PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kazuo Haruki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haruki comes to the cage accompanied by Battle Without Honor Or Humanity - Tomoyasu Hotei. Richards is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Psycho Holiday. Ryan Richards will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Haruki
vs
Richards

168 cm
20
149 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

170 cm
20
144 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kazuo Haruki!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Richards!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Richards.

Haruki changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Richards looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Richards tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Haruki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Richards throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

Haruki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Haruki trying to control the action but Richards is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Richards's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Richards parries the strikes from Haruki easily there. Haruki is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Richards to escape.
Haruki tries to score with some ground and pound. Richards controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Haruki pushes Richards up against the cage in a clinch.

Haruki drags the fight down to the ground.
Haruki tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Haruki has his foot on Richards's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Richards works his way back into a safe position though.
Richards sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Haruki looking for a sweep. Not yet Haruki, not yet.
Richards wants to control from the top but Haruki keeps moving.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Haruki circles away from the clinch attempt

and Haruki decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Richards's guard.
Haruki knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Richards on the ground.
Richards trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Richards is on top in guard.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Haruki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richards trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Richards trying to control but Haruki is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haruki is trying to keep Richards in close.
Richards in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Haruki throws a couple of heel strikes.
Haruki keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Haruki closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Richards manages to get back to half guard.
Haruki is breathing heavily.
Haruki prevents Richards from improving his position.
Richards manages to get to full guard.
Haruki stopping the sweep attempt from Richards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haruki wants to stand but Richards is controlling his posture from full guard.
Haruki trying to control the position from guard on top but Richards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richards looking to control.
Haruki pushing down on Richards's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Richards trying to control here.
Haruki thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuo Haruki dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Richards fails with the takedown

and Haruki decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Richards's guard.

Richards is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Haruki is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Richards is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Richards has escaped and now he's on top!
Richards slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Richards trying to control the position but Haruki is working away.
Haruki manages to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards wants to control but Haruki is keeping him busy.
Richards is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Haruki is looking for a sweep. Richards is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Richards looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Haruki with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Haruki has clasped his hands together around Richards's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Sloppy strikes there by Haruki.
Haruki tries to move to mount but Richards blocks the move with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards manages to work his way to half guard, despite Haruki's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards trying to hold on to Haruki's head to control him but Haruki postures up.
Richards is staying active underneath Haruki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Richards moves into full guard.
Haruki content to stall in guard here.

Richards is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Haruki drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Richards manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Haruki has Richards in his guard.
Haruki being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards trying to control but Haruki is working from the bottom.
Kazuo Haruki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Haruki manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Richards is working to get back to half guard.
Richards tries to hold on but Haruki pushes him away.

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.
Richards working to try and regain half guard.

Haruki working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Richards wants to hold on but Haruki pushes him away.
Richards can't escape the position.
Richards wants to hold on but Haruki pushes him away.

Haruki looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haruki throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Richards because Haruki loaded up on that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazuo Haruki dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Richards throws a left and a right that both miss

and Haruki decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Richards's guard.
Richards punching from the bottom.
Haruki looking to sit in guard and control but Richards gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Haruki keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
Richards with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Richards looking to sit in guard and control but Haruki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Haruki stopping the sweep attempt from Richards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richards is trying to control the position but Haruki postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richards working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Haruki has passed into half guard!
Richards blocking the ground and pound attempt from Haruki.
Haruki passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Richards!
Haruki looking to control but Richards is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The referee warns Richards that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Haruki jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Richards manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Richards sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Richards is controlling Haruki's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Richards looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Haruki missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Richards misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Richards trying to hold on to Haruki's head to control him but Haruki postures up.
Haruki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Richards trying to hold on to Haruki's head to control him but Haruki postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Richards swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Haruki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Richards trying to control from the bottom.

Haruki gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Richards dodges the punch combination from Haruki.
Ryan Richards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Haruki moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Haruki lands with a thumping leg kick.
Richards throws a right and a left that both miss.
Haruki throws a left and a right that both miss
and Richards counters with a left and a right that stings Haruki.
Richards shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Haruki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Haruki wants to control from the top but Richards keeps moving.

Richards throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Haruki looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazuo Haruki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Haruki 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kazuo Haruki!
Kazuo Haruki retains his featherweight title!