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Erickson.
Franks shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Franks throws a right hand that Erickson ducks under and follows up with a left that Erickson also avoids with ease.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Erickson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Franks misses with an uppercut. Erickson saw that one coming.

Erickson gets tackled into the cage by Franks . Franks maintains the clinch.
Erickson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Franks avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Franks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Erickson catches Franks with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Franks takes a swing at Erickson's ribcage but misses.
Franks looks to score with a jab to the body but Erickson is just out of range.
Franks misses with a looping right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Willie Franks dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Franks . Those never looked like landing.
Franks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Erickson.
Franks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Franks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Franks throws an overhand right that lands on Erickson's shoulder, as Erickson tries to avoid the shot.
Franks throws a leg kick but Erickson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Nice shot lands for Erickson.
Franks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Erickson lands with a good body shot.
Franks throws a body punch but Erickson moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Erickson drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Franks defends it well.
Franks misses with a body shot.
Franks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Erickson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Franks looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Erickson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Erickson lands in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Franks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Erickson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Erickson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Erickson prevents Franks from getting back to his feet.
Erickson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Erickson wants to control from the top but Franks keeps moving.
Franks wants to stand up but Erickson is controlling him.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Erickson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Franks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Franks fails to land with a series of punches.
Franks misses with an uppercut. Erickson saw that one coming.

Franks clinches.
Franks pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Franks lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Franks is trying to force a seperation but Erickson has the dominant position.
Erickson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Franks is defending well.
Franks is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Franks misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Erickson.
Franks prevents the takedown attempt.
Erickson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Willie Franks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neal Erickson.
Erickson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Erickson looking for a takedown.
Erickson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Franks gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Franks 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franks pushes Erickson up against the cage in a clinch.
Franks gets through Erickson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Franks is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Franks is trying to break the clinch but Erickson is controlling him.
Erickson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Franks pulls his leg out and moves away.

Erickson tries to keep at a distance but Franks has taken the fight into the clinch.
Erickson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Franks pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Franks content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Franks is leaning against Erickson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Franks pushes Erickson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Franks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Erickson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Franks .
Franks misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erickson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Franks .
Erickson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Franks staying out of range there.
A shot to the liver by Franks . Beautiful body shot.
Franks throws a right hand that Erickson ducks under and follows up with a left that Erickson also avoids with ease.

Franks rushes Erickson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franks can't break the clinch.
Erickson tries for a takedown. No joy.

Franks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Erickson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Franks was well out of range. Poor timing from Erickson.
Erickson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Franks .
Willie Franks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Erickson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Franks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Erickson manages to avoid it.
Erickson jabs Franks to the body, keeping him at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Willie Franks showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Franks 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 Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Willie Franks !
An out of breath Willie Franks thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.