PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Julian May (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darius Frank (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.

May
vs
Frank

160 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Julian May!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Darius Frank!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Frank rushes May and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
May misses with the head strike.
Frank blocking some punches.
Frank effectively controlling the action here.
May gets through Frank's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Frank lands a takedown into guard.
Frank wanted to stand there but May had control of the position.
Frank wants to control from the top but May keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frank in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Frank landing with the ground and pound.
May controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frank pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. May is keeping the position for now.
May wants to sweep here but Frank controlling him for the moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Frank looking to sit in guard and control but May gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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.
Frank wants to sweep but no luck.
May might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
May throws a big right hand that misses.
May sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Frank wants to get back to his feet but May is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
May is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
May throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Frank darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

May has one foot on Frank's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
May avoids the head kick by Frank.
Frank is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Frank feints and as May raises his hands in defense, Frank changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Frank pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. May is keeping the position for now.
May has Frank pulled in close to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Frank tries to free his leg and advance position but May is retaining full guard.

May is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Frank is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
May trying to control the position here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Frank avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Julian May will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

May misses with a takedown attempt - Frank sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

May drives through with a takedown into guard.

May has gone for a leg lock! Frank slips out almost immediately though and dives into May's guard.

Frank has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of May is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Frank lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Frank seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
May working a defensive guard but Frank manages to pass into side control anyway.

Frank looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Frank decides to stand back up. Frank steps back and let's May get back to his feet.

Frank pushes May up against the cage in a clinch.
May just leaning against Frank, taking a breather.

Frank successfully pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frank tries to land a sweep but no joy.
May wants to get up but he can't break Frank's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
May looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
May stopping the sweep attempt from Frank.
Frank can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as May controls the pace.

May decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Frank drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
May not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Frank trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Frank content to stall in guard here.
May controls Frank momentarily but Frank frees himself.
Frank wants to get up but he can't break May's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frank stands up over May, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Frank is working May over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Frank looking to sit in guard and control but May gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Frank is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
May could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Frank is breathing heavily.
May is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Darius Frank has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Frank controls May momentarily but May frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darius Frank showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Frank throws a head kick but May moves out of range.
May appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Crunch! Frank slams his shin into May's torso.

Frank moves into the clinch.
Frank looking to stall.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by May as Frank tries to tie him up.
Frank is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Frank lands with a short shot to the head.
Frank blocks an elbow strike from May.
Frank has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Frank ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Frank no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Frank is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Frank is working an open guard so May takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Frank fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging May to the ground. Frank is now in May's guard.
May wants to sweep here but Frank controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Frank loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Frank stands up and waves to May to follow him.
Frank misses with a wild combination.
Frank takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
May shoots in for a takedown but Frank shows good takedown defense.
Frank pushes May away with a front kick.
Frank tries to clinch up but May circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frank wants to clinch up but May keeps it at a distance.

May throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Frank was covering up waiting for the punch and May finishes the takedown easily into guard.
May wants to control from the top but Frank keeps moving.
May controlling from the top position.

May decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Frank, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
May connects with a high kick.

Frank looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Frank seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
May is controlling Frank's trapped leg to prevent Frank from advancing to side control.
Frank tries to stand and escape but May is controlling the position.
Frank thows a huge punch but May dodges it nicely.
Frank stalling away here and it's allowed May to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Frank trying to stand up but can't free himself from May's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Frank advances to half guard.

Frank postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for May to stand up.

Frank changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. May looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Frank working away.
Frank working the body and head with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
May is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Frank wants to stand but May has his arm trapped.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darius Frank comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Frank 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darius Frank!
In his post fight interview, Darius Frank gave a big smile as he said 'I just want to thank God, my trainers, my fans, friends, and family for supporting me as I live out my dreams. King Sprooch will take the throne! God Bless!'.