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TWGC 25 (170lbs, D3): London Qualifier - Round 1 PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight Tycoon World Grappling Championship rules bout between James Harden (ranked 1858 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buddy Franklin (ranked 2196 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the welterweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 0 wins and 0 losses; James Harden! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Sydney, with a TWGC record of 0 wins and 0 losses; Buddy Franklin!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and James Ackerman.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Harden moves into the clinch.
Franklin looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Harden is pressed up against the cage. Franklin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Harden down to the mat. Harden avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Harden jumps guard.
Harden is pulling down on Franklin's head. It's preventing any offense from Franklin, at least for the moment.
Harden seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Harden wants to hit a switch here but Franklin passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Harden there! Score +3 for passing guard: Harden (0) vs (3) Franklin
Franklin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harden wants to control but Franklin is having none of it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin tries to push Harden's head away but Harden is holding on tight.
Harden tries to hold on but Franklin postures up.
Harden manages to control the position for a moment.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Harden is looking to escape.
Harden is trying to escape the mount.
Harden tries to control Franklin's body but Franklin pushes him off. Harden squirms to his side and now Franklin has his back! Score +3 for taking back: Harden (0) vs (6) Franklin
Harden is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Harden is working hard here to advance position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harden controlling Franklin 's hands.
Harden staying busy and making it hard for Franklin to control.
Harden fending off the submission attempt from Franklin.
Harden rolls, trying to escape but Franklin keeps control of the position.
Franklin working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harden tries to break free.
Harden just trying to survive but Franklin is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
A lull in the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franklin is hanging on to Harden's back as he tries to escape.
Franklin trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Franklin is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Harden is defending well though. Franklin let's go of the attempt for now.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Harden wants to escape the position.
Harden showing good submission defense here.
I really don't envy Harden right now.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Harden wants to escape the position but for the time being he's just trying to control the pace.
Harden rolls, trying to escape but Franklin keeps control of the position.
Harden fending off the submission attempt from Franklin.
Harden manages to reverse the position and now he's in Franklin's guard. Nice work there by Harden.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Harden (2) vs (6) Franklin
Franklin working for a triangle but Harden defends it easily.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Harden looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Franklin is looking for a triangle here but Harden uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Harden (5) vs (6) Franklin
You can see the frustration on Franklin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is trying to work for a sweep but Harden has mounted him! Score +2 for reaching mount: Harden (7) vs (6) Franklin
Harden fails to move to back control.
Franklin can't escape the position.
Harden moves to take his opponent's back. Score +3 for taking back: Harden (10) vs (6) Franklin
Harden is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Franklin tries to escape the position.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Franklin keeps trying to improve his position.
Harden not allowing Franklin to control his hands.
Harden doesn't have the hooks in and Franklin manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Harden (10) vs (8) Franklin
Harden controlling the position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Franklin trying to control the position from guard on top but Harden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franklin won't allow Harden to sweep him here.
Harden controlling Franklin's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franklin wants to pass the guard but Harden is keeping the position.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Harden looking to hit a scissor sweep but Franklin is one step ahead there.
Harden seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Franklin looking to sit in guard and control but Harden gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Harden (12) vs (8) Franklin
Harden is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Harden's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Franklin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Harden passes into half guard.
Harden works his way into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Harden (15) vs (8) Franklin
Franklin is trying to get back to half guard.
Harden is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Franklin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Harden happy to just control the position for now.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Further stalling from Harden.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Harden has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Franklin is trying to work for a sweep but Harden has mounted him! Score +2 for reaching mount: Harden (17) vs (8) Franklin
Franklin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Franklin looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back! Score +3 for taking back: Harden (20) vs (8) Franklin
Harden is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Franklin defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
And that's the end of the fight!
Harden takes the fight on points by 20 to 8.
After winning the bout, James Harden thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility. |
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