PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jonny Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Jones
vs
Franklin

187 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
218 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jonny Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones shoots in but no luck this time.
Jones closes this distance looking for a takedown but Franklin circles away.
Franklin fails with the takedown

and Jones counters with a single leg into guard. Franklin didn't expect that.
Franklin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Franklin working for submissions but it's allowed Jones to get to half guard.

Franklin looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Jones pushes past his half guard into mount!

Franklin defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Jones.
Jones controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Jones is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Franklin is surviving well by controlling Jones's body position as best he can.
Franklin tries to lock up and control but Jones gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Franklin is looking to get to half guard.
Jones controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Jones trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Franklin tries to hold on but Jones postures up.
Franklin is trying desperately to improve position.
You get the feeling that Franklin really doesn't like being in this position too much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franklin tries to hold on but Jones pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Franklin is looking to escape.
Jones controlling from the full mount.
Jones trying to control but he's not successful this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Franklin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Jones controlling from mount.

Jones working for a guillotine from mount but Franklin is in no mood to give up.
Jones is breathing heavily.

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.
Franklin wants to hold on but Jones pushes him away.
Franklin might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Jones kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Franklin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Franklin is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Jones controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Jones dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Franklin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones is trying to control Franklin's posture but Franklin avoids it.
Franklin trying to control the action but Jones is working from the bottom.
Jones can't do much from the bottom here.

Franklin goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Jones rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Franklin's guard! Nice work there by Jones!
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin is looking to sweep but instead, Jones has passed into half guard.
Franklin is trying to control but can't.

Jones seems to be looking for submissions.
Franklin should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franklin looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Franklin wants to get back to full guard.

Jones is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Franklin is just riding it out for now. Jones eventually gives up the hold.
Franklin is staying active underneath Jones, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Franklin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Franklin wants to control the action here but instead Jones manages to pass to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones controlling the position easily from mount.

Jones goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Franklin is on top in guard.
Jones working a defensive guard here.
Franklin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jones. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Franklin looking to pass the guard.

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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Franklin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Franklin postures up in Jones's guard and throws a big left but Jones blocks it.
Franklin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jones has a closed guard, preventing Franklin from standing up.

Jones is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Franklin from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Franklin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Franklin moves into the clinch successfully.
A bit of stalling here from Franklin.
Franklin is trying to break free.
Jones jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Franklin walks away with a smile on his face. Jones gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jones gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Franklin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Franklin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jones's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Jones holds on and takes a little breather.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Franklin from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franklin tries to free his leg and advance position but Jones is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franklin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jones has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Franklin has managed to get both his arms back between Jones's legs - danger averted.
Franklin throws and elbow that misses. Jones uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Franklin's guard. Nice move by Jones!
Franklin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jones wants to control from the top but Franklin keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Jones prevents Franklin from getting back to his feet.
Franklin keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.

Franklin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Franklin moves into the clinch successfully.
Franklin trying to stall but Jones improves his position.

Franklin gets control of Jones's arms and successfully pulls guard. Franklin will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Franklin keeping hold of Jones's head, controlling as best he can.
Jonny Jones overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Franklin trying to control but Jones postures up.
Franklin wants to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.
Franklin wants to control but Jones is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Jones wants to work for an arm triangle but Franklin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Franklin controlling the position well.
Jones is trying to control the action in half guard but Franklin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Franklin tries to roll over but Jones keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Franklin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Franklin 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Franklin!