PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brandon Vera has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Vera
vs
Richards

191 cm
23
205 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

180 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brandon Vera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mickey Richards!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vera showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Richards.
Vera avoids the body shot from Richards.
Richards misses with a double jab.
Vera takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Richards avoids a kick to the body.
Richards swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vera throws a solid leg kick but Richards takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Vera.
Richards moves out of range of the strikes.
Richards just misses with a punch to the body.
Richards comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Vera checks a leg kick nicely.
Richards misses with a two punch combination.
A low kick from Richards is predictable there
and Vera counters with an outside leg kick.
Vera is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vera swings for the body but Richards moves out of range.
Vera is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Richards.

It looks like Brandon Vera has been cut.
Richards stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Richards wants it to stay on the feet.
Vera is trying hard to land a takedown here. Richards sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Richards leaves Vera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Vera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Richards tries to bum rush Vera with a series of wild strikes but Vera uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Richards misses with a low kick.
Richards misses with a body punch

and Vera counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Richards keeping moving, preventing Vera from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richards wants to stand and escape but Vera is having none of it.
Vera is breathing heavily.
Richards managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards wants to stand but Vera is controlling the position.
Richards has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Vera has passed into side control.
Vera working away.
Richards is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera tries to advance to mount but Richards instead regains half guard.

Richards pushes Vera off and gets back to his feet.
Richards fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Richards scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Good leg kick by Richards there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Richards falls off balance throwing a combination

and Vera counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Vera.

Richards wants the takedown. Vera is fighting it off but Richards persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Vera's guard against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Richards postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Richards pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vera is keeping the position for now.
Richards with a nice head shot there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards is working Vera over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Richards scoring with punches to the head and body.
Vera will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Richards is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Richards throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Richards really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Richards trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vera keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
Vera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Richards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Richards dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brandon Vera's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Richards goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Richards misses with an uppercut. Vera saw that one coming.
Vera tries to clinch but Richards is having none of it.
Vera throws a sloppy head kick and Richards moves out of range easily.
Richards scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Vera doesn't seem bothered though.
Richards misses with a wild body shot.
Richards will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vera walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Richards lands a nice hook to Vera's body. Vera takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Vera swinging wildly here.
Richards ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vera moves away.
Richards misses with a wild combination.
Vera slips a jab and a cross from Richards.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards misses with a two punch combination.
Brandon Vera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Richards throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Vera counters with a nice kick to the body.
Mickey Richards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richards lands a nice hook to Vera's body. Vera takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Richards lands with a right hand.
Richards scores with a jab to the head.
Richards lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Richards lands with a shot to the body.
Richards lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Richards feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Vera's calf.
Richards ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Richards with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Richards looks to land a combination but Vera avoids it well.
Vera fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Richards misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Richards swinging wildly here.
Richards looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Richards throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A nice combination there by Richards.
A good leg kick by Richards.
A shot to de liver by Richards. Beautiful body shot.
Vera on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slapping body kick lands there for Richards.
Richards is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Vera rather than just go for the knockout.
Richards misses with a body kick.
Richards with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Vera ducks right into an uppercut from Richards.
Richards throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A right-left combo lands from Richards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards punishes Vera's body with a nice straight punch.
Richards throws a quick inside leg kick.
A left and a right from Richards both land. Nice combination.
Richards moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A combination from Richards does no damage.
Richards misses with a series of wild punches.
Richards looks to land a combination. Vera sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Richards catches Vera with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Vera avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Richards.
Richards throws a series of punches but Vera avoids them all with ease.
A combination from Richards does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vera closes the distance and clinches.
Vera jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Richards walks away with a smile on his face. Vera gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mickey Richards seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Richards throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Vera counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Vera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Richards swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vera wants to control from the top but Richards keeps moving.
Richards seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Richards lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Vera!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Richards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Brandon Vera's cut.
That's time! Vera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Richards will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
No joy there for Richards, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Richards lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Richards.
Richards misses with a series of wild punches.
Richards throws a series of punches but Vera avoids them all with ease.
Richards displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vera.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards misses the shot to the body.
Richards throws a right and a left that both miss.
Richards throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richards is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera dodges the punch combination from Richards.
Richards displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Richards scores with a crisp jab that stopped Vera in his tracks.
Richards moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Richards catches Vera with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Richards fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Richards looks to land a combination but Vera avoids it well.
Richards closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Vera wants to clinch up but Richards keeps it at a distance.
Richards throws a right and a left that Vera avoids nicely.
Vera stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Richards.
No joy there for Richards, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Richards misses with a wild combination.
Richards misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards throws a right hand that Vera ducks under and follows up with a left that Vera also avoids with ease.
Richards lands a really nice looking cross but Vera seems unphased.
Richards throws a nice looking combination but Vera bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Richards scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Richards dips to his left and cracks Vera with an uppercut!

Richards shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Vera manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Vera is controlling Richards's posture.
Vera keeping full guard, as Richards tries to pass.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Vera holds on and takes a little breather.
Richards must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Vera's guard.
Richards thows a huge punch but Vera dodges it nicely.
Richards working over Vera with some ground and pound. Vera looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Vera is positioning himself well to prevent Richards advancing to mount.
Richards prevents Vera from standing back up.
Vera is looking for a sweep. Richards is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Richards passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Vera!
Richards is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Vera can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Vera looks a forlorn figure.
Vera is in a horrible position here. Richards smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Richards with a couple of short strikes.
Richards landing punches.
Vera tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Richards lands a big elbow.
Brandon Vera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vera really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey Richards comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Richards 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight for Mickey Richards!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Mickey Richards!
Judge Suge Night scores the fight for Mickey Richards!

Mickey Richards wins by unanimous decision!