PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelinho Garcia (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
Garcia

192 cm
21
255 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

184 cm
22
260 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ben Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marcelinho Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Richards sprawls well. Richards wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Garcia gets slowly back to his feet.
Garcia takes one to the chin there.

It looks like Marcelinho Garcia has been cut.
Richards lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Garcia circles away quickly and effectively.
Richards misses with a jab, cross combination.
Richards tries to clinch up.
Garcia fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Richards checks it well.
No luck for Garcia with that takedown attempt.
Richards connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Garcia momentarily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Richards swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Garcia swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Richards throws a right hand that Garcia ducks under and follows up with a left that Garcia also avoids with ease.
Garcia misses with a low kick.
Richards throws a right and a left that Garcia avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling Garcia to counter with a crisp jab.
Richards throws a combination that misses

and Garcia counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Richards's guard now.
Garcia wants to stand but Richards is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Garcia decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Garcia clinches with his opponent.
Richards is trying to drag Garcia to the mat but Garcia just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Richards keeps control of Garcia as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Garcia breaks from the clinch.
Richards throws a big shot that misses.
Richards throws a left and a right that both miss
and Garcia counters with a stiff right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Richards wants to clinch but Garcia slips to the side
and Garcia counters with a left to the body.
Richards throws a combination that misses

so Garcia counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia trying to stand up but can't free himself from Richards's guard.
Richards is looking to stand up but Garcia isn't so interested in that idea.
Garcia is looking to stand up but Richards won't let him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four 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.
Garcia prevents Richards from getting back to his feet.
Richards on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Richards tries to get out of the position.

Garcia gets to his feet - Richards follows without any prompting.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards clinches but Garcia breaks the clinch

and Garcia counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Richards's guard now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garcia wants to stand but Richards is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelinho Garcia dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marcelinho Garcia's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Richards tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Garcia counters by clinching up.
Richards doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Richards has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Garcia is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Garcia wants to break the clinch but can't.

Richards has hold of one of Garcia's legs. Garcia is fighting the takedown attempt but Richards gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Richards is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Garcia is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Richards dives into side control.
Garcia is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Richards has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards staying calm.

Richards stands up and beckons Garcia to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Richards clinches.

Garcia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Richards tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Garcia counters with a series of strikes. Richards will be more careful next time no doubt.
Richards moves out of range as Garcia throws a body kick.
Richards wants to clinch but Garcia slips to the side
and Richards takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Richards wants to clinch

and Garcia counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Richards is proving hard to escape from.
Marcelinho Garcia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Richards is trying to keep Garcia in close.

That's four 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.

Garcia gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Richards ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Garcia moves away.
Richards misses with a two punch combination.
Richards closes the distance looking to clinch

and Garcia counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcelinho Garcia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marcelinho Garcia's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Richards as Garcia shoots in.
Richards wants to clinch but Garcia slips to the side
and Garcia counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Marcelinho Garcia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Garcia uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Richards.
Richards avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Richards throws a combination that misses
and Garcia counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Garcia is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Richards.
Richards looks to land a combination but Garcia avoids it well.
Nice body punch from Garcia.
Richards clinches but Garcia breaks the clinch
and Garcia counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Richards looks to clinch

and Garcia counters with a nice double leg into side control. Richards won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Garcia decides to stand back up. Garcia steps back and let's Richards get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Richards has his takedown stuffed
and Garcia counters with a straight right hand.
Richards tries to bum rush Garcia with a series of wild strikes but Garcia uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Garcia gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Richards wants a takedown.
Richards keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Garcia's efforts to push away.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Richards.
Garcia is trying to break the clinch but Richards has him pressed against the cage.
Richards misses with the head strike.

Garcia breaks the clinch.
Richards tries for a takedown but Garcia circles away easily
and Garcia counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richards tries to clinch up
and Garcia counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia throws out a leg kick but Richards moves out of range and Garcia only half commits.
Ben Richards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garcia looks to land a combination but Richards avoids it well.
Garcia moves out of range of the strikes.
Garcia misses with a leg kick.
Garcia misses with a straight right.
Richards tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Garcia connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Richards shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ben Richards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Richards swinging wildly here.
Richards throws a right and a left that Garcia avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Garcia counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Richards tries to clinch but Garcia moves away
and Garcia counters with a nice body shot.
Richards misses the jab.
Garcia tests Richards's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Richards tries to clinch but Garcia moves away

and Garcia counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Richards is looking to stand up but Garcia isn't so interested in that idea.
Ben Richards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Garcia wants to stand and escape but instead Richards has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Marcelinho Garcia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards stops Garcia from standing up.
Richards wants to pass the guard but Garcia is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards thows a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcelinho Garcia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Garcia has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 26:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 26:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcelinho Garcia!