PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kuzma Fedorov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gordy Richardson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Fedorov
vs
Richardson

190 cm
22
178 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
20
175 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kuzma Fedorov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gordy Richardson!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Anthony Taglia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fedorov misses with a wild body shot.
Fedorov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Richardson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fedorov is looking to clinch.

Fedorov gets caught flat footed, as Richardson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Fedorov is pulling down on Richardson's head to control his posture.
Richardson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fedorov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fedorov is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richardson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Richardson avoids the head kick by Fedorov.
Richardson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fedorov doesn't manage to clinch there - Richardson circles away.
Richardson throws a shot from downtown. Fedorov moves away and avoids it.
Fedorov tries to clinch but Richardson moves out of range.
No joy there for Richardson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fedorov takes one to the chin there.
Richardson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fedorov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Richardson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fedorov throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A jab from Richardson misses.
Fedorov tries to clinch up but Richardson circles away and keeps his distance.
Fedorov tries to clinch up.
Richardson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fedorov tries to clinch but Richardson moves out of range.
Fedorov tries to clinch there but Richardson circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fedorov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fedorov tries to clinch up.

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.
Fedorov blocks a jab.
Fedorov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Richardson looks gassed!
Fedorov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fedorov tries to clinch but Richardson is having none of it.
Richardson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fedorov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fedorov misses with a head kick.
Kuzma Fedorov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fedorov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Richardson throws a series of punches but Fedorov moves out of range.

Richardson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Fedorov was covering up waiting for the punch and Richardson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Fedorov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Richardson manages to get himself to full guard.
Fedorov tries to free his leg and advance position but Richardson is retaining full guard.
Fedorov trying to control but Richardson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov postures up in Richardson's guard and throws a big left but Richardson blocks it.
Fedorov trying to control but Richardson is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richardson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Fedorov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fedorov wants to control from the top but Richardson keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fedorov tries to clinch up.
Fedorov tries to close the distance and clinch but Richardson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fedorov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Richardson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Richardson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fedorov wants to clinch.

That's four 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.
Fedorov wants to clinch.
Fedorov tries to clinch up.
Fedorov tries to clinch there but Richardson circles away.
Fedorov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Richardson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Richardson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fedorov is trying to control the position but Richardson postures up.
Fedorov managing to control the position.
Richardson throws a strike but Fedorov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Richardson can do anything to dispel that myth.

Richardson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Fedorov uses it to pass to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gordy Richardson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fedorov wants to clinch.
Fedorov staying out of range there.
Fedorov moves in looking to clinch but Richardson pushes him off.
Fedorov tries to close the distance and clinch but Richardson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Good standup being displayed there by Richardson as he connects with a hook.
Fedorov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fedorov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A head kick misses from Fedorov.
Fedorov wants to clinch.
Richardson keeps the fight on the outside.
Kuzma Fedorov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Richardson is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fedorov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fedorov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fedorov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Richardson counters with a single leg into guard. Fedorov didn't expect that.
Richardson throwing strikes but missing.
Richardson pushes down on Fedorov's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richardson throwing shots but Fedorov is blocking nicely.
Richardson prevents Fedorov from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Fedorov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Richardson throws and elbow that misses. Fedorov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Richardson's guard. Nice move by Fedorov!
Fedorov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Richardson is keeping the position for now.
Fedorov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fedorov trying to control the position from guard on top but Richardson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fedorov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Richardson is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Fedorov slips nicely into half guard.
Fedorov drops an elbow to the side of Richardson's head.
Richardson wants to get back to full guard.
Fedorov winds up and cracks Richardson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Fedorov wants to stand but Richardson has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fedorov wants to clinch but Richardson slips to the side
and Richardson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Fedorov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kuzma Fedorov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fedorov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fedorov tries to clinch up
enabling Richardson to counter with a crisp jab.
Fedorov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fedorov tries to clinch
and Richardson counters with a left and a right that stings Fedorov.
Fedorov connects with a solid leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov fails with an attempt to clinch.

Fedorov moves into the clinch.
Fedorov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Richardson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Fedorov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Fedorov tries to clinch up.
Fedorov moves in looking to clinch but Richardson pushes him off.
Richardson swats away the attempt to clinch by Fedorov.

Fedorov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Richardson has Fedorov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Fedorov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Richardson as Fedorov tries to tie him up.
Fedorov landing knees to the body.
Fedorov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Richardson up against the cage.
Richardson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Fedorov lands a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Fedorov throws a knee to the head but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Fedorov trying to land knees to the body.
Richardson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fedorov gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kuzma Fedorov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gordy Richardson.
Fedorov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Fedorov looking to throw knees to the head but Richardson is blocking nicely.
Fedorov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Richardson avoids it.
Fedorov stops a takedown attempt from Richardson.
Fedorov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Richardson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Fedorov is fighting off a takedown attempt but Richardson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Fedorov to the mat. Fedorov regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Fedorov keeping moving, preventing Richardson from controlling successfully.
Fedorov wants to sweep here but Richardson controlling him for the moment.
Fedorov is trying to control the position but Richardson postures up.
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 referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Fedorov wants to clinch
and Richardson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Richardson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fedorov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Fedorov wants to clinch
and Richardson counters with a nice body shot.
Fedorov wants to clinch
and Richardson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Richardson shoots in for a takedown but Fedorov shows good takedown defense.
Fedorov wants to clinch but Richardson slips to the side
and Richardson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fedorov doesn't manage to clinch there - Richardson circles away.
Fedorov is looking to clinch.
Fedorov fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big right from Richardson misses.
Richardson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fedorov fails with an attempt to clinch.
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.
Fedorov lands a head kick!
Fedorov throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Fedorov tries to clinch there but Richardson circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fedorov wants to clinch.
Fedorov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richardson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Fedorov.
Fedorov tries to clinch but Richardson is having none of it.
Richardson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Richardson throws a hook but Fedorov blocks it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Fedorov.
Fedorov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Richardson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fedorov lands with a slapping head kick.

Fedorov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Fedorov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Richardson keeps the fight on the outside.
Fedorov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Fedorov is looking to clinch but Richardson is avoiding it.
Richardson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fedorov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Richardson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Richardson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fedorov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fedorov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fedorov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Richardson swats away the attempt to clinch by Fedorov.
Fedorov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Richardson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Richardson takes a swing at Fedorov's ribcage but misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fedorov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Fedorov tries to land a knee to the head but Richardson blocks with his arms.
Fedorov landing knees to the head.
Richardson is trying to break the clinch but Fedorov has him pressed against the cage.
The referee calls for Fedorov to work.
Fedorov lands a nice knee to the body.
Richardson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Fedorov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Fedorov is struggling to control the position.
Fedorov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson managing to block the knees to the body from Fedorov.
Fedorov missing with knees to the body.
Richardson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kuzma Fedorov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gordy Richardson.
Richardson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fedorov missing with knees to the body.
Richardson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fedorov throws an elbow but it misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A knee to the head by Fedorov.
Richardson managing to block the knees to the body from Fedorov.
Fedorov connects with a knee to the head.
Fedorov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Richardson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Fedorov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Richardson has Fedorov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Fedorov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Fedorov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Richardson's defenses.
Fedorov lands a nice knee to the body.
Fedorov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Fedorov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Richardson avoids it.

Richardson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Fedorov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Richardson's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richardson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Richardson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Fedorov is looking for a sweep. Richardson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fedorov controlling the position well.
Fedorov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Richardson is working away from the top position though.
Gordy Richardson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Richardson trying to control the action but Fedorov is working from the bottom.
Fedorov keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kuzma Fedorov showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

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