PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ipu Fokislav (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pierre Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fokislav comes to the cage accompanied by Links 2-3-4 - Rammstein. Richards has chosen Kittie - Johnny as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Pierre Richards was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Fokislav
vs
Richards

180 cm
19
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
20
191 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Likes ground

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ipu Fokislav!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pierre Richards!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fokislav shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Fokislav swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Richards is now in Fokislav's guard. A big mistake from Fokislav there, giving up the dominant position!
Fokislav is trying to keep Richards in close.
Fokislav keeping full guard, as Richards tries to pass.
Fokislav wants to sweep but no luck.
Fokislav bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Richards's guard.
Richards keeping moving, preventing Fokislav from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richards looks gassed!

Richards looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fokislav wants to stand but Richards is controlling his posture from full guard.
Fokislav is in close to Richards's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fokislav wants to pass the guard but Richards is keeping the position.
Fokislav wants to control from the top but Richards keeps moving.
Richards preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fokislav fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fokislav has a takedown stuffed.

Fokislav shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Fokislav was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Richards is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fokislav content just to control the position here.
Fokislav with the ground and pound from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fokislav putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Richards is rocked!
Fokislav with a couple of short strikes.
Richards is still in real trouble! Can Fokislav finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Richards takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Fokislav scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Fokislav sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Fokislav lands a big shot there that rocks Richards but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
BOOM! Fokislav connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The referee warns Richards that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Fokislav has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Richards's face.
Fokislav with the ground and pound from mount.
Fokislav scoring with strikes but Richards is staying in there.
Richards is in a horrible position here. Fokislav smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Fokislav lands with some strikes.
A nice elbow there by Fokislav.
Fokislav landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fokislav lands a nice shot to the head.
Fokislav with a couple of short strikes.
Fokislav looking to finish Richards with some ground and pound. This is bad for Richards!
Fokislav looking to finish Richards with some ground and pound. This is bad for Richards!
Fokislav controlling the position easily from mount.
Fokislav postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Richards looks a forlorn figure.
Richards is working to get back to half guard.
Fokislav lands a heavy elbow.
Fokislav is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Fokislav lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Fokislav lands a nice shot to the head.
Fokislav landing strikes from the mount.
Fokislav working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
BOOM! Fokislav connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Fokislav scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Richards working to try and regain half guard.
Richards is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Fokislav lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Richards hang on?
Fokislav lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Richards is squirming around, avoiding Fokislav's attempts to control the action.
Fokislav controlling from mount.
Fokislav working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fokislav dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ipu Fokislav dominated that round.
That's time! Fokislav's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Fokislav is looking to clinch.
Fokislav throws an overhand right that lands on Richards's shoulder, as Richards tries to avoid the shot.
Fokislav looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fokislav fails in his attempt to clinch.
Richards dodges the punch combination from Fokislav.
Fokislav tries for a takedown but Richards sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Richards stuffs the takedown.
Fokislav throws a head kick that misses.
Fokislav fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ipu Fokislav. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fokislav fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fokislav shoots in but no luck this time.
Fokislav tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Richards swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Richards uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fokislav.
Fokislav fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fokislav closes this distance looking for a takedown but Richards circles away.
Richards keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fokislav wants to clinch.
Fokislav misses with a hook. Richards ducked under it nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fokislav.
Fokislav has a takedown stuffed.
Richards avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Richards keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fokislav.
Pierre Richards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fokislav fails to land the takedown.
Fokislav tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Richards swivels and escapes.
Fokislav wants to clinch up but Richards keeps it at a distance.
Fokislav misses with a looping left.
Fokislav fails with the takedown.
Richards keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Fokislav shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fokislav looks to land a combination but Richards avoids it well.
Fokislav pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fokislav will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Richards bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Richards ducks under a wild hook from Fokislav.
Fokislav is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Richards can do to turn this around?
Richards keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fokislav.
Fokislav is looking to clinch.
Richards seems to have recovered his senses.

Fokislav closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fokislav lands in his opponent's guard.
Ipu Fokislav overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fokislav chips away with some ground and pound.
Richards tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Fokislav stands and steps away. Richards gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A good leg kick by Richards.

Fokislav shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Richards's guard.
Richards trying to keep a closed guard but Fokislav is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fokislav scoring with punches to the head and body.
Richards wants to stand but Fokislav is controlling the position.
Fokislav loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fokislav preventing the sweep.
Fokislav keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Richards's head.
Fokislav won't allow Richards to sweep him here.
Richards is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fokislav throws a series of punches but Richards avoids them all with ease.
Fokislav wants to clinch.
Richards tries for a takedown but Fokislav circles away easily

and Fokislav counters with a single leg into guard. Richards didn't expect that.
Richards manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Fokislav tries to hold on but Richards postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fokislav bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Fokislav looking to pass the guard.
Fokislav with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Richards bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fokislav's guard.
Fokislav trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Fokislav looking for a sweep. Not yet Fokislav, not yet.
Richards is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Fokislav is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Fokislav holds on and takes a little breather.

Fokislav looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Richards passes into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Fokislav looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ipu Fokislav dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Richards looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Fokislav is striking from the bottom but Richards uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Fokislav tries to kick Richards off but Richards keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Fokislav looking for submissions off his back.
Fokislav trying to hold on to Richards's head to control him but Richards postures up.
Richards stops Fokislav from getting back to his feet.
Fokislav works his way to full guard. Good work.
Fokislav looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fokislav is working hard here to advance position.
Richards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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

and Richards counters with a takedown into side control.

Richards decides to stand back up. Richards steps back and let's Fokislav get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fokislav closes the distance and clinches.

Fokislav breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Richards misses with a hook to the body
and Fokislav counters with a right hand to the body.
Fokislav is looking to clinch but Richards is avoiding it.
Fokislav fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Richards fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fokislav shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Richards as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ipu Fokislav. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fokislav looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Richards!
The referee warns Richards that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Fokislav fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Fokislav scoring with strikes but Richards is staying in there.
A nice elbow there by Fokislav.
Fokislav with a couple of short strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fokislav postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Richards looks a forlorn figure.
Fokislav sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Richards tries to lock up and control but Fokislav gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fokislav has hold of Richards's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Richards manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Richards can't escape the position.
Fokislav lands a nice shot to the head.
Richards slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Richards manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Richards moves into the clinch.

Fokislav breaks from the clinch.
Fokislav tries to clinch up
and Richards counters with a good low kick that Fokislav was not able to check.
Fokislav fails with a takedown attempt.

Fokislav shoots in for a takedown. Oh, that's a huge slam! Richards is on queer street and Fokislav is pounding down on him with a barage of strikes. The ref is forced to step in and stop the fight. Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Slam). Ipu Fokislav!