PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Felisha Vanhorn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh 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.

Vanhorn
vs
Franklin

187 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 Las Vegas, Felisha Vanhorn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Alan Glass and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin blocks a head kick by Vanhorn.
Franklin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Franklin gets the takedown into side control.
Vanhorn being controlled for a moment.
Franklin scoring with punches and elbows.
Vanhorn regains half guard.
Franklin throwing shots but Vanhorn is blocking nicely.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Franklin in particular looking to stall.

Vanhorn pushes Franklin off and gets back to his feet.
Franklin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vanhorn.
Vanhorn shoots in for a takedown but Franklin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Vanhorn looks to land a body kick but Franklin moved away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franklin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Franklin won't allow Vanhorn to get back to his feet.
Franklin controlling from the top position.
Vanhorn keeping full guard, as Franklin tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franklin throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Josh Franklin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Franklin closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Vanhorn quickly recovers to half guard.
Franklin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Franklin wants to free his trapped foot but Vanhorn is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are battling for position here. Vanhorn manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Franklin content to stall in guard here.
Vanhorn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Vanhorn bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Franklin's guard.

Franklin kicks Vanhorn off and gets to his feet.

Franklin shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Vanhorn is trying to defend but Franklin finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Franklin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is thwarting Vanhorn's attempts to control the position.
Franklin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franklin stops Vanhorn from getting back to his feet.
Franklin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vanhorn's head.
Franklin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Franklin dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Franklin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vanhorn misses with a lunging right hand

and Franklin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vanhorn's guard.
Franklin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vanhorn is keeping the position for now.
Franklin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Vanhorn trying to control the position.
Franklin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Franklin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Franklin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Josh Franklin hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Vanhorn misses the shot to the body.

Franklin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Franklin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Franklin content just to control the position here.
Vanhorn is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Vanhorn tries to hold on but Franklin postures up.
Franklin looking to finish Vanhorn with some ground and pound. This is bad for Vanhorn!
Franklin is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Vanhorn can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin with good strikes from the mount here!
Vanhorn tries to lock up and control but Franklin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Franklin controlling from mount.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vanhorn wants to control but Franklin is having none of it.
Franklin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Vanhorn taking shots to the head.
Vanhorn is in a horrible position here. Franklin smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanhorn is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Vanhorn wants to hold on but Franklin pushes him away.
Franklin controlling the position easily from mount.
Vanhorn wants to get back to his feet.
Franklin with the ground and pound from mount.

It looks like Felisha Vanhorn has been cut.
Franklin lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Vanhorn hang on?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Franklin in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Franklin dominating with strikes here.
Franklin controlling his opponent.
Let's hope that Franklin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Vanhorn really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franklin with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Vanhorn throws a head kick that misses.
Vanhorn shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Franklin as he avoids it easily.
Franklin tries to move into range but Vanhorn moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Vanhorn takes one to the chin there.

Vanhorn tries to sprawl but Franklin drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Vanhorn is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Franklin scores with a couple of nice shots.
Franklin is taking a breather. Vanhorn says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Franklin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vanhorn defending well though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Franklin lands a nice short elbow.
Franklin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Franklin throwing shots but Vanhorn is blocking nicely.
Franklin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Franklin drops an elbow to the side of Vanhorn's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanhorn keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Franklin seems content to control.
Franklin stops Vanhorn from getting back to his feet.
Still in half guard, Franklin seems content to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
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 Vanhorn's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Franklin controlling the action here.
Vanhorn is looking to escape.
Vanhorn trying to control from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vanhorn misses with a head kick.
Vanhorn misses the shot to the body.
Vanhorn shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Franklin counters with a single leg into guard. Vanhorn didn't expect that.
Franklin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Franklin looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Franklin connects with a couple of short punches.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Franklin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Franklin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Vanhorn wants to get back to his feet but Franklin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Josh Franklin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Franklin staying out of range there.

Franklin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Josh Franklin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Franklin scoring with punches and elbows.
Vanhorn is trying to get back to his feet.
Franklin scoring with punches from side control.
Franklin is putting a hurting on Vanhorn here, landing some big shots from side control.
Vanhorn tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vanhorn dodges the ground and pound from Franklin.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Franklin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Franklin 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 25:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 25:30

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