PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Travis Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Richardson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chuck Richardson looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Cole
vs
Richardson

178 cm
23
187 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

170 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Travis Cole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chuck Richardson!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cole closes the distance and pushes Richardson back into the cage.

Cole breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cole is looking to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Richardson or perhaps it was just good defense by Cole which made him look bad.
Cole stuffs the takedown attempt from Richardson. Richardson gets slowly back to his feet.
Cole misses with a takedown attempt

and Richardson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Cole looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Richardson trying to control the pace.
Cole is trying to get back to full guard.

Richardson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cole is just riding it out for now. Richardson eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richardson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Cole tries to get to full guard but Richardson has control of the leg.
Cole moves into full guard.
Cole manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Richardson manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two 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.
Richardson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Richardson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Richardson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richardson working a defensive guard but Cole passes into half guard.
Richardson is looking to control Cole's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Richardson avoid being mounted?
Cole is breathing heavily.
Richardson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Despite being in the dominant position, Chuck Richardson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Richardson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Richardson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cole is keeping the position for now.
Richardson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole looking to hit a scissor sweep but Richardson is one step ahead there.
Richardson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Richardson 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.

Richardson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cole counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Richardson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cole's half guard.
Richardson controlling the pace.

Richardson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cole is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cole is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richardson is looking for a kimura but Cole is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Richardson to get the leverage.
Richardson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Richardson is working for a kimura but Cole is defending it quite comfortably.

Richardson trying to work for an americana but Cole has managed to regain full guard.

That's two 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.
Richardson looking to sit in guard and control but Cole gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cole trying to control but Richardson is working from the bottom.

Richardson is looking for a triangle but Cole pushes his legs off easily.

Richardson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Richardson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Richardson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Richardson controlling Cole's posture.

Richardson is looking for a triangle but Cole pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richardson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cole doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cole manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Richardson pulls Cole in to control the position.

Richardson is looking for a triangle here but Cole uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Richardson struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Richardson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Cole shoots in looking for a takedown. Richardson tries to sprawl out of it but Cole keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Richardson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cole tries for a takedown but Richardson circles away easily

and Richardson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Richardson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Let's hope that Richardson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Richardson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Cole!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richardson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richardson moves to the back.
What can Cole do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Despite being in the dominant position, Chuck Richardson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Richardson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Cole is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole is looking for a sweep. Richardson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cole wants to get back to full guard but Richardson has passed into side control.
Chuck Richardson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Richardson controlling the pace for now.
Cole is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Travis Cole has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Richardson prevents Cole from getting the reversal.

That's four 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.
Richardson is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Cole is in real trouble.
Chuck Richardson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Richardson working for the choke.
Cole can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chuck Richardson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Richardson 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 26:30

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