PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Gustavsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franklin's entrance music is Landslide by Fleetwood Mac. A fine choice. Gustavsson has chosen Bubba Sparxxx - Deliverance as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Franklin
vs
Gustavsson

180 cm
19
218 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

196 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alexander Gustavsson!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Bruno Lombardi and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gustavsson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gustavsson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Franklin.
Franklin shoots in but Gustavsson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice sprawl there from Gustavsson as Franklin shoots in.
Franklin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gustavsson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franklin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gustavsson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gustavsson walks into a straight right hand from Franklin.

Franklin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Franklin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gustavsson is defending well for now.
Gustavsson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Franklin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Gustavsson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Franklin.
Gustavsson working hard to break the clinch.
Gustavsson pushes Franklin back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Franklin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gustavsson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustavsson misses with some punches.
Franklin tries to pull guard but Gustavsson won't allow it.
Franklin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gustavsson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Gustavsson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Gustavsson darts in and clinches Franklin up against the cage.
Gustavsson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gustavsson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Gustavsson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Franklin pushes Gustavsson up against the cage in a clinch.
Gustavsson letting Franklin take a breather here.
Gustavsson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Franklin.

Gustavsson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alexander Gustavsson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Franklin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gustavsson pinned against the cage. Gustavsson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Franklin tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Gustavsson counters by moving into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustavsson tries to work over Franklin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gustavsson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Franklin jumps guard but Gustavsson stands there with Franklin around his waist. Franklin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gustavsson has Franklin pressed against the cage, preventing Franklin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gustavsson can't find room to land a body shot as Franklin controls the action.

Gustavsson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Franklin scores with the left hand. Gustavsson knows he should have avoided that one.
Gustavsson fails to land with a series of punches.
Franklin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gustavsson manages to avoid it.
Gustavsson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Gustavsson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Franklin scores with a nice head shot.
Franklin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gustavsson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin shoots for a double leg takedown but Gustavsson sprawls well. He's pushed Franklin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gustavsson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gustavsson slips a jab and a cross from Franklin.
Ben Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franklin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gustavsson moves away.
Gustavsson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franklin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Franklin throws a low kick, looking for Gustavsson's leg but Gustavsson calmly moves out of range.
Franklin throws out a powerful jab.
Franklin fails with a takedown attempt.
Franklin fails with the takedown
and Gustavsson counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gustavsson clinches.
Franklin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A body shot lands from Gustavsson.
Franklin is breathing heavily.
Gustavsson lands with a right to the head.
Franklin is trying to force a seperation but Gustavsson has the dominant position.
Gustavsson lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Gustavsson.
Franklin has had enough of the clinch but Gustavsson keeps him there for the moment.
Gustavsson pushes Franklin back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Gustavsson lands a left hand.
Gustavsson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Franklin is working for takedown but Gustavsson is calmly controlling the position for now.
A hook to the body from Gustavsson.

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

Franklin closes the distance and clinches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franklin is working Gustavsson over against the cage.
Gustavsson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Gustavsson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Gustavsson digs a right hand into Franklin's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Franklin's gas tank.
Franklin wants a takedown but no success here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Gustavsson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gustavsson tries to clinch there but Franklin circles away.
Franklin misses with a body punch
and Gustavsson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Franklin looks to clinch
and Franklin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gustavsson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gustavsson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A punch lands to the side of Gustavsson 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Gustavsson has managed to clinch.
Gustavsson scores with a shoulder strike.
Franklin stalls.

Gustavsson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Franklin wants to clinch.
Gustavsson scores with a punch to the head.

It looks like Ben Franklin has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin fails with an attempt to clinch.
A jab from Franklin finds it's way through Gustavsson's defenses.
Franklin fails with a takedown attempt.
A left and a right from Gustavsson both land. Nice combination.
Gustavsson wants to clinch
and Franklin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Franklin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gustavsson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Franklin misses the body punch

and Gustavsson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gustavsson.

Franklin drags the fight down to the ground.
Franklin has a closed guard, preventing Gustavsson from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin wants to sweep here but Gustavsson controlling him for the moment.

Gustavsson stands up from Franklin's guard - Gustavsson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Franklin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gustavsson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Franklin takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Franklin misses with a wild body shot.
Gustavsson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin tries to clinch

and Gustavsson moves into the clinch.
A hook to the body from Gustavsson.

Gustavsson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Franklin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gustavsson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Franklin somewhat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gustavsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gustavsson is looking to clinch.
Franklin misses the body punch

and Gustavsson counters by clinching up.
Franklin tries to pull guard but Gustavsson holds him up against the cage and eventually Franklin drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franklin tries to break the clinch but Gustavsson is controlling the position.
Franklin misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is trying to force a seperation but Gustavsson has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Franklin's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Franklin wants to get back to striking at distance but Gustavsson won't allow it.

Franklin manages to break the clinch.
Gustavsson slips under a jab from Franklin.

Franklin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Franklin can't break the clinch.

Gustavsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Franklin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Franklin misses with a double jab.
Gustavsson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Franklin keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Franklin moves into the clinch successfully.
Gustavsson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Franklin has him pressed against the cage.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Gustavsson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ben Franklin's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Franklin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Franklin throws a big shot that misses.
Franklin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gustavsson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Alexander Gustavsson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Franklin closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Alexander Gustavsson has been cut.
A big left from Franklin misses.
Franklin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gustavsson counters with a series of strikes. Franklin will be more careful next time no doubt.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gustavsson sprawls well. Gustavsson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Franklin gets slowly back to his feet.
Franklin is looking to slow Gustavsson down with leg kicks.
Franklin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Franklin lands a lovely overhand right.
Franklin wants to clinch but Gustavsson slips to the side
and Gustavsson counters with a straight right hand.
Franklin throws a sloppy body shot

and Gustavsson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gustavsson.
Franklin tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gustavsson breaks the clinch.
Franklin getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Franklin wants to clinch but Gustavsson slips to the side
and Gustavsson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
No joy there for Gustavsson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ben Franklin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gustavsson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franklin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Franklin circles away from the clinch attempt
and Franklin counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin looks to land a left hand but Gustavsson moved out of range nicely.
Franklin lands a jab-cross combination.
Franklin is looking to clinch but Gustavsson is avoiding it.
Franklin misses with a combination
and Gustavsson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gustavsson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Franklin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Gustavsson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Franklin clinches.
Gustavsson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gustavsson swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gustavsson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Franklin misses with a hook to the body

and Gustavsson moves into the clinch.
Franklin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gustavsson pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Franklin breaks from the clinch.
Franklin shoots in but no luck this time.
Gustavsson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gustavsson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Franklin drives through and clinches with Gustavsson against the cage.
Franklin digs a right hand underneath Gustavsson's ribcage. Gustavsson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Franklin has Gustavsson pressed against the cage.
Franklin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Franklin is trying to force a seperation but Gustavsson has the dominant position.
Gustavsson wants to get back to striking at distance but Franklin won't allow it.
Franklin is trying to break free.
Knees in the clinch landing for Franklin.

Franklin successfully pulls guard.
Gustavsson wants to stand but Franklin has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gustavsson stands up from Franklin's guard - Gustavsson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Franklin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Franklin stalks Gustavsson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gustavsson's face. Gustavsson staggers backwards, shaken.

Franklin moves into range and clinches up with Gustavsson.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ben Franklin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alexander Gustavsson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Franklin drops Gustavsson with a beautiful combination! Gustavsson stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Franklin is looking for the KO!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Franklin misses with a double jab
and Gustavsson counters with a series of strikes. Franklin will be more careful next time no doubt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Franklin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Gustavsson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Gustavsson!