PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jose Aldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aldo's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Parado Na Esquina. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aldo
vs
Franklin

170 cm
26
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jose Aldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin is looking to clinch but Aldo is avoiding it.
Aldo looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Franklin falls off balance throwing a combination

and Aldo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Franklin!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Franklin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Franklin is trying to stand up.

Aldo goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Franklin turns into him and now he's in Aldo's guard.
Franklin looking to pass the guard.
Franklin postures up in Aldo's guard and throws a big left but Aldo blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin wants to get up but he can't break Aldo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Franklin tries to free his leg and advance position but Aldo is retaining full guard.
Franklin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Aldo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aldo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Franklin slips nicely into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franklin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Franklin working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Franklin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aldo defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Aldo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Aldo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Franklin.
Franklin trying to pass the guard but Aldo defending well.
Franklin thows a huge punch but Aldo dodges it nicely.
Aldo is refusing to be controlled, as Franklin sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Aldo's head.
Franklin trying to control from half guard but Aldo is working away.
Franklin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Franklin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Aldo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Franklin.
Franklin throws a strike but Aldo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Aldo manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Franklin has his feet on Aldo's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Franklin fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Aldo to the ground. Franklin is now in Aldo's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Franklin dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Franklin has taken the fight to the clinch.
Franklin lands a body shot.

Franklin jumps guard and drags Aldo to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Franklin pulls Aldo in close to prevent any damage.
Franklin wants to sweep but no luck.

Franklin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Aldo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Aldo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Aldo is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Franklin is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Franklin has escaped and now he's on top!
Franklin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Aldo's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin trying to control the position from guard on top but Aldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franklin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Franklin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Aldo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Franklin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Franklin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin throws a strike but Aldo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Aldo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Franklin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Aldo has managed to get both his arms back between Franklin's legs - danger averted.

Franklin working for a triangle but Aldo defends it easily.

Aldo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Aldo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Franklin wants to stand and escape but Aldo is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo passes Franklin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Aldo wants to pass the guard but Franklin is defending well.
Franklin wants to control but Aldo is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Aldo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Franklin has managed to free his arm - good work.

Franklin is defending against the submission attempts here by Aldo.
Aldo wants to pass to mount but Franklin is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin manages to get to full guard.

Aldo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Aldo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Aldo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Franklin dives on top into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Franklin postures up in Aldo's guard and throws a big left but Aldo blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Franklin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Franklin throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Aldo counters with a single leg into guard. Franklin didn't expect that.
Franklin is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Franklin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Franklin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Aldo postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Franklin is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Aldo, into his guard.
Franklin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Aldo is proving hard to escape from.
Franklin throws an elbow that misses. Aldo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Franklin's guard. Nice move by Aldo!

Aldo drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Franklin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Aldo has Franklin in his guard.
Franklin looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin throws a strike but Aldo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Franklin managing to control the position.
Franklin wants to sweep here but Aldo controlling him for the moment.
Franklin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aldo postures up.

Aldo drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Aldo seems to have locked his on tight now - Franklin screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Aldo, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Jose Aldo!