PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Freddie Weeks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rickard Franzen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rickard Franzen will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Weeks
vs
Franzen

172 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

178 cm
20
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Max Octane Fight Wear
Machine Fight Gear

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Freddie Weeks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rickard Franzen!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Franzen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Franzen tries to advance to mount but can't.
Franzen throws a strike aimed at the side of Weeks's head but Weeks avoids it well.
Franzen is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Weeks will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Franzen wants to control for a moment but Weeks uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Weeks has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Franzen is working away from the top position though.
Franzen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franzen throwing shots but Weeks is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Weeks is looking to control Franzen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Weeks avoid being mounted?
Weeks keeping control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franzen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Franzen thows a huge punch but Weeks dodges it nicely.
Franzen slips a nice elbow through Weeks's hands, connecting with Weeks's forehead.
Franzen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Weeks is holding on to half guard well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Franzen wants to take a breather but Weeks is having none of it.
Franzen looks to land a strike but Weeks avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Weeks keeping moving, preventing Franzen from controlling successfully.
Franzen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franzen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Franzen wanted to stand there but Weeks had control of the position.
Franzen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Franzen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Weeks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Franzen throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A big right from Weeks misses.
Franzen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Weeks was well out of range. Poor timing from Franzen.
As Franzen looks to move away, Weeks throws a big counter combo bu Franzen just gets out of the way.

Franzen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Franzen thows a huge punch but Weeks dodges it nicely.

Franzen is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franzen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Franzen stalling away here and it's allowed Weeks to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Franzen trying to control the position from guard on top but Weeks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Weeks trying to keep a closed guard but Franzen is proving a slippery customer.
Franzen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Weeks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Franzen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four 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.
Franzen trying to control the position from guard on top but Weeks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franzen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Weeks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Franzen postures up in Weeks's guard and throws a big left but Weeks blocks it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Weeks has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Franzen.
Franzen thows a left - swing and a miss!
It looked like Weeks was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Franzen closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Weeks's guard.
Franzen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Franzen looking to sit in guard and control but Weeks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franzen trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickard Franzen 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.

Weeks walks into a jab.
Weeks throws a lazy uppercut
and Franzen counters with a straight right hand.
Franzen misses with a lunging right hand
and Weeks counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Franzen ducks under a wild hook from Weeks.
Franzen tries to land a front kick but Weeks steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Weeks was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Weeks throws out a loose jab but Franzen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Weeks fails to land with a series of punches.
Freddie Weeks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Weeks slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franzen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Weeks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Franzen misses with a head kick.
Franzen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Franzen moves away from the strike by Weeks.
Weeks could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weeks missing with a left hand there. Franzen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Franzen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Franzen trying to land knees to the body.
Franzen lands an uppercut.
Franzen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Franzen has a couple of punches blocked by Weeks.
Franzen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Franzen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Weeks's elbow.
Franzen misses with a punch on the inside.

Franzen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Franzen dodges the punch combination from Weeks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franzen lands a nice shot that snaps Weeks's head back.
Weeks fails to land with a series of punches.
Rickard Franzen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franzen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Weeks.
Franzen steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Weeks.
Weeks lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Weeks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A combination from Weeks does no damage.
Franzen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Franzen has managed to clinch.
Weeks blocks an uppercut.
Franzen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Weeks blocks it with crossed arms.

Franzen manages to break the clinch.
Franzen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Weeks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Franzen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Franzen. Beautiful body shot.
Weeks slips a jab and a cross from Franzen.
Weeks misses with the combination.
Weeks misses with a hook
and Franzen counters with a low kick, right behind Weeks 's knee.
Nice jab there from Franzen.
Franzen throws a right hand that misses
and Weeks cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Franzen misses with a combination
and Weeks counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Franzen has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short right from Franzen.
A nice left hand lands by Franzen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Franzen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Franzen.
Franzen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Weeks blocks it with crossed arms.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Franzen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Weeks's brow.
Franzen lands a right hand.
Franzen is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Franzen utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Franzen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Weeks.
Franzen leaning his opponent against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickard Franzen 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!

Weeks is looking to clinch.
Franzen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Weeks misses with a combination
and Weeks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Weeks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Franzen moves into range and clinches up with Weeks.
Franzen misses with a punch to the body.
Franzen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Franzen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weeks is trying to pull guard but Franzen has him pressed against the cage.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Franzen drives through and clinches with Weeks against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Franzen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Weeks being controlled against the cage.

Franzen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Franzen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Franzen misses with a wild combination.
Franzen loads up on a big right hand but Weeks slips the punch.
Franzen tests Weeks's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franzen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Weeks misses with a looping left.
Franzen misses with a wild combination.
Franzen swings widly with a right hand
and Weeks counters with a one-two to the body.

Franzen pushes Weeks up against the cage in a clinch.
Rickard Franzen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Weeks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Weeks jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Franzen walks away with a smile on his face. Weeks gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Franzen slips a straight right by Weeks.
Franzen is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Franzen dodges the punch combination from Weeks.
Danga de danga de dang - Franzen scores with a four punch combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weeks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Franzen circles away quickly and effectively.
No joy there for Weeks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Franzen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Weeks scores with a one two! Franzen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franzen throws a right and a left that Weeks avoids nicely.
Weeks fails to land with a series of punches.
Rickard Franzen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Franzen misses with a body kick.
Weeks tries to counter by clinching up but Franzen breaks away and moves out of range.
Franzen with a nice cross.
Franzen throws an overhand right that lands on Weeks's shoulder, as Weeks tries to avoid the shot.
Weeks feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Franzens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Franzen misses with a straight left.
Rickard Franzen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Franzen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Weeks appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franzen lands a lovely overhand right.
Franzen misses with a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Franzen connects with the punch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Franzen. That's going to slow Weeks down.
Franzen lands a nice looking body shot.

Franzen tries to keep at a distance but Weeks has taken the fight into the clinch.
Franzen misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Weeks.
Franzen lands a shoulder strike.
Freddie Weeks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Weeks takes an elbow to the forehead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rickard Franzen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Franzen 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rickard Franzen!
Our winner, Rickard Franzen, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.