PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rob Cavalli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hakim Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hakim Richards has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Cavalli
vs
Richards

180 cm
22
181 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rob Cavalli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hakim Richards!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cavalli keeps the fight on the outside.
A punch combination from Richards misses.
Richards misses with a two punch combination.
Richards throws a hook but Cavalli avoids it easily.
Some wild striking there from Richards.
Richards misses with a jab, cross combination.
Richards lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Rob Cavalli has been cut.
Richards fails to land with a series of punches.
Hakim Richards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richards circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cavalli tries to clinch but Richards moves out of range.
Richards throws a nice looking combination but Cavalli bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Richards moves in looking to clinch but Cavalli pushes him off.
Richards throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Richards looks gassed!
Richards doesn't manage to clinch there - Cavalli circles away.
Richards rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cavalli moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Richards throws a right and a left that both miss.
Richards is looking to clinch.
Richards throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cavalli.
Cavalli lands a jab to Richards's midsection.
Cavalli jabs at Richards's body.
Richards circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Richards throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cavalli counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Richards takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cavalli digs a good body shot into Richards's ribs.
Richards takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cavalli tries to clinch up but Richards circles away and keeps his distance.
Cavalli tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cavalli!
Richards has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cavalli finds it's way round the side to connect with Richards's head.
Richards misses with a combination

and Cavalli counters by moving into the clinch.
Cavalli working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch on the inside from Richards fails to land.
Cavalli tries to land knees in the clinch but Richards avoids the damage to the body.
Cavalli wants a takedown but no success here.
Cavalli working hard to break the clinch.
Richards is pressed up against the ropes. Cavalli has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Richards down to the mat. Richards avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Cavalli pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cavalli moves in looking to clinch but Richards pushes him off.
Richards misses with a combination

and Cavalli counters with a takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cavalli creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Cavalli creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Cavalli is trying to get an arm triangle but Richards is defending well.
Richards is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Richards takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards is trying to improve his position.
Richards takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Richards is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Cavalli dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rob Cavalli's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Richards swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cavalli counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A left and a right from Cavalli both land. Nice combination.
Cavalli fails with an attempt to clinch.

Cavalli scores with a takedown into Richards's guard.
Cavalli controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cavalli knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Richards on the ground.
Richards is looking to stand up but Cavalli isn't so interested in that idea.
Richards looking for a sweep. Not yet Richards, not yet.
Richards has a closed guard, preventing Cavalli from standing up.
Cavalli postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cavalli sitting in guard here, content to control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cavalli keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Richards's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cavalli wanted to stand there but Richards had control of the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Richards misses with a double jab
and Cavalli counters with a left and a right that stings Richards.
Cavalli lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Richards takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hakim Richards is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Richards lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cavalli scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Richards doesn't seem bothered though.
Richards tries to clinch but Cavalli moves out of range.
Cavalli with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cavalli wants to clinch.
Richards fails to land with a series of punches.
Richards throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Cavalli counters by clinching up.
Cavalli is trying to drag Richards to the mat but Richards just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Cavalli fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cavalli goes for a takedown attempt but Richards pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Cavalli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Richards wants to clinch but Cavalli slips to the side
and Cavalli counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Richards closes the distance and clinches.
Cavalli wants to break free but Richards has control.
Richards lands a hook that snaps the head of Cavalli backwards.
Richards scores with a nice hook to the head.
Richards lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Richards throws a head punch that misses.
Richards lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A shot in the inside from Richards.
Richards has Cavalli pressed against the ropes, preventing Cavalli from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Richards pushes Cavalli back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Cavalli blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Richards is working Cavalli over against the ropes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Richards lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Richards is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakim Richards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rob Cavalli's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Richards misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Richards moves in looking to clinch but Cavalli pushes him off.
Cavalli scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Richards tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cavalli wants to clinch up but Richards keeps it at a distance.
Cavalli fails in his attempt to clinch.
Richards tries to clinch there but Cavalli circles away.
Richards throws a combination that misses
and Cavalli counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Richards throws a combination that misses
and Cavalli counters with a one-two to the body.
Cavalli wants to clinch up but Richards keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cavalli is looking to clinch.
Cavalli moves out of range of the strikes.
Cavalli displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Richards falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cavalli counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richards falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cavalli counters with a series of strikes. Richards will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cavalli.
Cavalli is looking to clinch but Richards is avoiding it.
Cavalli lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Cavalli wants to clinch.
Richards swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cavalli counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cavalli working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Richards is not content to let Cavalli control the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Richards looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Cavalli.
Richards tries to get to full guard but Cavalli has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cavalli seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Richards wants to get back to full guard.
Richards is trying to stand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cavalli tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Richards paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Richards throws a left and a right that both miss
and Richards takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cavalli throws a one two combo.
Richards throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Cavalli counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Richards's guard now.
Richards is looking to sweep but instead, Cavalli has passed into half guard.
Cavalli working Richards over with strikes.
Richards is looking for a sweep. Cavalli is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Cavalli clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Rob Cavalli's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Richards takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Cavalli circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cavalli tries to close the distance and clinch but Richards swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cavalli uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Richards.
A punch combination from Cavalli misses.
Richards misses with a jab to the body
letting Cavalli counter with a right hand.
Richards misses with a combination
and Cavalli counters with a two punch combo.
Cavalli fails with an attempt to clinch.
Richards misses with a double jab

and Cavalli counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cavalli working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Richards tries to get to full guard but Cavalli has control of the leg.
Cavalli prevents Richards from standing back up.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Richards is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cavalli looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Cavalli is looking to take a break and control but Richards is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Richards moves into full guard.
Cavalli trying to stand up but can't free himself from Richards's guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Richards swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Cavalli decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Richards's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cavalli won't allow Richards to get back to his feet.
Cavalli has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Cavalli trying to control but Richards is working from the bottom.

Richards looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Cavalli is defending well. Richards quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Cavalli has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Richards celebrates on the ropes, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:30 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hakim Richards!