PBP Commentary

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

Gracie
vs
Franklin

192 cm
27
270 lbs
6 - 6 - 1

190 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Experienced

Hell's Balls Recovery

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Rolls Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Chuck Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Albert Achterberg and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Franklin.

Franklin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gracie avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Franklin.
Franklin is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Franklin blocks the strikes from Gracie.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.

Gracie has his foot on Franklin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Franklin works his way back into a safe position though.
Gracie keeping full guard, as Franklin tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looking to control.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Franklin pushing down on Gracie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Franklin is controlling well.
Ground and pound from Franklin.
Franklin thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Gracie to regain full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Franklin wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Franklin throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Franklin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gracie throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Franklin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Franklin wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.

Franklin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Franklin manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Franklin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie thows a big elbow that misses.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Franklin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Franklin looking for subs off his back but Gracie has passed one foot through into half guard.
Franklin tries to roll over but Gracie keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Franklin defends it well.

Franklin actively working from the bottom here.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but Franklin defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Franklin defends it well.
Franklin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Franklin dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracie throws a good cross that connects.
Franklin lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Franklin defending well as Gracie loads up on a big left hand.
Nice defenses there by Franklin.
Franklin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gracie blocks a jab.
Franklin slips a jab from Gracie.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Franklin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gracie is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Franklin.
No luck for Franklin with that takedown attempt.

Franklin shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gracie manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Franklin!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gracie tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Gracie has hold of Franklin's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Franklin manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Gracie throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Franklin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gracie throwing strikes here but Franklin is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Gracie avoids the attempt from Franklin to control.
Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gracie thowing shots but they're missing.
Franklin sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Franklin moves into full guard.
Franklin controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Gracie slips nicely into half guard.

Franklin actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Franklin. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Gracie thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Franklin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Franklin looking for submissions off his back.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

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.
Gracie moves nicely into side control.
Franklin is looking for a sweep.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franklin keeps working.
Franklin struggling a bit here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franklin managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Gracie.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Franklin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rolls Gracie will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gracie waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Franklin.
Franklin dives in and grabs Gracie's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes down on Franklin's head and hops out.
Rolls Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franklin ducks under a wild hook from Gracie.
Gracie scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Chuck Franklin has been cut.
Gracie throws a series of punches but Franklin moves out of range.
Gracie throws a jab when Franklin was well out of range.

Franklin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gracie manages to work his way to half guard, despite Franklin's best efforts.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Franklin connects with a nice short shot to Gracie's temple.
Gracie won't allow Franklin to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Franklin.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franklin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Franklin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Franklin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Franklin stands and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Franklin misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Franklin looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Franklin keeps moving and retains side control.
Franklin trying to control the position but Gracie is working away.
Franklin fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Gracie is not content to let Franklin control the position.
Gracie struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Franklin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gracie throws a head kick but Franklin moves out of range.
Gracie with a nice cross.

Gracie gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Franklin to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Franklin drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gracie dives on top into guard.
Franklin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Franklin keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Franklin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie slips nicely into half guard.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.
Franklin wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Chuck Franklin.
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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29

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