PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yacoub Qura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gordy Richardson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Qura's entrance music is The Finest - MF Doom. A fine choice. Gordy Richardson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Qura
vs
Richardson

185 cm
20
170 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
19
175 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yacoub Qura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gordy Richardson!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Anthony Taglia and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Qura.
Some wild striking there from Qura.
A swing and a miss from Richardson.
Richardson avoids a kick to the body.
Richardson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Qura takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Qura misses with a two punch combination.
Qura tries to bum rush Richardson with a series of wild strikes but Richardson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Qura swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Qura looks to land a combination but Richardson avoids it well.
Qura tries to clinch up but Richardson circles away and keeps his distance.
Qura tries to clinch up but Richardson circles away and keeps his distance.
Richardson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Richardson slips a jab and a cross from Qura.
Richardson misses with a takedown attempt - Qura sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Qura keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

It looks like Gordy Richardson has been cut.
Qura keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Qura throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Richardson is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qura throws a nice looking combination but Richardson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Qura lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Richardson circles away quickly and effectively.
Qura misses with a wild combination.
Qura is breathing heavily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Qura is defended easily by Richardson.
Qura tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Richardson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yacoub Qura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Qura throws a right and a left that both miss.
Qura takes a jab right on the kisser.
Richardson lands a head shot.
Richardson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Qura tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Richardson avoids the head kick by Qura.

Qura gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Richardson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Richardson looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardson postures up in Qura's guard and throws a big left but Qura blocks it.
Richardson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Qura is keeping the position for now.
Richardson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Richardson won't allow Qura to get back to his feet.
Richardson looking to pass the guard.
Richardson thows a big elbow that misses.
Richardson is fighting to break Qura's control of his arms but Qura is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Qura clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Qura stops a takedown attempt from Richardson.
Yacoub Qura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gordy Richardson.
Qura gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Richardson.
Richardson has Qura pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Qura manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Richardson tries for a takedown. No joy.

Qura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Qura feints and as Richardson raises his hands in defense, Qura changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Qura stopping the sweep attempt from Richardson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Qura showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Qura preventing the sweep.
Richardson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Qura controlling from the top position.
Qura won't allow Richardson to sweep him here.
Qura slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yacoub Qura dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gordy Richardson's cut.
That's time! Qura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Left hook, right uppercut from Qura.
Qura looks to land a combination but Richardson avoids it well.
Qura with a lazy takedown attempt
and Richardson counters with a right hand to the body.
Qura throws a lazy right hand but Richardson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Richardson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Qura.
Richardson scores with a jab to the jaw.

Richardson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Richardson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Qura makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A nice combination there by Qura.
Richardson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Qura. Qura circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Qura tries to move into range but Richardson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Qura throws a right and a left that both miss.
Richardson misses with a straight left.
A leg kick checked by Richardson.
Some bone on bone action there as Richardson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Qura is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Richardson.
Richardson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Qura counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Qura missing with a left hand there. Richardson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Qura throws a right and a left that Richardson avoids nicely.
Richardson slips a jab and a cross from Qura.
Decent striking displayed by Richardson there.
Qura misses with a combination
enabling Richardson to counter with a crisp jab.
Some wild striking there from Richardson.
Qura shoots in but Richardson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yacoub Qura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Qura is looking to clinch.

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.

Richardson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Qura sprawls well initially but Richardson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Qura wants to control but Richardson is keeping busy.
Qura controlling the position well.
Richardson wants to free his trapped foot but Qura is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Qura is looking to escape.
Richardson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Qura knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Qura is trying to stand back up but Richardson is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson working Qura over with strikes.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Richardson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Qura fails to land with a series of punches.
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 throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Qura counters with an inside leg kick.
Qura will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Qura misses with a double jab
and Richardson counters with a nice uppercut.
Richardson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Qura tries to clinch but Richardson moves out of range.
Qura is looking to slow Richardson down with leg kicks.
Qura fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Richardson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Qura on the side of the head.
Qura lands a nice leg kick that just misses Richardson's sensitive parts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Qura fails with a takedown attempt.
Richardson misses with the combination.
Qura scores with a three punch combo!
Richardson thuds his right hand into Qura's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Qura slips under a jab.
Richardson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Qura.
Qura misses with a double jab.
Qura fails with the takedown
and Richardson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Qura tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Qura throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Richardson.
Richardson leaves Qura with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Qura fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gordy Richardson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gordy Richardson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Richardson with a hook.
Qura throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Richardson to counter with a crisp jab.
Qura fails to land with a series of punches.
Qura doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Richardson counters with a right hand to the body.
Qura slips a jab and a cross from Richardson.
Qura avoids the body shot from Richardson.
Qura stuffs the takedown attempt from Richardson. Richardson gets slowly back to his feet.
Qura misses with a wild combination.
Qura misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Qura tries to clinch but Richardson moves out of range.
Richardson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Richardson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Qura.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Qura keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Qura scores with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richardson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Richardson with a nice head shot there.
Richardson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Richardson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Qura is keeping the position for now.
Qura has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Qura keeping moving, preventing Richardson from controlling successfully.
Qura utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Qura wants to stand but Richardson is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Richardson lands with a nice body punch.
Yacoub Qura is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Qura lands a jab-cross combination.
Qura doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Qura lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Richardson backs up against the cage.
Richardson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Qura to score with a decent uppercut.
Richardson scores with a sloppy right hand. Qura should have avoided that one.
Richardson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Qura.
Qura is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Richardson.
Nice jab there from Richardson.
Decent striking displayed by Qura there.
Qura tries for a takedown but Richardson circles away easily
and Richardson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Yacoub Qura is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson looks to throw the jab but Qura is out of range.
Qura dives in and grabs Richardson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Richardson pushes down on Qura's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yacoub Qura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Qura fails to land with a series of punches.
Richardson cracks Qura with an open hand slap.
Qura throws a series of punches but Richardson moves out of range.
Qura is looking to clinch.
Qura throws a chopping leg kick but Richardson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Qura misses with a wild combination.
Qura misses with a takedown attempt - Richardson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Qura with a poor takedown

and Richardson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Qura won't be happy with that.
Richardson tries to advance to mount but can't.
Qura wants to get back to his feet but Richardson drags him back down.
Qura wants to control but Richardson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Qura is trying to improve his position.
Qura is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Qura tries to buck Richardson off but Richardson is having none of it.
Qura controls the position for a moment.
Richardson lands some shots froms side control.
Qura takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richardson taking a break here but Qura is having none of it and regains half guard.
Richardson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Qura's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gordy Richardson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Richardson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gordy Richardson!