PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Richarlison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Royce Gracie is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Richarlison
vs
Gracie

174 cm
19
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
176 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricky Richarlison!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Royce Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richarlison connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Richarlison scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Richarlison is trying to work for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.

Richarlison seems to be looking for submissions.
Gracie wants to improve his position but Richarlison is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richarlison not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Richarlison trying to control from Gracie's half guard. Gracie has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Richarlison trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richarlison stands and throws Gracie's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Richarlison trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.

Richarlison tries for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.
Richarlison trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.

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.

Richarlison goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Gracie has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Richarlison but great work by Gracie.
Richarlison gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Richarlison wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richarlison trying to control here.
Richarlison gets full guard.

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.
Richarlison lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gracie!

Richarlison is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Gracie has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Gracie!

Richarlison has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gracie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Richarlison dominated that 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.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Richarlison.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.

Richarlison looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Gracie!
Richarlison looking to control and managing it successfully.

Richarlison goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Gracie turns into him and now he's in Richarlison's guard.
Gracie preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richarlison throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Richarlison tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Richarlison is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Richarlison has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Gracie is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Richarlison.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richarlison tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gracie wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Richarlison struggling a bit here.
Gracie gets to mount! Richarlison was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Richarlison sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Richarlison dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Richarlison shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gracie napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Richarlison thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Richarlison looks up at the clock and then as Gracie takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Richarlison smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Richarlison advances to full mount.
Richarlison tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Richarlison punching from mount but Gracie doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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.

Richarlison throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Richarlison looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gracie passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Richarlison looking for submissions off his back.
Ricky Richarlison is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Richarlison wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Richarlison is controlling Gracie's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Royce Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Richarlison moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Richarlison showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Richarlison 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Richarlison!