PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lino Franks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jackie Campbell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Franks
vs
Campbell

217 cm
24
194 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
189 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Lino Franks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jackie Campbell!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Campbell throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Franks stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Campbell misses with an uppercut. Franks saw that one coming.
Campbell misses with a body shot.
Campbell thows a body shot but no joy.
Franks shoots in looking for a takedown. Campbell tries to sprawl out of it but Franks keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Campbell manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Campbell takes a swing at Franks's ribcage but misses.
Franks tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Campbell defends well and Franks ends up having to push Campbell into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Campbell can't break the clinch.
Campbell missing with knees to the body.
Campbell misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Campbell fails to land.
Campbell tries to circle away but Franks has him pinned against the cage.
Franks trying to stall but Campbell improves his position.
Campbell missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franks wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lino Franks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franks prevents a body shot from Campbell.
Franks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Campbell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Franks avoids it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Franks.
Franks blocks a body shot from Campbell.
Campbell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Franks avoids it.
Franks is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Franks avoids the elbow strike from Campbell, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Campbell fails to land.
Franks has Campbell pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Campbell manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Campbell.
Franks is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Campbell pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Campbell stalling the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Campbell fails to land.
Franks prevents a body shot from Campbell.
A frustrated look appears on Campbell's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Campbell can't find room to land a body shot as Franks controls the action.
Franks misses with a punch to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Franks's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Campbell pushes Franks back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Campbell doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Franks throws an elbow that misses.
Franks jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Campbell walks away with a smile on his face. Franks gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Campbell lands a nice looking body shot.

Campbell instigates a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Campbell misses with a punch to the body.

Franks ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Franks no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campbell trying to control the position from guard on top but Franks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Campbell is looking to work some ground and pound but Franks has wrist control.
Campbell wants to control from the top but Franks keeps moving.
Campbell looking to pass the guard.
Campbell trying to control the position from guard on top but Franks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Campbell controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Franks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Campbell stays in close to Franks's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jackie Campbell.

Campbell gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Franks is trying to maintain a safe position but Campbell gets an underhook and turns Franks into the cage.
Campbell tries to break free but Franks pushes him back against the cage.
Campbell tries to land knees in the clinch but Franks avoids the damage to the body.

Franks breaks from the clinch.
Campbell fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Franks manages to avoid it.
Franks fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've been informed that Campbell has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Campbell lands a head shot.
Franks moves away from the strike by Campbell.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Franks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Campbell doesn't manage to clinch there - Franks circles away.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Campbell throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackie Campbell dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Campbell attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
No joy there for Campbell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Campbell swings away with a body shot that misses
and Franks cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like Jackie Campbell has been cut.

Campbell takes the fight into the clinch.
Campbell can't find room to land a body shot as Franks controls the action.
Campbell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Franks is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Campbell to keep the fight standing.
Campbell can't break the clinch.
Campbell tries to circle away but Franks has him pinned against the cage.
Franks trying to land knees to the body.
Campbell is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Franks is trying to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campbell misses with a body punch.
Campbell swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Campbell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Campbell throws a head punch that misses.
Franks managing to block the knees to the body from Campbell.

Franks has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Campbell clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Campbell is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Franks controlling the positon.
Franks's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campbell trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
I really don't envy Campbell right now.
Franks avoiding Campbell 's attempts to control his hands.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Campbell tries to roll but Franks sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franks thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Franks keeps control of the position as Campbell tries to break free.
Franks has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Campbell's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Franks is looking for the choke from the back position but Campbell is controlling his hands well.
Franks is hanging on to Campbell's back as he tries to escape.
Campbell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Franks. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Franks looking for the choke but no joy.
I really don't envy Campbell right now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lino Franks dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jackie Campbell's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Campbell misses with a body shot.
Campbell thows a body shot but no joy.
Lino Franks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Franks will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Campbell gets tackled into the cage by Franks. Franks maintains the clinch.
Franks wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Campbell letting Franks take a breather here.
Franks tries to pull guard but Campbell holds him up against the cage and eventually Franks drops back down to his feet.
A nice left hand lands by Campbell.
Campbell misses with some punches.
Campbell tries a knee to the head but Franks blocks it.
Franks tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Campbell smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lino Franks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campbell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Franks misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Campbell. Franks does a little dance to reset his feet.
Franks swats away the attempt to clinch by Campbell.
Franks shoots in for a takedown but Campbell shows good takedown defense.
Franks moves away from the strike by Campbell.
Campbell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Campbell misses the shot to the body.
Campbell looks to score with a jab to the body but Franks is just out of range.

Franks shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Campbell works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campbell wants to hit a switch here but Franks passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Campbell there!
Campbell is wriggling around trying to escape.
Franks trying to control but Campbell is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Franks get's back to his feet.
Campbell throws a series of punches but Franks moves out of range.
Campbell just misses with a punch to the body.
Campbell takes a swing at Franks's ribcage but misses.
Campbell swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Campbell is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Franks rather than just go for the knockout.
Campbell throws a body punch but Franks moves out of range.
Campbell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Franks moves away.
Franks misses with a head kick.
Franks bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Campbell just misses with a punch to the body.
Franks changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Campbell tries to avoid it but Franks manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Campbell to the ground. Campbell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Franks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Franks closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Campbell is looking for a sweep.
Campbell is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Franks tries to advance to mount but can't.
Campbell is trying to control Franks's posture but Franks avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Campbell is not content to let Franks control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Lino Franks.
I think Franks has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lino Franks!