PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between yago filipex (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rich Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rich Franklin will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

filipex
vs
Franklin

170 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Heavy handed

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 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, yago filipex!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rich Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
filipex rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Franklin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
filipex could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Some wild striking there from filipex.
filipex throws a wild body kick that Franklin sees coming a mile off.
Franklin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Franklin throws a left and a right that both miss
letting filipex counter with a right hand.
filipex ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
filipex swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Franklin is on the wrong end of a nice combination from filipex.
Franklin looks to score with a jab to the body but filipex is just out of range.
Franklin misses with the combination.
filipex fails to land with a series of punches.
Franklin throws a combination that misses
and filipex counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A nice combination there by filipex.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franklin throws a quick head kick that skims the top of filipex's head.
A combination from filipex does no damage.
Franklin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
filipex is breathing heavily.
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 throws a left and a right that both miss

and filipex counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Franklin is trying to stand up here but filipex is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
filipex knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Franklin on the ground.
filipex tries to stand and escape but Franklin actually recovers to full guard.
Franklin is looking to stand up but filipex isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Franklin is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
filipex has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
filipex is looking to stand up but Franklin won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin wants to get back to his feet but filipex is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Franklin misses with a straight right.
Franklin moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
filipex does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Franklin misses with a few strikes there.
Franklin works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Franklin pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Franklin slips a jab and a cross from filipex.
Franklin misses with a combination
and filipex counters with a two punch combo.

filipex closes the distance and clinches.
filipex wants to get back to striking at distance but Franklin won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Franklin tries to break the clinch but filipex is controlling the position.
filipex keeps control of Franklin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
filipex is trying to break the clinch but Franklin has him pressed against the cage.
filipex is looking to break free of the clinch but Franklin has double underhooks.
filipex wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
filipex is trying to break free.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Franklin.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Franklin just misses with a elbow thrown towards filipex's brow.
filipex is trying to break free.

filipex pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Franklin misses with a few strikes there.
filipex throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Franklin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
filipex throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rich Franklin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
filipex scores with a nice strike.
filipex misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Franklin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

filipex lands a two punch combo.
filipex throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
filipex lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Franklin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A jab from filipex finds it's way through Franklin's defenses.
Franklin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and filipex counters with a left to the body.
Rich Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
filipex slips under a jab.
Franklin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Franklin misses with a combination
and filipex counters with a lovely shot to the body.
filipex misses with a jab, cross combination.
Franklin throws a left and a right that both miss
and filipex counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Franklin throws a sloppy body shot
and filipex counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
filipex scores with a shot to the body.
filipex rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Franklin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franklin throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
filipex throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Franklin.
filipex misses with a few strikes there.
filipex throws a right and a left that both miss.
Franklin closes the distance but filipex moves to the side
and filipex counters with a straight right hand.
filipex misses with a head kick.
Franklin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and filipex counters with a two punch combo.
filipex shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franklin but Franklin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
filipex throws a half hearted mid kick.
Franklin throws a head kick that misses.
Franklin falls off balance throwing a combination

and filipex counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
filipex is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
filipex stops Franklin from standing up.

filipex gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franklin gets caught flat footed, as filipex shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

filipex stands and steps away. Franklin gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Franklin falls off balance throwing a combination

and filipex counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
filipex scores with an uppercut up the middle.
filipex wants to break free but Franklin has control.
Franklin is trying to break the clinch but filipex has him pressed against the cage.
filipex wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
filipex wants to break free but Franklin has control.
filipex is looking to break free of the clinch but Franklin has double underhooks.
filipex prevents Franklin from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin tries to break the clinch but filipex is controlling the position.
filipex is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
filipex tries to break the clinch but Franklin is controlling the position.

Franklin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rich Franklin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Franklin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

filipex closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Franklin is looking to escape.

Franklin has one foot on filipex's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Franklin misses with a double jab

and filipex counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by filipex.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

yago filipex dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Franklin dodges the punch combination from filipex.
Franklin takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Franklin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and filipex counters with a single leg into guard. Franklin didn't expect that.
filipex won't allow Franklin to get back to his feet.
yago filipex overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
filipex wants to stand but Franklin is controlling his posture from full guard.

filipex stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two 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.
filipex misses with a series of wild punches.
Franklin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and filipex counters with a left to the body.
Franklin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

filipex closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
filipex wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Franklin has him pressed against the cage.
Franklin tries to break the clinch but filipex is controlling the position.
filipex tries to break the clinch but Franklin is controlling the position.
filipex is trying to break free.
Franklin is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
filipex wants to get back to striking at distance but Franklin won't allow it.
filipex is trying to break the clinch but Franklin has him pressed against the cage.
filipex tries to break the clinch but Franklin is controlling the position.
filipex is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin can't break the clinch.
filipex wants to break free but Franklin has control.
filipex is looking to break free of the clinch but Franklin has double underhooks.
filipex is looking to break free of the clinch but Franklin has double underhooks.
filipex wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Franklin has him pressed against the cage.
Franklin taking a breather.
Franklin wants to get back to striking at distance but filipex won't allow it.
filipex wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Franklin has him pressed against the cage.
filipex blocks an elbow strike.
filipex wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Franklin prevents filipex from breaking the clinch.
Franklin is looking to break free of the clinch but filipex has double underhooks.
Franklin prevents filipex from breaking the clinch.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

filipex feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Franklin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst filipex is controlling him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
yago filipex showed his dominance in that final round.
I think filipex 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... yago filipex!