PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jamie Franklin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franklin kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Under the Knife - Rise Against. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Franklin
vs
Smith

180 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Demonic Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jamie Franklin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tommy Smith!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Chris Edwards and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith shoots for a takedown but Franklin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Franklin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jamie Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Smith.
Franklin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Smith tries for a takedown but Franklin circles away easily

and Franklin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Franklin.
Franklin trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Franklin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Franklin stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Franklin from controlling successfully.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Franklin passes Smith's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Franklin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Smith.
Franklin is breathing heavily.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Franklin is proving a slippery customer.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing Franklin from standing up.
Smith trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith pulls Franklin in close to prevent any damage.
Franklin looking to pass the guard.
Smith pulls Franklin in close to prevent any damage.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Franklin misses with a body shot.

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.
Smith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smith misses with a takedown
and Franklin makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Franklin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Smith has closed the distance and engaged Franklin in a clinch.

Franklin pulls Smith into guard.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Franklin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith misses with a takedown
and Franklin counters with a solid body kick.

Smith looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Smith controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smith won't allow Franklin to sweep him here.
Smith wants to control from the top but Franklin keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Franklin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Franklin manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Smith is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smith tries to control the position but Franklin now has his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Smith is keeping busy.

Franklin working for a choke but Smith is defending well.
Smith breaks Franklin's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Franklin wants to stand up but Smith is controlling him.
Smith slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Franklin keeps working.
Franklin tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.
Smith content to control rather than advance.
Smith prevents Franklin from improving his 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 is trying to stand up here but Smith is controlling him well.
Smith performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Smith is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Franklin!

Smith is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Franklin has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Franklin!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smith misses with a takedown attempt

and Franklin counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Smith!
Smith is looking to get to half guard.
Smith is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Franklin looking to secure an arm triangle but Smith defends it well.
Smith wants to control but Franklin is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Smith tries to hold on but Franklin pushes him away.
Franklin breaks from Smith's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Smith tries to lock up and control but Franklin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Franklin wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smith regains half guard.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Franklin decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Smith wants to clinch.
Franklin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Franklin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Smith is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Franklin get's back to his feet.
Franklin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Smith drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Smith passes into half guard.

Franklin actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith misses with a takedown

and Franklin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Franklin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jamie Franklin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Smith.

Franklin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith with a poor takedown
and Franklin counters with a head kick.

Franklin moves into range and clinches up with Smith.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Franklin lands a hook to the side of the head.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Franklin just stands there and leans against the cage.

Franklin manages to break the clinch.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Franklin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Franklin forces his way into half guard.
Franklin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Smith flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Franklin wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Franklin is one step ahead there.
Smith trying to control the position.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Franklin manages to get himself to full guard.
Smith trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franklin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith controlling from the top position.

Smith is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Franklin is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Franklin has escaped and now he's on top!
Smith pulls Franklin in close to his closed guard and prevents Franklin from doing any damage or advancing position.
Jamie Franklin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smith wants to control but Franklin passes easily into half guard.
Smith wants to improve his position but Franklin is controlling well.
Franklin is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Franklin has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Franklin had his way with Tommy Smith in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Franklin gets a takedown into half guard.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Franklin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Franklin is tying to control. Smith wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Smith is controlling Franklin's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Franklin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Franklin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smith won't be happy with that.
Franklin gets to mount! Smith was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Franklin takes Smith's back.
Smith is in bad spot here.
Smith manages to reverse the position and now he's in Franklin's guard. Nice work there by Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franklin has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Smith trying to control but Franklin is working from the bottom.
Franklin has a closed guard, preventing Smith from standing up.

Franklin is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Franklin is keeping the position for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Franklin is on top in guard.
Franklin preventing the sweep.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Franklin from controlling successfully.
Smith managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Franklin from controlling successfully.

Smith has his foot on Franklin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Franklin works his way back into a safe position though.
Tommy Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith is trying to control the position but Franklin postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jamie Franklin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Franklin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 49:46
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 49:46
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jamie Franklin!
Jamie Franklin is the new lightweight champion!