PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rich Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rich Franklin has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Silva
vs
Franklin

188 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rich Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin moves in looking to clinch but Silva pushes him off.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silva as he jumps to the side.

Silva closes the distance and pushes Franklin back into the cage.
Franklin is looking to break free of the clinch but Silva has double underhooks.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Franklin blocks with his arms.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Franklin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Silva connects with a massive knee from the clinch and Franklin goes down! Silva jumps into full mount looking to finish!

Franklin is rocked!

It looks like Rich Franklin has been cut.

Silva gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Franklin looks gassed!

Silva clinches.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Franklin's face.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Franklin's face.

Silva pulls Franklin into guard.

Silva kicks Franklin off and gets to his feet.

Silva moves into the clinch.
Franklin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Franklin's face.
Silva lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Franklin's face.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Franklin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Franklin.
Franklin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Franklin tries to pull guard but Silva won't allow it.

Silva ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Silva no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Franklin from controlling successfully.
Franklin won't allow Silva to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Silva keeping full guard, as Franklin tries to pass.

Silva kicks Franklin off and gets to his feet.
Franklin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Silva rushes Franklin and presses him up against the cage.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Franklin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Franklin's face.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Franklin's face.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Franklin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Silva fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Franklin.
Franklin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silva is fending him off so far but Franklin persists. Nope, Silva circles away and we're back to standing.

Silva moves into range and clinches up with Franklin.
Franklin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Franklin stalling in the clinch but Silva improves position.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Franklin wants to get back to striking at distance but Silva won't allow it.
Franklin jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Franklin gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Silva moves into the clinch successfully.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silva tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Silva prevents Franklin from breaking the clinch.
Franklin tries to break the clinch but Silva is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Franklin tries to score a body lock takedown but Silva shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Silva landing knees to the head.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Silva wants the takedown. Franklin is fighting it off but Silva persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Franklin's guard against the cage.

Franklin looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Silva has picked Franklin up and slammed him! Franklin can't keep hold of the triangle and Silva manages to pass to side control!

Silva stands up.
Franklin wants to clinch

and Silva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Silva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Franklin blocks it with crossed arms.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Silva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rich Franklin's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Silva keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Franklin.

Silva has Franklin up against the cage in a clinch.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Franklin's face.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Anderson Silva has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Franklin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Silva gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Franklin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Franklin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva prevents the takedown attempt.
Franklin jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Silva walks away with a smile on his face. Franklin gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Silva moves in looking to clinch but Franklin pushes him off.

Silva has taken the fight to the clinch.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Franklin trying to control the position but instead, Silva has worked for underhooks and has pushed Franklin into the cage.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva gets underhooks to prevent Franklin's takedown attempt.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Franklin looking to slow down the pace here.
Silva connects with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Silva looking to throw knees to the head but Franklin is blocking nicely.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Franklin's face.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva throws a knee to the head but misses.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Silva with a knee to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Franklin's face.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva tries a knee to the head but Franklin blocks it.

Silva pulls Franklin into guard.

Silva has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Franklin off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Silva tries to close the distance and clinch but Franklin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Franklin with a poor takedown

and Silva counters by moving into the clinch.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Franklin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Silva just stands there and leans against the cage.
Franklin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva with a knee to the head.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Franklin tries to pull guard but Silva holds him up against the cage and eventually Franklin drops back down to his feet.
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silva landing knees to the head.

Silva wants the takedown. Franklin is fighting it off but Silva persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Franklin's guard against the cage.

Silva gets to his feet. Franklin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Silva clinches with his opponent.

Silva wants the takedown. Franklin is fighting it off but Silva persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Franklin's guard against the cage.
Franklin controls Silva momentarily but Silva frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silva gets to his feet - Franklin follows without any prompting.
Silva is looking to clinch but Franklin is avoiding it.
Silva is looking to clinch but Franklin is avoiding it.

Franklin looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Silva!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Silva somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Silva tries to clinch there but Franklin circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Silva clinches up with Franklin and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Silva dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rich Franklin's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Silva rushes Franklin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Silva gets control of Franklin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Silva will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Franklin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.

Silva scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Franklin tries to keep at a distance but Silva has taken the fight into the clinch.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Franklin's face.
Franklin takes a knee right on the jaw!
A knee to the head by Silva.
Silva landing knees to the head.

Silva drags the fight down to the ground.
Franklin trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Silva has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Franklin off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin circles away from the clinch attempt

and Franklin moves into the clinch.
Franklin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva lands a knee to the head.
Silva tries to land a knee to the head but Franklin blocks with his arms.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A knee to the head by Silva.
Franklin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Franklin has had enough of the clinch but Silva keeps him there for the moment.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva with a knee to the head.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Silva drags the fight down to the ground.
Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Franklin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Silva is proving hard to escape from.
Silva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Franklin is controlling him.
Franklin wants to stand but Silva has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Silva has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Franklin off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Silva rushes Franklin and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Franklin's face.
Franklin wants to break free but Silva has control.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Franklin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva misses with a knee to the head.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Silva pulls guard successfully.

Silva pushes Franklin off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Silva moves into the clinch.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva landing knees to the head.
Franklin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Silva scores with a knee to the head.
Silva wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva landing knees to the head.

Silva gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Silva stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Franklin to get to his feet.
Franklin circles away from the clinch attempt.

Silva fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Franklin, pushing him back against the cage.
Silva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Franklin's face.
Franklin tries a body shot but Silva blocks it.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Franklin fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Silva is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Franklin can do to turn this around?
Franklin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Silva prevents it.
Anderson Silva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Franklin.
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silva lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Silva with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Silva manages to pull guard.
Rich Franklin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anderson Silva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Franklin is looking to work some ground and pound but Silva has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Silva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Silva has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:26
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anderson Silva!