PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Royce Franks (ranked 24774 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Lipski (ranked 24721 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Franks
vs
Lipski

194 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

200 cm
24
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 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 heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royce Franks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Lipski!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lipski lands a big uppercut and Franks crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Franks looks OK. Lipski waves Franks back to his feet!

It looks like Royce Franks has been cut.

Franks takes the fight into the clinch.

Lipski has picked Franks up - he's going for a ride! Lipski dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franks tries to get to full guard but Lipski has control of the leg.

Lipski is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Franks is just riding it out for now. Lipski eventually gives up the hold.
Franks wants to improve his position but Lipski is controlling well.

Lipski is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Franks trying to control but Lipski postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lipski is working for a submission of some sort.

Lipski is working for a submission of some sort.
Franks is staying active underneath Lipski, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Lipski seems to be working for a kimura but Franks defends the submission attempt.
Lipski is thwarting Franks's attempts to control the position.

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.

Lipski is working for a kimura but Franks is defending it quite comfortably.

Lipski is trying to work for a kimura but Franks is defending well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Franks manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lipski wants to control from the top but Franks keeps moving.
Franks looking for a sweep. Not yet Franks, not yet.
Lipski wants to control from the top but Franks keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Gabriel Lipski is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Lipski closes the distance and clinches.

Lipski pulls guard.
Franks is looking to stand up but Lipski won't let him.
Franks wants to control from the top but Lipski keeps moving.
Franks sitting in guard here, content to control.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lipski drops Franks with a beautiful combination! Franks stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Lipski is looking for the KO!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lipski darts in and clinches Franks up against the cage.

Lipski breaks the clinch.

Lipski clinches up against the cage.
Lipski blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Lipski has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Franks regains guard immediately.
Franks looking to control.
Lipski won't allow Franks to sweep him here.

Lipski drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lipski jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lipski trying to control the position from guard on top but Franks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Lipski dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Royce Franks's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Franks looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Lipski has closed the distance and engaged Franks in a clinch.
Franks is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Lipski pulls guard successfully.

Lipski throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lipski keeping moving, preventing Franks from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lipski has a closed guard, preventing Franks from standing up.

Franks gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Gabriel Lipski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lipski darts in and clinches Franks up against the cage.
Franks trying to land knees to the body.
Lipski's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Franks tries to break the clinch but Lipski is controlling the position.
Franks has had enough of the clinch but Lipski keeps him there for the moment.

Lipski tightens his grip and picks Franks up, before dumping him to the ground. Franks manages to land in guard.

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

Franks looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franks throws a big right hand that misses.
Lipski keeping moving, preventing Franks from controlling successfully.
Lipski looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lipski keeping moving, preventing Franks from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lipski tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Lipski is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Franks defends well.
Franks passes Lipski's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Franks is keen to just control but Lipski is a slippery customer.
Lipski is trying to get back to full guard.
Franks tries to stand but can't do so whilst Lipski controls his leg.
Gabriel Lipski has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lipski is not content to let Franks control the position.

That's four 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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Franks seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Franks shoots in looking for a takedown. Lipski tries to sprawl out of it but Franks keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lipski manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Lipski closes the distance and clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Franks pulls guard.
Franks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Lipski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Royce Franks's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Lipski instigates a clinch.

Lipski has Franks pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Lipski pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Franks tumbling to the mat - Lipski dives into Franks's guard.
Lipski stopping the sweep attempt from Franks.
Franks pulls Lipski in close to his closed guard and prevents Lipski from doing any damage or advancing position.
Lipski has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Franks working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lipski is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franks is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Franks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lipski is one step ahead there.
Lipski trying to control but Franks is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Franks shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Lipski takes the fight into the clinch.
Franks fails to pull guard.
Franks is trying to force a seperation but Lipski has the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Lipski has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Franks uses from the top position.
Lipski being controlled here, momentarily.
Franks trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lipski's guard.
Franks trying to control but Lipski is working from the bottom.
Franks is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lipski is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Franks looking to pass the guard.
Franks preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franks wants to stand but Lipski is controlling his posture from full guard.
Lipski tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Lipski closes the distance and pushes Franks back into the cage.
Franks tries to circle away but Lipski has him pinned against the cage.

Lipski gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Franks trying to control from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lipski is trying to work for a kimura but Franks is defending well.
Franks is trying to control but Lipski manages to pass to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lipski goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Franks turns into him and now he's in Lipski's guard.
Franks trying to control the position from guard on top but Lipski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franks stays in close to Lipski's body and controls the position.
Franks looking to sit in guard and control but Lipski gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lipski forces his way into half guard.
Royce Franks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gabriel Lipski is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lipski keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Lipski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lipski 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Lipski!