PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brian Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky de Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Franklin
vs
de Silva

160 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brian Franklin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ricky de Silva!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franklin shoots in but de Silva avoids the takedown attempt easily.
de Silva swinging wildly here.
de Silva throws a head kick that half lands.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts de Silva as he jumps to the side.
Franklin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Franklin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but de Silva avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
de Silva lands a nice looking kick to the body. Franklin takes a step back to recover.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Franklin.

de Silva sneaks out the side door and pushes Franklin away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Franklin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
de Silva is trying to stand.
Franklin controlling from mount.
de Silva wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
de Silva avoids a series of strikes thrown by Franklin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as de Silva is looking to escape.
Franklin could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Franklin sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Franklin is breathing heavily.
de Silva wants to try and get back to his feet.
Franklin tries to control but de Silva wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
de Silva's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Franklin throws some wild stikes that de Silva manages to avoid easily.
de Silva trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. de Silva can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
de Silva wants to try and get back to his feet.
Franklin content just to control the position here.
Franklin with the ground and pound from mount.
Franklin with the ground and pound from mount.
Franklin controlling his opponent.
de Silva is squirming around, avoiding Franklin's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de Silva really wants to buck Franklin off and get back to his feet.
Franklin punishing his opponent with strikes.
de Silva is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Franklin postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. de Silva looks a forlorn figure.
BOOM! Franklin connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Franklin lands with some strikes.
Franklin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Franklin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. de Silva tries to avoid it but Franklin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag de Silva to the ground. de Silva escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
de Silva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
de Silva connects with a high kick.
Brian Franklin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Franklin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
de Silva leaves Franklin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Franklin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has de Silva pinned against the cage. de Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
de Silva goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by de Silva.
No luck for Franklin with that takedown attempt.
Franklin fails with a takedown attempt.
de Silva feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Franklin's calf.
Franklin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from de Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Silva tries to bum rush Franklin with a series of wild strikes but Franklin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
de Silva moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
de Silva lands a head kick. Franklin smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

de Silva gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

de Silva manages to escape and get back to his feet.
de Silva throws a series of punches but Franklin moves out of range.

Franklin is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in de Silva's half guard.
Franklin stops de Silva from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Silva is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Franklin connects with a nice short shot to de Silva's temple.
Franklin wants to free his trapped foot but de Silva is holding on for dear life with his legs.
de Silva is refusing to be controlled, as Franklin sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
de Silva pushes Franklin off looking to stand but Franklin dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Franklin misses with a takedown attempt - de Silva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
de Silva throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Franklin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has de Silva pinned against the cage. de Silva gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
de Silva throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Brian Franklin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Franklin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says de Silva as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky de Silva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Franklin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

No luck for Franklin with that takedown attempt.
de Silva stuffs the takedown.
Franklin takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Franklin.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brian Franklin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
de Silva throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
de Silva looks to land a combination but Franklin avoids it well.
de Silva throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from de Silva. No joy for Franklin on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Silva misses with a wild combination.
Franklin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? de Silva is fending him off so far but Franklin persists. Nope, de Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
de Silva throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
de Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Franklin takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Franklin avoids the head kick by de Silva.
Franklin closes the distance and clinches up with de Silva, looking for a takedown. Franklin pushes de Silva against the cage but de Silva circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
de Silva plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Silva tries a head kick but it misses.

Franklin looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for de Silva!
Franklin tries to control but de Silva wriggling away.
de Silva wants to get back to his feet.
de Silva in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Franklin throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
de Silva is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin controlling the pace for now.
de Silva's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Franklin throws a wild left hand from mount and de Silva manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
Franklin thows a huge punch but de Silva dodges it nicely.
Franklin thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing de Silva to regain full guard.
Franklin prevents de Silva from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Franklin wants to control from the top but de Silva keeps moving.
Franklin looking to sit in guard and control but de Silva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Franklin has a closed guard, preventing de Silva from standing up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky de Silva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think de Silva 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky de Silva!