PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kash Richardson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richardson comes to the cage accompanied by Free Bird. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Richardson
vs
Diaz

172 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

185 cm
20
170 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kash Richardson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Richardson darts in and clinches Diaz up against the cage.
Richardson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Diaz.
Richardson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Diaz.

Diaz drags the fight down to the ground.
Richardson wanted to stand there but Diaz had control of the position.
Richardson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Diaz tries to strike from the bottom.
Diaz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Richardson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Richardson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Diaz on the ground.
Richardson stopping the sweep attempt from Diaz.
Diaz doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Diaz is on top in guard.
Diaz working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Diaz cracks Richardson with a solid left hand.
Diaz cracks Richardson with a solid left hand.
Richardson wants to stand and escape but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz postures up in Richardson's guard and throws a big left but Richardson blocks it.
Diaz connects with a couple of short punches.
Richardson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Diaz postures up.
Richardson is breathing heavily.
Richardson wants to get back to his feet but Diaz passes into half guard.
Diaz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Diaz moves into full mount! Richardson won't be happy about that!
Richardson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz landing strikes from the mount.
Diaz with a couple of short strikes.
Diaz dominating with strikes here.
Diaz in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richardson wants to hold on but Diaz pushes him away.
Richardson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Richardson tries to get out of the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Diaz raining down shots from the mount!
Richardson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Diaz lands with some strikes.
Richardson tries to hold on but Diaz postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz landing strikes from the mount.
Diaz lands with some strikes.
Diaz won't let Richardson get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Diaz punishing his opponent with strikes.
Richardson is desperately trying to improve his position but Diaz has a good base and remains in mount.
Richardson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Diaz lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Richardson hang on?
Diaz is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Richardson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Richardson working to try and regain half guard.

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.
Richardson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Diaz scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Richardson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Richardson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Diaz is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Diaz won't let Richardson get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Richardson tries to hold on but Diaz postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Diaz dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Diaz slips a jab and a cross from Richardson.
Richardson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Diaz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A combination from Diaz does no damage.
Diaz shoots for a takedown but Richardson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Diaz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Richardson circles away.
Richardson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Diaz counters by moving into the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Richardson.
Richardson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Diaz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Richardson wants to clinch but Diaz slips to the side
and Diaz counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Diaz takes the fight into the clinch.
Richardson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Richardson tries a knee to the head but Diaz blocks it.
Richardson misses with a knee to the head.
Diaz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Diaz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Diaz using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Diaz jumps guard but Richardson stands there with Diaz around his waist. Diaz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kash Richardson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Diaz.
Richardson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Diaz can't break the clinch.
Richardson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Diaz has Richardson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Richardson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Richardson trying to land knees to the body.
Richardson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Richardson trying to land knees to the body.
Richardson landing knees to the head.

Diaz manages to pull guard.
Diaz 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.
Richardson won't allow Diaz to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Richardson is looking to stand up but Diaz won't let him.
Richardson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Richardson wants to stand and escape but instead Diaz has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Richardson is keeping the position for now.
Richardson is looking to stand up but Diaz isn't so interested in that idea.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt
and Diaz counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Richardson wants to clinch but Diaz slips to the side

and Diaz counters by clinching up.
Knees in the clinch landing for Richardson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Diaz prevents a body shot from Richardson.
Diaz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Richardson misses with a knee to the head.

Richardson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Richardson wants to clinch but Diaz slips to the side

and Diaz counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Diaz.
Richardson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Richardson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Richardson 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.
Diaz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Diaz postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Diaz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Richardson wants to get back to his feet but Diaz passes into half guard.
Diaz throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Diaz throws a head kick that misses.
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt
and Diaz counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Diaz shoots in and drives through. Richardson sprawls well.
Kash Richardson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richardson clinches but Diaz breaks the clinch

and Diaz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Richardson's guard now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richardson wants to stand but Diaz is controlling the position.
Richardson has momentary wrist control but Diaz slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Diaz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Diaz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Richardson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Diaz passes into half guard.
Diaz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Richardson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Diaz working Richardson over with strikes.
Richardson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Diaz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Diaz's back!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richardson biding his time, controlling Diaz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richardson trying to control.

Diaz manages to stand up with Richardson still on his back. Eventually Richardson drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
Richardson clinches but Diaz breaks the clinch

and Diaz counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Richardson looking to throw knees to the head but Diaz is blocking nicely.
Richardson tries to land knees in the clinch but Diaz avoids the damage to the body.
Richardson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Diaz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Diaz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Diaz looking for a takedown.
Richardson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Richardson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Richardson scores with a knee to the head.
Diaz looking to stall.
Richardson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Richardson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Diaz's face.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Richardson won't allow it.
Richardson tries to land a knee to the head but Diaz blocks with his arms.
Richardson is pressed up against the cage. Diaz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Richardson down to the mat. Richardson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kash Richardson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Diaz.
Richardson wants to clinch

and Diaz counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jake Diaz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Diaz is looking to work some ground and pound but Richardson has wrist control.
Richardson trying to control the position here.
Diaz trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson controls Diaz momentarily but Diaz frees himself.
Richardson wants to stand up but Diaz is controlling him.
Diaz stopping the sweep attempt from Richardson.
Diaz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Richardson's head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Diaz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richardson tries to buck Diaz off but Diaz is having none of it.
Check out the look on Diaz's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Richardson prevents Diaz from moving into mount.
Richardson is trying to improve his position.
Richardson wants to get back to his feet but Diaz drags him back down.
Diaz working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Kash Richardson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Richardson can't do much from the bottom here.
Diaz avoids the strikes from the bottom by Richardson.
Jake Diaz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Richardson looks to land a combination but Diaz avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Diaz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Diaz winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Diaz!