PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Labayen Luceno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eddie Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Luceno
vs
Franklin

191 cm
26
205 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

189 cm
27
205 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Labayen Luceno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eddie Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Eddie Farnsworth and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin wants to clinch
and Luceno counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Luceno circles away from the clinch attempt
and Luceno counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Luceno rushes Franklin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Franklin dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Franklin wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nice body punch from Luceno - that landed with a thud.
Luceno blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Luceno.

Luceno pulls Franklin into guard.
Luceno doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Franklin trying to control the position from guard on top but Luceno is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Luceno shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Franklin manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Luceno looking to sit in guard and control but Franklin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Franklin preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Luceno is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Labayen Luceno.
Franklin throws a head kick that misses.
Franklin closes the distance but Luceno moves to the side

and Luceno counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Franklin's guard now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Luceno from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Labayen Luceno just wasn't active enough.

Franklin clinches with his opponent.
Franklin misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Franklin.
Luceno tries to land knees in the clinch but Franklin avoids the damage to the body.
Franklin is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Franklin tries to break free but Luceno pushes him back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Luceno as the two fighters clinch.
Franklin working aggressively here.
Franklin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Luceno avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Luceno tries to pull guard but Franklin won't allow it.
Franklin misses with the head strike.
Franklin wants to break the clinch but can't.
Franklin lands an uppercut.
Franklin throws a punch but it's blocked by Luceno.
Franklin throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luceno looking for a takedown.
Luceno has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Franklin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Franklin prevents Luceno from breaking the clinch.
Franklin gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Luceno.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Labayen Luceno. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Franklin.
Luceno tries to pull guard but Franklin won't allow it.
Franklin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Franklin tries to stall but Luceno uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Luceno tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Franklin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Luceno stalling against the cage.
Franklin stalling.
Franklin throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franklin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Luceno's elbow.
Franklin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Franklin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Luceno blocks an uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Franklin.
Luceno lands a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Labayen Luceno 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.

Luceno circles away from the clinch attempt

and Luceno counters by moving into the clinch.
Franklin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Franklin letting Luceno take a breather here.
Franklin is working Luceno over against the cage.
A short right from Franklin.
Luceno blocking some punches.
Franklin scores with a nice hook to the head.
Luceno misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Franklin throws a head punch that misses.
Nice body punch from Luceno.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franklin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Luceno counters with a head kick. That will keep Franklin thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Eddie Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luceno tries for a takedown but Franklin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franklin looks to clinch

and Luceno counters by moving into the clinch.
Franklin looking to slow down the pace here.
Franklin working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Luceno manages to pull guard.
Luceno working a defensive guard but Franklin passes into half guard.
Franklin trying to mount his opponent but Luceno defends it.
Franklin controlling the pace.

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.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Eddie Franklin hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Franklin closes the distance but Luceno moves to the side
and Luceno counters with a right hand to the body.
Luceno tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Franklin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Luceno.
Luceno tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Franklin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Luceno.
Franklin tries to clinch but Luceno moves away

and Luceno holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Franklin.

Franklin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Franklin moves to clinch but Luceno breaks away

and Luceno counters with a shoot takedown. Franklin fights it but they end up in guard.

Franklin pushes Luceno off and gets back to his feet.

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

so Luceno counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Luceno looking to sit in guard and control but Franklin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Luceno throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Franklin escapes and throws Luceno's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luceno tries to bench press Franklin off him but Franklin keeps the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franklin takes a little break here. Luceno wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Labayen Luceno dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Franklin tries to clinch up

and Luceno counters by moving into the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Franklin.
Luceno blocking some punches.
Franklin wants to break free but Luceno has control.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franklin throws a head kick that half lands.

Franklin lands a big head kick that sends Luceno tumbling to the mat! Franklin takes a step backwards and waves Luceno back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Luceno is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Franklin tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Luceno counters by moving into the clinch.
Franklin misses with some punches.
Franklin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Luceno is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Franklin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Franklin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Franklin is looking to break free of the clinch but Luceno has double underhooks.
Luceno misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Franklin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Franklin scores with a nice hook to the head.
Franklin working aggressively here.
Franklin throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin is trying to break the clinch but Luceno has him pressed against the cage.

Luceno escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Luceno tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Luceno throws a sloppy head kick and Franklin moves out of range easily.
Franklin closes the distance looking to clinch

and Luceno counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A short left from Franklin.
Franklin throws a punch but it's blocked by Luceno.
A body shot lands from Franklin.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Luceno is trying to drag Franklin to the mat but Franklin just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Luceno takes a shot to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Franklin.
Eddie Franklin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Franklin can't find room to land a body shot as Luceno controls the action.
Franklin pushes Luceno back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Franklin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Franklin closes the distance but Luceno moves to the side

and Luceno counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Franklin.
Luceno takes a shot to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Franklin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Luceno avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Franklin misses with a punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Franklin's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Franklin tries to break the clinch but Luceno is controlling the position.

Luceno decides to pull guard.
Luceno looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Franklin puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Franklin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Luceno tries to roll over but Franklin keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Eddie Franklin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Franklin darts in trying to clinch

and Luceno holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Franklin working hard to break the clinch.
Franklin lands a nice uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Franklin.

Luceno has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Franklin uses from the top position.
Franklin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Eddie Franklin wasn't active enough on the ground.
Franklin moves to clinch but Luceno breaks away

and Luceno counters by moving into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Franklin.

Luceno successfully pulls guard.
Luceno wants to sweep here but Franklin controlling him for the moment.
Eddie Franklin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Labayen Luceno is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Luceno controls Franklin momentarily but Franklin frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Labayen Luceno has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Franklin tries to clinch up

and Luceno counters with a nice double leg into side control. Franklin won't be happy with that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eddie Franklin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Luceno has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Labayen Luceno!