PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hans Gruber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron 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.

Gruber
vs
Franklin

175 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hans Gruber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aaron Franklin!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gruber closes the distance and clinches.
Gruber is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Franklin pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gruber working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Gruber working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Gruber breaks from the clinch.
Gruber throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Franklin's waist but Franklin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gruber off to one side.

Franklin drives through with a takedown into guard.
Franklin is stalling in the full guard.
Gruber wants to control but Franklin passes easily into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franklin moves into full mount! Gruber won't be happy about that!
Franklin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gruber can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin trying to control but Gruber is having none of it.
Franklin with shots to the head and body - Gruber looks very uncomfortable down there.
Franklin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Franklin throwing strikes here but Gruber is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Gruber is squirming around, avoiding Franklin's attempts to control the action.
Gruber is bucking up trying to escape but Franklin cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

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.
Gruber holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Franklin tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Gruber is looking to improve his position but Franklin isn't that keen on the idea.
Gruber tries to lock up and control but Franklin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Franklin controlling from the full mount.
Franklin manages to capitalize on a mistake by Gruber to take his back!
Gruber is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Gruber is working hard here to advance position.
Gruber wants to control his opponent's hands but Franklin gets his hands free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Gruber right now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gruber tries to escape the position.
Gruber covering up well under a series of strikes from Franklin.
Gruber is really stuck here.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Franklin controlling the positon.

Franklin looking for the RNC.
Franklin looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Gruber showing good submission defense here.
Gruber is trying to get back to his feet but Franklin has full control of the position and if anything, Gruber has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Franklin has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Gruber trying to control the hands but Franklin won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Franklin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gruber explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Gruber forces Franklin back against the cage and clinches.

Gruber breaks the clinch.
Gruber tries for a takedown but Franklin circles away easily

and Franklin counters with a single leg into guard. Gruber didn't expect that.
Gruber looking for a sweep. Not yet Gruber, not yet.
Franklin wants to stand but Gruber has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gruber has his hands on Franklin's head, controlling the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gruber is trying to keep Franklin in close.
Franklin is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gruber pulls Franklin in close to prevent any damage.

Gruber had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Franklin is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Gruber Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Franklin's back instead.

Gruber patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Franklin staying busy and making it hard for Gruber to control.

Gruber is persistently looking for the submission but Franklin is defending it well.

That's two 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 really must keep his cool here. He's controlling one of Gruber's hands and whilst he does that, he's got a chance of escaping the position.
Gruber struggling to land strikes to the head as Franklin covers up.
Gruber is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Franklin defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Gruber's arms.
Gruber throwing sloppy strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin breaks Gruber's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Gruber controlling Franklin's posture.
Gruber is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gruber not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gruber is controlling Franklin's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Franklin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gruber swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gruber is controlling Franklin's posture.
Gruber tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Franklin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gruber tries to strike from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Franklin takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Gruber closes the distance and clinches up with Franklin, looking for a takedown. Gruber pushes Franklin against the cage but Franklin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gruber fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hans Gruber dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gruber looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Gruber trying to control the position from guard on top but Franklin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franklin working a defensive guard here.
Gruber postures up in Franklin's guard and throws a big left but Franklin blocks it.
Gruber is looking to work some ground and pound but Franklin has wrist control.
Gruber thows a big elbow that misses.
Franklin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Franklin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gruber content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Franklin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gruber fails with the takedown.
Hans Gruber is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gruber doesn't manage to clinch there - Franklin circles away.
Gruber tries for a takedown but Franklin circles away easily

and Franklin counters by moving into the clinch.

Gruber breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Franklin wants to clinch

and Gruber counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Franklin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Franklin is defending against the submission attempts here by Gruber.
Aaron Franklin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Franklin wants to improve his position but Gruber is controlling well.
Gruber wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franklin keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gruber tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Franklin.
Gruber is trying to control the action in half guard but Franklin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Gruber seems content to control.
Franklin looks like he's trying to stand up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gruber shoots and misses

and Franklin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gruber's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hans Gruber. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gruber is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Franklin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gruber wants to sweep here but Franklin controlling him for the moment.
Franklin trying to control but Gruber is working from the bottom.
Franklin stopping the sweep attempt from Gruber.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hans Gruber showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gruber 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hans Gruber!