PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Scott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Scott has chosen Massive Attack - One thought at a time as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Franklin
vs
Scott

183 cm
22
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Machina Clothing (Formerly Ares Combatwear)
SPARTAN FIGHTWARE

Machina Clothing (Formerly Ares Combatwear)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Franklin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, James Scott!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Russell Pearce and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin loads up on a big right hand but Scott slips the punch.
Scott walks into a left hand.
Franklin scores with a hook to the body. Scott takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Franklin ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Franklin throws a jab but it's blocked by Scott.
Scott misses with a hook. Franklin ducked under it nicely.
Franklin lands a jab to Scott's midsection.
Franklin scores with a hook.
Franklin clobbers Scott with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Scott closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Franklin to the mat! Franklin manages to get full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Scott throwing strikes but missing.
Scott working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Scott passes Franklin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Scott throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Scott moves into full mount! Franklin won't be happy about that!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franklin working to try and regain half guard.
Scott thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Franklin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Franklin tries to get out of the position.

Scott has control of Franklin's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Franklin regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Franklin wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Scott.

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.
Franklin is trying desperately to improve position.
Franklin is working hard here to advance position.

Scott with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Franklin is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Franklin tries to hold on but Scott postures up.
Scott throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scott wants to control the pace but Franklin is squirming around nicely.
Scott misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Franklin regains half guard.
Scott not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Scott missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Franklin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Scott on the ground.
Scott wants to control but Franklin is keeping him busy.
Scott missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Scott trying to control the action but Franklin is working from the bottom.
Scott throwing shots but Franklin is blocking nicely.
Franklin keeping control of the position.

That's four 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 avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Scott.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Franklin cracks a nice hook into Scott's ribs.
Franklin thuds a left hand into Scott's body.
Franklin connects with a nice looking jab.
Scott slips under a jab from Franklin.
Scott has a takedown stuffed.
Scott fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Franklin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Franklin lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Scott doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Franklin lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Scott avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Franklin lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Scott keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Franklin.
Franklin scores with a nice strike.
Scott shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Franklin as he avoids it easily.
Jab by Franklin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Scott is rocked!
An inside leg kick lands from Franklin.
Scott is breathing heavily.
Scott fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Scott tries to clinch up but Franklin circles away and keeps his distance.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Franklin, as that shot connected.
Franklin lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Franklin.
Scott is still on wobbly legs! Can Franklin finish him?
Scott fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Scott seems to have recovered his senses.
Mark Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Scott.
Franklin chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin's corner calls for a 1-2. Franklin obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franklin tests Scott's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Scott tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Franklin swivels and escapes.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Franklin!
Scott shoots in but no luck this time.
Franklin throws a shot to the body.
Franklin cracks Scott with a right hand to the side of the head.
Franklin cracks Scott with a good jab.
Nice combo by Franklin! Oh, that's hurt him - Scott falls to the canvas and Franklin follows him into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scott trying to remain calm as Franklin controls from the top position.
Scott tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Franklin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Franklin in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Scott has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Scott is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Franklin is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's four 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.
Franklin controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Scott tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Scott wants to hold on but Franklin pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franklin controlling the pace for now.
Scott keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Franklin dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Franklin tests Scott's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Franklin throws a good cross that connects.
Scott takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Franklin cracks Scott with a right hand to the side of the head.
Scott gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Scott shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Franklin holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scott scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Franklin is staying active underneath Scott, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Scott takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Franklin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Scott.
Scott seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Franklin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Scott throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Franklin tries to roll over but Scott keeps him under control.

Scott is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Franklin defends it well.
Scott looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Scott shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Franklin as he avoids it easily.
Scott has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Franklin fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Franklin scores with a shot to the body.
Franklin lands with a hook. Scott tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Franklin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Franklin fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Franklin scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Franklin throws a shot to the body.
Scott takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Franklin cracks Scott with a right hand to the side of the head.
Franklin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Franklin jabs at Scott's body.
Scott takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Scott takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Franklin lands a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scott takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Franklin fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Mark Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Scott takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Franklin feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Scott's calf.
Franklin connects with a crisp jab.
Franklin throws out a powerful jab.
Franklin scores with a jab to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franklin connects with a jab.
Scott has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Scott there as he acknowledges the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Franklin clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Franklin scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Franklin cracks Scott with an open hand slap.
A left and a right from Franklin both land. Nice combination.
Scott looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Franklin is fending him off so far but Scott persists. Nope, Franklin circles away and we're back to standing.
Franklin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Scott.
Franklin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Franklin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Scott's head.
Scott is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Franklin drops Scott with a big left hand! Scott is injured, injured bad! Franklin jumps in and finished him with strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:52 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mark Franklin!
Mark Franklin is the new middleweight champion!