PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Cunns II (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Richards
vs
Cunns II

200 cm
19
260 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

194 cm
19
280 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Bruce Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Cunns II!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards wants to clinch up but Cunns II keeps it at a distance.
Cunns II dives in and grabs Richards's left leg, looking for a takedown. Richards pushes down on Cunns II's head and hops out.

Richards pushes Cunns II up against the cage in a clinch.
Richards is looking to break free of the clinch but Cunns II has double underhooks.

Richards breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Richards feints and then cracks Cunns II's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cunns II down.
Cunns II shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Richards tries to clinch there but Cunns II circles away.
Richards wants to clinch up but Cunns II keeps it at a distance.
Cunns II avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Richards clinches up against the cage.

Richards breaks from the clinch.
Cunns II shoots in and drives through. Richards sprawls well.
Bruce Richards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Cunns II.
Richards moves in looking to clinch but Cunns II pushes him off.
Cunns II shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Richards defends it nicely.

Richards moves into the clinch.
Cunns II stalling in the clinch.

Richards breaks the clinch.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cunns II paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cunns II avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Richards wants to clinch up but Cunns II keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Richards fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cunns II shoots in for a double leg but Richards sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cunns II looks gassed!
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch but Cunns II swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cunns II keeps the fight on the outside.

Richards clinches up with Cunns II and pushes him back against the cage.

Richards manages to break the clinch.
Cunns II keeps the fight on the outside.

Richards fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cunns II, pushing him back against the cage.
Richards wants to get back to striking at distance but Cunns II won't allow it.
Richards has Cunns II pressed against the cage, preventing Cunns II from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Richards wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cunns II keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Richards's efforts to push away.

Richards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cunns II wants to clinch up but Richards keeps it at a distance.
Cunns II swats away the attempt to clinch by Richards.
Richards tries to clinch there but Cunns II circles away.
Mark Cunns II seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Richards tries to clinch but Cunns II moves out of range.

Richards darts in and clinches Cunns II up against the cage.

Richards breaks the clinch.

Cunns II throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Richards was covering up waiting for the punch and Cunns II finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cunns II tries to free his leg and advance position but Richards is retaining full guard.
Richards working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunns II is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cunns II prevents Richards from getting back to his feet.

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.
Richards 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.
Cunns II passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Cunns II controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Richards dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Richards tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Richards keeps the fight on the outside.
Richards stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Richards wants it to stay on the feet.
Richards tries to clinch up but Cunns II circles away and keeps his distance.
Richards stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Richards wants it to stay on the feet.
Cunns II changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Richards tries to avoid it but Cunns II manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Richards to the ground. Richards escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bruce Richards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Cunns II.
Cunns II shoots in but no luck this time.
Richards defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cunns II.
Richards tries to clinch up

and Cunns II counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cunns II.

Richards breaks from the clinch.

Richards clinches up against the cage.
Cunns II is breathing heavily.
Richards tries to break free but Cunns II pushes him back against the cage.

Richards escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Richards moves in looking to clinch but Cunns II pushes him off.
Cunns II is trying hard to land a takedown here. Richards sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Richards tries to clinch but Cunns II moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards tries to clinch there but Cunns II circles away.

Richards rushes Cunns II and presses him up against the cage.
Richards is trying to break the clinch but Cunns II has him pressed against the cage.

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

Richards rushes Cunns II and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Richards breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Richards gets a clinch.

Richards breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Richards wants to clinch.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cunns II swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cunns II misses with a jab, cross combination.
Richards keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nice jab there from Richards.
Cunns II shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Richards defends it nicely.
Richards tries to clinch up but Cunns II circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Richards closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Richards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cunns II fails with a takedown attempt.
Bruce Richards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Richards doesn't manage to clinch there - Cunns II circles away.

Richards clinches up with Cunns II and pushes him back against the cage.

Richards manages to break the clinch.
Richards bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Richards instigates a clinch.

Richards breaks the clinch.

Richards closes the distance and pushes Cunns II back into the cage.
Richards wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Richards manages to break the clinch.

Richards darts in and clinches Cunns II up against the cage.

Richards breaks from the clinch.

Richards has Cunns II up against the cage in a clinch.
Richards is trying to break the clinch but Cunns II is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunns II looking to slow down the pace here.

Richards breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Horrible takedown by Cunns II or perhaps it was just good defense by Richards which made him look bad.

Richards rushes Cunns II and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Richards breaks from the clinch.
Bruce Richards is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Richards tries to clinch up.
Cunns II shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Richards defends it nicely.
Richards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Richards fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cunns II, pushing him back against the cage.

Richards's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cunns II shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Richards as he jumps to the side.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch but Cunns II swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Richards escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Richards moves into the clinch.
Richards wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cunns II has him pressed against the cage.

Richards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A chopping leg kick lands by Richards.
Richards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Richards defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cunns II.

Richards moves into the clinch successfully.

Richards breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cunns II tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Richards swivels and escapes.
Richards wants to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Richards dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Richards instigates a clinch.
Richards looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Richards's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cunns II avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Richards as Cunns II shoots in.
Cunns II avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Richards keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cunns II swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Richards defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cunns II.
Bruce Richards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Cunns II.
Nice shot lands for Richards.
Richards doesn't manage to clinch there - Cunns II circles away.

Richards closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Richards breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cunns II takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cunns II circles away from the clinch attempt.
Richards tries to clinch but Cunns II moves out of range.
Richards wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richards clinches with his opponent.

Richards breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Richards feints and then cracks Cunns II's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cunns II down.

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

Richards breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Richards has taken the fight to the clinch.
Richards tries to break the clinch but Cunns II is controlling the position.

Richards breaks the clinch.
Richards tries to clinch but Cunns II is having none of it.
Cunns II takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Richards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cunns II has a takedown stuffed.
Cunns II swats away the attempt to clinch by Richards.
Cunns II looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cunns II dives in and grabs Richards's left leg, looking for a takedown. Richards pushes down on Cunns II's head and hops out.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cunns II swats him away and circles back towards the center.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cunns II is looking to break free of the clinch but Richards has double underhooks.
Richards has Cunns II pressed against the cage, preventing Cunns II from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Richards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Richards stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Richards wants it to stay on the feet.

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

Richards manages to break the clinch.
Richards throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Cunns II.
Cunns II shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Richards but Richards pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Richards tries to clinch but Cunns II moves out of range.
Bruce Richards is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunns II shoots in for a double leg but Richards sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Richards clinches with his opponent.
Bruce Richards is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Richards escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Richards clinches.

Richards's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice uppercut there from Richards.
Cunns II swats away the attempt to clinch by Richards.
Richards is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cunns II can do to turn this around?
Cunns II dodges the punch combination from Richards.
Cunns II shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Richards defends it nicely.

Richards gets a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Richards's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richards breaks from the clinch.

Cunns II shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Richards manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Richards wants to stand but Cunns II is controlling the position.
Mark Cunns II has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Richards can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cunns II controls the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Richards showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Richards, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Richards!