PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sparring Partner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richards has chosen Psycho Holiday as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Partner
vs
Richards

169 cm
22
141 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
144 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sparring Partner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Richards!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Robert Douchet and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Partner blocks a head kick by Richards.

Partner drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Richards is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Richards working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Partner.
Partner makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Richards avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Partner stands and throws Richards's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Richards taking punishment in the form of punches.
Richards tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Richards wants to control but Partner postures up.
Richards takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Partner cracks Richards with a big right hand but Richards just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Richards is looking to reverse the position.

Partner thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Richards's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Richards is trying to improve his position.
Partner in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Partner in side control lands a decent elbow.
Partner throwing strikes but Richards manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Partner is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Richards trying to control the action but Partner is working from the bottom.
Partner manages to work his way to half guard, despite Richards's best efforts.

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.
Richards wants to take a breather but Partner is having none of it.
Partner manages to get to full guard.
Partner has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Partner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Richards is one step ahead there.
Richards must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Partner tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Partner just misses with a punch to the body.
Richards moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Richards lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Partner circles away quickly and effectively.
Partner swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Richards counters with a takedown into side control.
Richards taking a break here but Partner is having none of it and regains half guard.
Richards is just content to waste time from the top position. Partner takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Richards trying to control but Partner is working from the bottom.
Richards won't allow Partner to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Partner is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Partner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Richards's head.
Richards trying to hold on to Partner's head to control him but Partner postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Partner manages to pass to mount!
Richards looks gassed!
BOOM! Partner connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Partner moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Richards has worked his arm free - good work by Richards!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Partner tries to advance to mount but can't.
Richards is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Partner's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Richards wants to clinch.

Partner shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Richards is trying to defend but Partner finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Nice strikes from Partner there.
Partner lands with a punch from half guard.
Partner winds up and cracks Richards with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Partner wants to pass to mount but Richards is defending the position.
Richards tries to roll over but Partner keeps him under control.
Richards blocking the ground and pound attempt from Partner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards won't allow Partner to pass to mount.
Partner throwing shots but Richards is blocking nicely.
Richards tries to get to full guard but Partner has control of the leg.
Richards is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Partner misses with a body shot
enabling Richards to counter with a crisp jab.
A big right from Partner misses.
Richards misses with a takedown

so Partner counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Richards is breathing heavily.
Partner throwing strikes but missing.
Partner landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Partner 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 Partner has Richards in his guard.
Partner wants to sweep but no luck.
Partner manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Richards manages to get himself to full guard.
Richards is trying to keep Partner in close.
Partner postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Partner is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Richards trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Partner with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Richards is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Partner passes into half guard.
Partner working Richards over with strikes.
Partner sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Richards defending well though.
Partner throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Partner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Richards's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Partner is pressing down on Richards's thigh, looking to free his foot. Richards is holding on for now.
Richards has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Partner is working away from the top position though.
Partner working Richards over with strikes.
Partner lands strikes from half guard.
Partner lands strikes from half guard.
Sparring Partner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Partner throwing shots but Richards is blocking nicely.

Partner is looking for a kimura but Richards is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Partner to get the leverage.
Richards is trying to control but can't.
Partner trying to pass the guard but Richards defending well.
Partner winds up and cracks Richards with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sparring Partner dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Partner throws a sloppy body shot
and Richards counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Partner closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Partner lands in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Partner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Richards has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Partner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Richards keeping full guard, as Partner tries to pass.
Partner postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Richards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Partner drops back looking for a leg! Richards is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Richards manages to kick Partner off! Partner jumps back into Richards's guard.
Richards is trying to keep Partner in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards looking to hit a scissor sweep but Partner is one step ahead there.
Richards wants to improve his position but instead Partner has moved into half guard.
Richards has hold of Partner's hands but Partner slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Partner missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Partner is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Partner landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Partner uses his free foot to push down on Richards's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Richards.
Richards tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Richards is bucking up trying to escape but Partner cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Partner working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Partner landing shots from mount.
Partner with a couple of short strikes.
Partner looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Partner in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Richards is trying to escape the mount.
Partner loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Richards scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Partner land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Partner stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sparring Partner!