PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jaxon Franks (ranked 4115 p4p, 3363 weight class) and Dakarai Alaba (ranked 0 p4p, 164 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Franks
vs
Alaba

172 cm
22
230
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
25
285
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

30th Century Beer Store

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jaxon Franks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dakarai Alaba!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Franks. Alaba does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jab from Franks.
Franks misses with an uppercut.
Alaba wants to counter the offense by Franks and move into the clinch position.
Alaba tries to clinch but Franks is having none of it.
Franks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Franks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Alaba dodges the punch combination from Franks.
Alaba is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Franks throws a body shot but no joy.
Franks definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Franks throws a shot from downtown. Alaba moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alaba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Franks.
Franks works Alaba's body with a nice hook.
A right-left combo lands from Alaba.

Franks tries to keep at a distance but Alaba has taken the fight into the clinch.
Franks working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Alaba.
Alaba throws a punch but it's blocked by Franks.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Alaba.
Alaba dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Franks tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Alaba pressing his opponent against the cage.
Alaba lands a left hand.
Alaba stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alaba working aggressively here.
Alaba lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Alaba gets through Franks's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Alaba lands with a short shot to the head.
Alaba'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 lands with a left to the head.
Franks wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Alaba has a couple of punches blocked by Franks.
Alaba stalling against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Alaba.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alaba stalling the fight.
Alaba lands a right hand.
Alaba tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Alaba working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Alaba displaying some good clinch control by pressing Franks up against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Dakarai Alaba.
Alaba wants to clinch.
Franks keeps the fight on the outside.
We've been informed that Alaba has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alaba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Franks tries to counter by clinching up but Alaba breaks away and moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franks comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A swing and a miss from Franks.
Franks rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Alaba moves into the clinch.
Alaba'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.
Alaba has Franks pressed against the cage, preventing Franks from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Alaba is stalling here.
Alaba prevents Franks from breaking the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Alaba.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dakarai Alaba dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Alaba defending well as Franks loads up on a big left hand.
Franks lands a nice hook to Alaba's body. Alaba takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Franks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alaba moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Franks misses with a two punch combination.
Franks lands a jab.
Alaba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Franks.
A big right from Franks misses.
Alaba is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Jaxon Franks is winning the standup battle so far.
Franks swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
As Franks backs off Alaba throws a huge counter combo but Franks manages to avoid it all.
Franks loads up on a big right hand but Alaba slips the punch.
Alaba ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Alaba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Franks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alaba tries to clinch but Franks moves out of range.
Alaba wants to clinch up but Franks keeps it at a distance.
As Alaba tries to get set, Franks tries to push him back and clinch up but Alaba manages to avoid the attempt.
Alaba dodges the punch combination from Franks.
Jaxon Franks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alaba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Franks paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alaba takes the fight into the clinch.
Franks tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Alaba's elbow.
Franks managing to block the knees to the body from Alaba.
Alaba keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Franks's efforts to push away.
Alaba tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Alaba lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Franks backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Alaba.
Franks throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Alabas head.
Franks blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Franks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alaba lands with a left to the head.
Alaba taking a breather.
Franks is trying to break the clinch but Alaba is controlling him.
Franks being controlled against the cage.
Alaba tries to throw a body punch but Franks avoids it by throwing Alaba back against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A head punch on the inside from Alaba fails to land.
Alaba leaning against his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franks is pushing Alaba up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Franks's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Alaba misses with a hook to the ribs.
Alaba stalling.
Alaba scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Franks being controlled against the cage.
Franks has had enough of the clinch but Alaba keeps him there for the moment.
Alaba lands a right hand that snaps the head of Franks backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franks tries to break the clinch but Alaba is controlling the position.
Dakarai Alaba seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Alaba tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Alaba lands a hook that snaps the head of Franks backwards.
Alaba stalls.
The referee is keeping an eye on Alaba - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Franks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alaba tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Franks manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Franks loads up on a big right hand but Alaba slips the punch.
Alaba showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Franks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jaxon Franks will probably get the nod.
That's time! Franks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Franks throws a body shot but no joy.
Alaba tries to close the distance and clinch but Franks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Franks scores with a one two! Alaba had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Franks is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Alaba's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Franks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alaba moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Franks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alaba.
Franks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alaba.
Alaba is looking for the big counter here.
Alaba tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franks swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Alaba closes the distance and clinches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Franks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee calls for Alaba to work.
Alaba keeps control of Franks as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Alaba gets through Franks's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alaba throws a punch but it's blocked by Franks.
Alaba lands with a light punch inside.
Alaba working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Alaba lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Franks backwards.
Franks blocking some punches.
The referee is keeping an eye on Alaba - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Alaba stalls.
Alaba throws a punch but it's blocked by Franks.
Still in the clinch, Alaba scores with a nice short uppercut.
Franks on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alaba has a couple of punches blocked by Franks.
Alaba holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Franks wants to get back to striking at distance but Alaba won't allow it.
Franks blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Alaba.
Alaba misses with the head strike.
The referee is keeping an eye on Alaba - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Franks looking to stall.
Alaba throws a punch but it's blocked by Franks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franks is looking to break free of the clinch but Alaba has double underhooks.
Franks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Alaba softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Alaba holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A short right from Alaba.
Alaba tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Franks avoids it.
Alaba taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Alaba.
Franks is looking to break free of the clinch but Alaba has double underhooks.
Alaba lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Alaba'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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franks wants to get back to striking at distance but Alaba won't allow it.
Franks wants to break free but Alaba has control.
Alaba lands an uppercut.
Franks letting Alaba take a breather here.
Franks misses with a punch on the inside.
Alaba leaning against his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franks on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Alaba is pushing Franks up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Franks is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dakarai Alaba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Alaba 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dakarai Alaba!