PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Mcpaene (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aaron Franklin could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Joe Mcpaene's chin.

Franklin
vs
Mcpaene

178 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
184 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aaron Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Mcpaene!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shigeki Sano and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mcpaene closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Franklin pushes Mcpaene off looking to stand but Mcpaene dives back in and keeps control.
Franklin wants to improve his position but Mcpaene is controlling well.
Franklin pushes Mcpaene off looking to stand but Mcpaene dives back in and keeps control.
Franklin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mcpaene.
Mcpaene is tying to control. Franklin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Franklin is pressing down on Mcpaene's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Mcpaene from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Franklin with a poor takedown

and Mcpaene counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Franklin!
Franklin is trying to escape the mount but Mcpaene keeps good control and instead manages to take Franklin's back.
Franklin tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Franklin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Franklin is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcpaene tries to control but Franklin wriggling away.
Franklin wants to try and get back to his feet.

Mcpaene working for a submission but Franklin is keeping him at bay.
Franklin wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Franklin can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Mcpaene working for a guillotine from mount but Franklin is in no mood to give up.
Franklin bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Franklin throws a strike but Mcpaene rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Mcpaene missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mcpaene prevents Franklin from getting back to his feet.
Mcpaene tries to free his leg and advance position but Franklin is retaining full guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Mcpaene from controlling successfully.
Mcpaene wants to pass the guard but Franklin is keeping the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Franklin moves into the clinch.

Mcpaene has Franklin pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Mcpaene pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Franklin tumbling to the mat - Mcpaene dives into Franklin's guard.
Mcpaene trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcpaene trying to control the position from guard on top but Franklin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mcpaene postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Franklin pulls Mcpaene in close to prevent any damage.
Franklin controls Mcpaene momentarily but Mcpaene frees himself.
Mcpaene is pushing down on Franklin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Franklin is fighting to maintain full guard but Mcpaene has managed to sneak the leg through.
Franklin trying to control here.
Franklin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mcpaene.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Mcpaene 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.

Franklin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mcpaene decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Franklin's guard.

Franklin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mcpaene doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mcpaene manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Franklin keeping moving, preventing Mcpaene from controlling successfully.
Mcpaene sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Franklin's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mcpaene looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Mcpaene is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Franklin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mcpaene.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mcpaene wants to pass to mount but Franklin is defending the position.
Mcpaene is looking to take a break and control but Franklin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Franklin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mcpaene's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mcpaene's back!
Mcpaene covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Franklin's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Franklin keeps control of the position as Mcpaene tries to break free.
Franklin is trying to stick to Mcpaene's back but Mcpaene is turning into Franklin. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Franklin's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Mcpaene.

Mcpaene drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Franklin dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcpaene trying to keep a closed guard but Franklin is proving a slippery customer.

Mcpaene escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Franklin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Franklin stands up and waves to Mcpaene to follow him.
Franklin with a lazy takedown attempt

so Mcpaene counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mcpaene stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Franklin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mcpaene trying to control but Franklin is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcpaene passes Franklin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mcpaene is looking to take a break and control but Franklin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Franklin keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Mcpaene is looking for a kimura but Franklin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mcpaene to get the leverage.
Franklin is looking to improve his position.
Mcpaene wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franklin keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Mcpaene showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mcpaene has his takedown stuffed

and Franklin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Franklin scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Franklin wants to take a breather but Mcpaene is having none of it.
Joe Mcpaene has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mcpaene wants to improve his position but Franklin is controlling well.
Mcpaene moves into full guard.
Mcpaene can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Franklin controls the pace.
Franklin trying to control the position from guard on top but Mcpaene is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin looking to sit in guard and control but Mcpaene gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franklin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mcpaene tries to free his leg and advance position but Franklin is retaining full guard.

Franklin looking for a guillotine here but Mcpaene defends easily.
Mcpaene trying to control the position from guard on top but Franklin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Mcpaene throws a big right hand that misses.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Franklin misses with a takedown

so Mcpaene counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Franklin looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Mcpaene puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Mcpaene is trying to work for a kimura but Franklin is defending well.
Franklin wants to improve his position but Mcpaene is controlling well.
Mcpaene trying to control from Franklin's half guard. Franklin has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mcpaene has gone for a leg lock! Franklin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mcpaene's guard.
Franklin trying to control but Mcpaene is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mcpaene looking to hit a scissor sweep but Franklin is one step ahead there.
Franklin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Franklin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mcpaene controls Franklin momentarily but Franklin frees himself.
Franklin wants to stand but Mcpaene has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mcpaene is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Franklin sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mcpaene avoids a punch combination nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Aaron Franklin.
I think Mcpaene 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Mcpaene!