PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Bower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bower is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Triple H Theme Song. Dave Bower has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Franklin
vs
Bower

183 cm
24
190 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

175 cm
21
190 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

•‡• LION Clothing •‡•

Deadly Clothing

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dave Bower!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Franklyn Lucas and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bower tries to bum rush Franklin with a series of wild strikes but Franklin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bower keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bower's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Bower duly obliges.
Franklin slips a jab and a cross from Bower.
Franklin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bower shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Franklin as he jumps to the side.
Bower takes one to the chin there.
Franklin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bower.
Bower fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mark Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Bower.
Bower shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Franklin as he jumps to the side.
Franklin misses the shot to the body.
Bower connects with a crisp jab.
Bower misses with a takedown attempt - Franklin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Franklin momentarily.
Bower lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Franklin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bower moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
No joy there for Franklin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bower misses with a double jab
and Franklin counters with a nice body shot.
A jab from Franklin misses.
Bower lands a really nice looking cross but Franklin seems unphased.
Bower misses with the combination.
Franklin scores with a decent looking hook.
Bower is trying hard to land a takedown here. Franklin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Franklin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bower swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Franklin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bower moves out of range as Franklin strikes.
Franklin tests Bower's chin there with a solid looking shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Franklin.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franklin connects with a right hand. Bower shakes it off.
Bower throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bower throws a shot from downtown. Franklin moves away and avoids it.
Franklin lands a with a good body shot.
Franklin fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bower.
Bower looks gassed!
Bower throws the left hand but Franklin avoids the punch easily.
Franklin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Franklin misses with a hook. Bower ducked under it nicely.
Bower scores with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin works Bower's body with a nice hook.
Bower pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bower takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Franklin moves out of range as Bower strikes.
Franklin misses with a looping left.
No luck for Bower with that takedown attempt.
Bower pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bower is trying desperately to land a takedown but Franklin is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Bower.
Bower fails with a takedown attempt.
Bower displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Franklin throws out the jab.
Franklin is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Bower pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bower is defended easily by Franklin.
Mark Franklin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Franklin.
Franklin misses with a straight left.
Dave Bower seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bower misses with a hook. Franklin ducked under it nicely.
Franklin thows a body shot but no joy.
An inside leg kick from Bower misses.
Franklin slips a straight right by Bower.
Franklin bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bower's head backwards.
Franklin throws a jab but it's blocked by Bower.
Franklin throws a shot from downtown. Bower moves away and avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bower ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Bower decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Bower tries to pass to full mount but Franklin defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Franklin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bower misses with a hook. Franklin ducked under it nicely.
Bower throws a nice looking combination but Franklin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bower throws a lazy right hand but Franklin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bower closes this distance looking for a takedown but Franklin circles away.
Bower shoots in for a takedown but Franklin shows good takedown defense.
Mark Franklin is winning the standup battle so far.
Franklin moves away from the strike by Bower.
The fighters circling - Bower throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Franklin paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Bower swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Franklin scores with a nice right hand.

Franklin drops Bower with a beautiful combination! Bower stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Franklin is looking for the KO!

Bower is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Franklin feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Bower sprawling to the canvas! Bower rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Franklin finish him?!
Bower is still on wobbly legs! Can Franklin finish him?
Franklin throws a shot from downtown. Bower moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Bower seems to have recovered his senses.
Bower is breathing heavily.
A combination from Franklin does no damage.
Bower misses with a double jab
letting Franklin counter with a right hand.
Nice shot by Franklin.
Bower throws a jab but it's blocked by Franklin.
Franklin sizes up Bower with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Franklin slips under a jab.
Nice shot lands for Franklin.
Franklin cracks Bower with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Franklin takes a swing at Bower's ribcage but misses.
Bower throws a lazy right hand but Franklin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Franklin throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bower stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Franklin throws a body punch but Bower moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bower takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Franklin cracks Bower with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Franklin catches Bower with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bower throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Franklin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Franklin misses with a straight left.
Franklin leaves Bower with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mark Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Bower.
Franklin with a jab.
Franklin scores with a jab to the jaw.
Bower connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Franklin momentarily.
Franklin tries a low kick but Bower avoids it.
Bower throws a combination that misses
and Franklin counters with a nice uppercut.
Bower shoots in looking for a takedown. Franklin tries to sprawl out of it but Bower keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Franklin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Franklin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Franklin lands a jab to the head.
Franklin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bower can do to turn this around?
Franklin lands the left hand.
Bower missing with a left hand there. Franklin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bower will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bower shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franklin but Franklin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bower tries a low kick but Franklin avoids it.
Nice shot by Franklin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bower swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bower doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Franklin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The crowd cheers as Franklin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bower doesn't seem phased though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bower blocks a low kick nicely.
Bower slips a straight right by Franklin.
Franklin tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Bower is able to avoid easily.
Franklin digs a good hook to Bower's body.
Franklin lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Franklin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bower on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Bower checks the leg kick nicely there.
Bower moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bower throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Bower is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Franklin throws a hook but Bower avoids it easily.
Franklin tries a low kick but Bower avoids it.
Bower throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Franklin counters with a nice uppercut.
A left lands for Bower.
Franklin lands a nice hook to Bower's body. Bower takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Franklin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bower.
Bower swinging wilding here.
A big right from Bower misses.
Franklin defending well as Bower loads up on a big left hand.
Bower misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A punch combination from Bower misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Bower.
Bower takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bower will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Franklin tries to work over Bower's front leg with a kick but Bower checks it.
Franklin fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bower on the side of the head.
Dave Bower is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Franklin throws and low kick but Bower moves out of range easily.
Bower misses with a double jab.
Bower waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Franklin.
Bower uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Franklin.
Franklin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bower was well out of range. Poor timing from Franklin.
Franklin digs a good hook to Bower's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bower with a poor takedown
and Franklin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Franklin lands with a hook. Bower tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Bower lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Bower throws a jab but it's blocked by Franklin.
A lazy left from Franklin finds it's target.
A nice inside leg kick there by Franklin. That's going to slow Bower down.
Bower throws a jab but it's blocked by Franklin.
Bower throws a jab when Franklin was well out of range.
Bower throws a lazy right hand but Franklin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bower throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bower takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bower takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Franklin looks to land a right hand but Bower moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bower looks to land a right hand but Franklin moved out of range.
Bower checks a leg kick nicely.
Bower with a lazy takedown attempt
and Franklin counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mark Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dave Bower.
A swing and a miss from Bower.
Bower misses with a looping right.
Bower walks into a jab.
Franklin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bower lands with a nice combination. Franklin backs away looking to recover.
Bower looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bower throws a hook to the side of Franklin's head but Franklin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Franklin does it's job there.
Franklin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Franklin ducks under a wild hook from Bower.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Franklin walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Bower falls off balance throwing a combination
and Franklin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bower misses with a series of wild punches.
Bower misses with a double jab
and Franklin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dave Bower has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mark Franklin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Franklin scores with a shot to the body.
Franklin throws a hook but Bower blocks it.
Franklin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Franklin staying out of range there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Franklin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Franklin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:26
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Franklin!