PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hector Casados (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Richarlison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Casados kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Monster. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Casados
vs
Richarlison

175 cm
24
181 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

174 cm
19
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hector Casados!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricky Richarlison!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Richarlison changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Casados looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Casados is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Richarlison asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Richarlison is looking to take a break and control but Casados is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Casados is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Richarlison is controlling him well.
Casados trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Richarlison scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Casados to see if he's OK.
Casados is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Richarlison asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Richarlison is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Casados has escaped the position, nice work there.
Casados is looking to regain half guard here but Richarlison keeps moving and retains side control.
Casados wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richarlison has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Richarlison punishing his opponent with strikes.
Casados wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.
Richarlison lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Richarlison is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Richarlison wants to control the pace but Casados is squirming around nicely.
Richarlison working Casados over with strikes here.
Richarlison looking to control but Casados is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Richarlison fails to advance to Casados's back.

Richarlison with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Casados swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richarlison putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Casados slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Casados is trying to stand back up but Richarlison is controlling him
Casados is breathing heavily.
Richarlison trying to control from half guard but Casados is working away.
Casados avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Richarlison.
Richarlison is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Richarlison looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Casados with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Richarlison lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Casados is staying active underneath Richarlison, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Richarlison lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
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.
Casados is looking for a sweep. Richarlison is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Casados is refusing to be controlled, as Richarlison sits in half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Casados is trying to stand back up but Richarlison is controlling him
Richarlison winds up and cracks Casados with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Casados wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Casados manages to get to full guard.
Richarlison trying to control the position from guard on top but Casados is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Casados wriggles free and stands up.

Casados gets caught flat footed, as Richarlison shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Casados can't keep his opponent in guard - Richarlison advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Casados is staying active underneath Richarlison, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Richarlison working over Casados with some ground and pound. Casados looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richarlison stops Casados from getting back to his feet.
Richarlison slips a nice elbow through Casados's hands, connecting with Casados's forehead.
Richarlison landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Casados wants to get back to his feet.

Richarlison is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Casados has managed to free his arm - good work.
Casados wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Richarlison is trying to control the action in half guard but Casados is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Casados is looking to escape.
Richarlison wants to control but Casados is keeping him busy.
Richarlison has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Casados stuffs the takedown attempt from Richarlison. Richarlison gets slowly back to his feet.
Casados fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Richarlison dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Casados gets a clinch.
Richarlison goes for a takedown attempt but Casados pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Casados doesn't manage to clinch there - Richarlison circles away.

Casados rushes Richarlison and presses him up against the ropes.
Casados scores with a knee to the head.
Casados with a knee to the head.
Casados tries a knee to the head but Richarlison blocks it.
Casados with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Casados lands with a left to the head.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Casados scores with a shoulder strike.
Casados misses with a knee to the head.
Richarlison drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A knee to the head by Casados.

Casados manages to break the clinch.
Casados takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Richarlison is trying hard to land a takedown here. Casados sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hector Casados has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Richarlison.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Richarlison closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Richarlison lands in his opponent's guard.
Richarlison stopping the sweep attempt from Casados.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richarlison is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Casados looking to hit a scissor sweep but Richarlison is one step ahead there.
Casados wants to stand but Richarlison is controlling the position.
Richarlison stands up over Casados, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Richarlison pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Casados is keeping the position for now.
Richarlison preventing the sweep.
Casados keeping moving, preventing Richarlison from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Richarlison with a jab.

Casados has Richarlison up against the ropes in a clinch.
Casados stops a takedown attempt from Richarlison.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Casados lands an elbow just above Richarlison 's eye.
Casados is pressed up against the ropes. Richarlison has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Casados down to the mat. Casados avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Casados throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Richarlison has managed to clinch.

Casados has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Richarlison clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Casados throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Casados is striking well from the back but Richarlison escapes and manages to control the positon and works his way to half guard. A much better position - the crisis is over for the time being.
Richarlison moves into full guard.
Casados throws a strike but Richarlison rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Casados wants to get back to his feet but Richarlison is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richarlison lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Casados is looking to stand up but Richarlison isn't so interested in that idea.
Richarlison looking to pass the guard.
Richarlison wants to control from the top but Casados keeps moving.
Richarlison trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Casados wriggles free and stands up.
Some wild striking there from Casados.
Hector Casados seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Casados tries to close the distance and clinch up but Richarlison swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Casados moves into the clinch.
Richarlison tries to circle away but Casados has him pinned against the ropes.

Richarlison tightens his grip and picks Casados up, before dumping him to the ground. Casados manages to land in guard.

Casados throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Richarlison is in close to Casados's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richarlison passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Casados wants to get back to his feet.
Richarlison taking a breather here.

Richarlison thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Casados is not content to let Richarlison control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ricky Richarlison will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Casados lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Richarlison circles away quickly and effectively.

Richarlison pushes Casados up against the ropes in a clinch.
A short right from Casados on the inside.
Richarlison managing to block the knees to the body from Casados.
Casados tries a knee to the head but Richarlison blocks it.

Richarlison tightens his grip and picks Casados up, before dumping him to the ground. Casados manages to land in guard.

Casados has his foot on Richarlison's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Richarlison works his way back into a safe position though.
Richarlison trying to control the position from guard on top but Casados is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Richarlison's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Richarlison tries to free his leg and advance position but Casados is retaining full guard.
Richarlison throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Casados works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Richarlison got a little sloppy there for a moment and Casados has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Richarlison has managed to get both his arms back between Casados's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richarlison forces his way into half guard.
Richarlison scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Richarlison trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richarlison seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Casados does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Casados wants to get back to his feet.
Casados is refusing to be controlled, as Richarlison sits in half guard.
Richarlison looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Richarlison wants to take a breather but Casados is having none of it.
Richarlison throwing shots but Casados is blocking nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Casados fails in his attempt to clinch.
Casados tries to clinch but Richarlison is having none of it.
Casados misses with a double jab.
Hector Casados is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Richarlison drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Richarlison moves into full mount!
Hector Casados has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richarlison trying to control but Casados is having none of it.
Casados really wants to buck Richarlison off and get back to his feet.
Richarlison prevents Casados from getting the reversal.

Richarlison is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Casados has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Casados is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Casados is trying to stand.
Richarlison controlling from mount.
Casados tries to buck Richarlison off but he can't manage it.
Ricky Richarlison has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richarlison trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Richarlison with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Casados is looking to improve his position but Richarlison isn't that keen on the idea.
Casados tries to buck Richarlison off but he can't manage it.
Richarlison lands a nice shot to the head.
Ricky Richarlison is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Casados is squirming around, avoiding Richarlison's attempts to control the action.
Casados tries to buck Richarlison off but Richarlison takes his back!
Richarlison biding his time, looking for the opening.
Richarlison trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Casados has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Will Richarlison go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Casados manages to reverse the position and now he's in Richarlison's guard. Nice work there by Casados.
Richarlison preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Casados throws and elbow that misses. Richarlison uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Casados's guard. Nice move by Richarlison!
Richarlison controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Richarlison comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Richarlison winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

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