PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Arturo Ellacuria (ranked 1220 p4p, 1951 weight class) and Rick Richardson (ranked 128 p4p, 197 weight class). Richardson has chosen Make The Money as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Ellacuria
vs
Richardson

183 cm
20
155
5 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
145
4 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Arturo Ellacuria!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rick Richardson!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Reed Andrews and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ellacuria steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Richardson.
Ellacuria was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Ellacuria staying out of range there.
Richardson lands the left hand.
Richardson missing with a left hand there. Ellacuria was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Richardson slips under a jab from Ellacuria.
We've been told by Ellacuria's head coaches at Alfred Top Team that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Richardson lands with a good body shot.
Ellacuria pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Richardson throws a poor cross that misses
and Ellacuria counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Rick Richardson has been cut.
Ellacuria throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Richardson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richardson misses with a hook
letting Ellacuria counter with a right hand.
Ellacuria uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Richardson.
Richardson misses with a hook
and Ellacuria cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ellacuria gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Richardson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Ellacuria misses.
Richardson shoots in and drives through. Ellacuria sprawls well.
Sloppy strikes from Richardson. Those never looked like landing.
Richardson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A counter left hand to the body from Ellacuria misses its target.
Richardson misses with an uppercut
letting Ellacuria counter with a right hand.
Richardson throws a lazy uppercut
and Ellacuria counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Richardson throws a lazy uppercut
and Ellacuria counters with a nice body shot.
Richardson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Richardson misses with a hook
and Ellacuria counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Richardson throws a big shot that misses.
It looked like Ellacuria was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Richardson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Richardson misses the target.
Ellacuria was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ellacuria misses with a left hand
and Richardson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ellacuria thinking.
Richardson misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Richardson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Richardson looks to throw the jab but Ellacuria is out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Ellacuria misses the target.

Richardson rushes Ellacuria and presses him up against the cage.
Ellacuria has a couple of punches blocked by Richardson.
Richardson pushes Ellacuria back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ellacuria blocks an uppercut.
Ellacuria swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Richardson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ellacuria pulls his leg out and moves away.
Ellacuria fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arturo Ellacuria dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rick Richardson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Richardson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
An attempted straight right counter from Ellacuria misses the target.
Ellacuria will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Richardson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Richardson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Ellacuria counter with a right hand.
Ellacuria misses with a hook
and Richardson counters with a nice uppercut.
Richardson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ellacuria manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richardson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ellacuria is looking to counter punch.
Ellacuria takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Richardson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ellacuria sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ellacuria is looking to counter punch.
Richardson throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richardson throws a hook but Ellacuria blocks it.
Ellacuria seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Richardson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Richardson misses with a right hand
and Ellacuria counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ellacuria checks a leg kick nicely.
Richardson looks to land a left hand but Ellacuria moved out of range nicely.
Richardson misses with an uppercut.
Richardson missing with a left hand there. Ellacuria was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ellacuria seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Ellacuria blocks a jab.
Ellacuria throwing a counter right hand but Richardson manages to avoid it.
Richardson throws the left hand but Ellacuria avoids the punch easily.
Ellacuria appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Richardson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Arturo Ellacuria is winning the standup battle so far.
Richardson ducks under a wild hook from Ellacuria.
Ellacuria uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Richardson.
Ellacuria is looking to counter punch.
Richardson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ellacuria tries to avoid it but Richardson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ellacuria to the ground. Ellacuria escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Arturo Ellacuria is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardson thuds his right hand into Ellacuria's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nice takedown defense from Ellacuria. No joy for Richardson on that attempt.
As Richardson looks to move away, Ellacuria throws a big counter combo but Richardson just gets out of the way.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Richardson.
It looked like Ellacuria wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Arturo Ellacuria has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Richardson.
Richardson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ellacuria misses with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Richardson misses with a right hand
and Ellacuria cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Richardson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ellacuria in his tracks.
Richardson with a nice cross.
Richardson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Richardson darts in trying to clinch
and Ellacuria counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rick Richardson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rick Richardson's cut.
That's time! Ellacuria's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Richardson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ellacuria in his tracks.
Richardson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ellacuria.
Ellacuria is looking to counter punch.
Ellacuria takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Richardson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ellacuria circles away quickly and effectively.
It looked like Ellacuria wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ellacuria throws the left hand but Richardson avoids the punch easily.
Richardson lands a glancing blow to the side of Ellacuria's head.
Rick Richardson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richardson misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richardson ducks under a wild hook from Ellacuria.
Richardson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Ellacuria counters with a left hand that sends Richardson to the canvas!

Richardson is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Richardson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Richardson is still in real trouble! Can Ellacuria finish him?
Ellacuria has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Richardson has his foot on Ellacuria's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ellacuria works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ellacuria controls from within his opponent's guard.
Richardson seems to have recovered his senses.
Richardson wants to sweep but no luck.

Richardson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Richardson looking for a guillotine here but Ellacuria defends easily.
Ellacuria trying to stand up but can't free himself from Richardson's guard.
Ellacuria is fighting to break Richardson's control of his arms but Richardson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Richardson really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rick Richardson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Richardson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Richardson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nice takedown defense from Ellacuria. No joy for Richardson on that attempt.
Richardson slips under a jab from Ellacuria.

Richardson moves into range and clinches up with Ellacuria.
Ellacuria putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Richardson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Richardson pushes Ellacuria back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ellacuria lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richardson lands with a left to the head.
Richardson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Richardson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Richardson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ellacuria walks away with a smile on his face. Richardson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Arturo Ellacuria has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Richardson.
Richardson throws a big shot that misses.
Ellacuria was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Richardson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richardson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Richardson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Richardson misses with a body shot
letting Ellacuria counter with a right hand.
Richardson throws the left hand but Ellacuria avoids the punch easily.
Ellacuria slips a jab and a cross from Richardson.
Richardson looks to clinch
and Ellacuria counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ellacuria moves out of range of the strikes.
Richardson throws a right hand that misses
and Ellacuria counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Richardson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ellacuria counters with a big right hand! Oh Richardson is in trouble here! Ellacuria follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Arturo Ellacuria!
Arturo Ellacuria retains his featherweight title!