PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rich Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zack Fair (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rich Franklin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Franklin
vs
Fair

190 cm
22
193 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

195 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rich Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zack Fair!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Franklin misses with a two punch combination.
Fair slaps away a takedown attempt from Franklin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fair as he jumps to the side.
Danga de danga de dang - Franklin scores with a four punch combination!
Rich Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fair tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Franklin lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Franklin.
Franklin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fair keeps the fight on the outside.

Fair has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fair scores a nice knee to the body.
Franklin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Fair 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 Rich Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franklin wants to break the clinch but can't.
Franklin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Fair manages to break the clinch.

Fair pushes Franklin up against the cage in a clinch.
Franklin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fair has him pressed against the cage.
Franklin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Fair is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Fair looks gassed!

Fair breaks the clinch.

Franklin closes the distance and pushes Fair back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fair pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Franklin throws a sloppy head kick and Fair moves out of range easily.
Fair shoots in but no luck this time.
Fair shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A nice combination there by Franklin.
Franklin wants to clinch.
A head kick misses from Franklin.
Fair blocks a head kick by Franklin.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Franklin has had enough of the clinch but Fair keeps him there for the moment.
Franklin misses with an elbow over the top.
Fair tries for a takedown but Franklin manages to get underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Franklin's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Fair as Franklin tries to tie him up.
Franklin tries to circle away but Fair has him pinned against the cage.
Franklin is trying to break the clinch but Fair is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is looking to control Fair's arms but Fair gets an underhook and turns him. Now Franklin has his back to the cage.
Franklin tries to circle away but Fair has him pinned against the cage.
Franklin working hard to break the clinch.
Fair prevents Franklin from breaking the clinch.
Franklin wants to get back to striking at distance but Fair won't allow it.
Franklin tries to break free but Fair pushes him back against the cage.
Franklin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Franklin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Franklin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Franklin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fair has him pressed against the cage.
Franklin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fair has him pressed against the cage.
Franklin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fair has him pressed against the cage.
Franklin wants to break free but Fair has control.
Franklin wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Fair looking for a takedown.
Franklin is trying to break the clinch but Fair is controlling him.
Franklin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fair prevents it.
Franklin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fair has him pressed against the cage.
Fair wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Franklin has him pressed against the cage.
Franklin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Fair fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Franklin lands a head kick. Fair smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Franklin.
Nice takedown defense from Fair. No joy for Franklin on that attempt.
Franklin tries a head kick but it misses.
Franklin throws a head kick that misses.
Horrible takedown by Fair or perhaps it was just good defense by Franklin which made him look bad.
Franklin shoots for a double leg takedown but Fair sprawls well. He's pushed Franklin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Fair will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Franklin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Franklin is defended easily by Fair.
Franklin misses with a few strikes there.
Franklin scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's four 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 shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fair is holding on to half guard well.
Franklin lands with a punch from half guard.

Franklin is trying to work for a kimura but Fair is defending well.
Fair is looking to improve his position.
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!

Franklin looks to land a combination. Fair sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Fair has Franklin up against the cage in a clinch.
Fair changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Franklin fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Franklin moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Franklin fails to land the takedown.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown but Fair shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Franklin scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Franklin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fair defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rich Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fair slaps away a takedown attempt from Franklin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fair swats away the attempt to clinch by Franklin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Franklin duly obliges.
Franklin looks to land a combination. Fair sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Franklin shoots in and bounces Fair off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Franklin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Franklin stands up over Fair, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Franklin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Franklin wants to stand but Fair has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Franklin distracts Fair with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Fair's head.
Fair wants to stand and escape but Franklin is having none of it.
Franklin works over Fair with some ground and pound from guard.
Fair is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Franklin throwing strikes but missing.
Fair wants to sweep here but Franklin controlling him for the moment.
Franklin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fair utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A left and a right from Franklin both land. Nice combination.
Franklin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Franklin lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Franklin lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Fair shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Franklin counters with a two punch combo.
Franklin closes the distance and clinches up with Fair, looking for a takedown. Franklin pushes Fair against the cage but Fair circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Fair shoots in and drives through. Franklin sprawls well.
Franklin throws a sloppy head kick and Fair moves out of range easily.
Fair on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Franklin throws a combination. Fair tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A head kick misses from Franklin.
Franklin sizes up Fair with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin tries for a takedown but Fair sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Franklin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Fair backs up against the cage.
Franklin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rich Franklin is winning the standup battle so far.
A nice combination there by Franklin.
Fair misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Franklin wants to clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Franklin!
A jab lands there for Franklin.
Franklin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Fair backs up against the cage.
Franklin lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Fair wants to clinch
and Franklin counters with a left and a right that stings Fair.
Franklin doesn't manage to clinch there - Fair circles away.
Franklin throws a series of strikes that have Fair backpedaling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Franklin dominated that second round.
That's time! Franklin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Franklin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fair looks for a takedown but Franklin sprawls well.
Franklin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fair tries to avoid it but Franklin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fair to the ground. Fair escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Fair has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Franklin clinches up with Fair and pushes him back against the cage.
Franklin working hard to break the clinch.
Franklin looking to stall.
Franklin working hard to break the clinch.
Fair keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Franklin's efforts to push away.
Fair wants to break the clinch but can't.
Fair has Franklin pressed against the cage, preventing Franklin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Franklin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franklin tries to break free but Fair pushes him back against the cage.
Franklin has Fair pressed against the cage.
Franklin is trying to break the clinch but Fair has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franklin is trying to break the clinch but Fair is controlling him.
Franklin is looking to break free of the clinch but Fair has double underhooks.
Franklin working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fair prevents Franklin from breaking the clinch.
Franklin tries for a takedown but Fair manages to get underhooks.
Franklin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Fair pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rich Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franklin is trying to break free.
Franklin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fair gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Franklin is trying to break free.
Franklin can't break the clinch.
Franklin working hard to break the clinch.
Franklin is pressed up against the cage. Fair has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Franklin down to the mat. Franklin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Franklin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Franklin's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Franklin duly obliges.
Franklin tries to clinch but Fair moves out of range.
Fair shoots for a double leg takedown but Franklin sprawls well. He's pushed Fair's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Franklin.
Fair fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fair avoids the head kick by Franklin.

That's two 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.
A right-left combo lands from Franklin.
Franklin connects with a good right hand that stumbles Fair. Fair circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Franklin throws a head kick but Fair moves out of range.
Franklin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rich Franklin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fair takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Franklin lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Fair shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Franklin as he avoids it easily.
Fair fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Franklin avoids it really well and circles away.
Franklin lands a head kick!
Franklin throws a combination. Fair tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Franklin throws a head kick that misses.
Danga de danga de dang - Franklin scores with a four punch combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Franklin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice shot lands for Franklin.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fair.

Fair clinches with his opponent.
Franklin wants to break free but Fair has control.
Fair tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Franklin smiles and moves away.
Franklin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Franklin lands with a cross.
Fair takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Franklin cracks Fair with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Franklin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Fair backs up against the cage.
Franklin scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Fair has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Franklin scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Franklin has closed the distance and engaged Fair in a clinch.
Franklin is trying to force a seperation but Fair has the dominant position.
Franklin tries to break free but Fair pushes him back against the cage.

Fair breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franklin connects with a high kick.
Fair fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Franklin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fair paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fair moves forwards but Franklin connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Fair takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A head kick by Franklin misses

and Fair counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Fair.
Zack Fair has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rich Franklin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fair content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Fair tries to work over Franklin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Franklin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Franklin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:27

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