PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Memphis Klaspinowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Richards told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Klaspinowski
vs
Richards

190 cm
24
225 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

190 cm
21
220 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White 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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Memphis Klaspinowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Richards!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Klaspinowski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Richards manages to avoid it.
Memphis Klaspinowski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richards tries for a takedown but Klaspinowski sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Richards is looking to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Klaspinowski.
Richards fails with an attempt to clinch.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch but Klaspinowski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A punch combination from Richards misses.
Richards looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Good shot there by Richards.
Richards has a takedown stuffed.
Memphis Klaspinowski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Richards.
Richards dives in and grabs Klaspinowski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Klaspinowski pushes down on Richards's head and hops out.

Klaspinowski scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Richards taking a bit of punishment here - Klaspinowski scoring with strikes.
Klaspinowski has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Klaspinowski lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Klaspinowski is working Richards over with some ground and pound from side control.
Richards taking a bit of punishment here - Klaspinowski scoring with strikes.
Richards is working to avoid the ground and pound but Klaspinowski connects with a decent elbow.
Richards is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards is trying to control Klaspinowski's posture but Klaspinowski avoids it.
Richards looks gassed!
Klaspinowski wants to control but Richards is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richards takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Klaspinowski working the ground and pound.
Klaspinowski working the body and head with strikes.
Richards pushes Klaspinowski away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Klaspinowski gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Klaspinowski looking to control but instead Richards has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Klaspinowski prevents Richards from improving his position.
Klaspinowski looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Richards with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Richards taking some punishment here, with Klaspinowski in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klaspinowski scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Klaspinowski is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Richards trying to hold on to Klaspinowski's head to control him but Klaspinowski postures up.
Klaspinowski looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Klaspinowski there.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Richards is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Klaspinowski scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ground and pound from Klaspinowski.
Richards has hold of Klaspinowski's hands but Klaspinowski slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Klaspinowski is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Richards slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Klaspinowski is working Richards over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Richards looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klaspinowski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Klaspinowski lands a couple of elbows.
Richards not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Richards trying to strike off his back.
Richards wants to stand but Klaspinowski is controlling the position.
Klaspinowski works over Richards with some ground and pound from guard.
Klaspinowski scoring with punches to the head and body.
Richards controls Klaspinowski momentarily but Klaspinowski frees himself.
Richards working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Klaspinowski.
Klaspinowski cracks Richards with a solid left hand.
Richards looking to hit a scissor sweep but Klaspinowski is one step ahead there.
Klaspinowski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Richards striking off his back.
Richards wants to control the position but Klaspinowski says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Klaspinowski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Richards's head.
Richards is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Klaspinowski scores with a couple of nice shots.
Richards avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Klaspinowski.
Richards wants to get back to his feet.
Klaspinowski is thwarting Richards's attempts to control the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Klaspinowski trying to control the action but Richards is working from the bottom.
Richards flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Memphis Klaspinowski dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Some wild striking there from Klaspinowski.
Klaspinowski tries for a takedown but Richards sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Klaspinowski throws a body punch but Richards moves out of range.
Klaspinowski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Richards lands a left and a right that send Klaspinowski crashing to the mat, dazed. Richards thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Klaspinowski is rocked!

It looks like Memphis Klaspinowski has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Klaspinowski takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Richards tries to clinch up.
Ben Richards seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Richards fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Richards is looking to clinch.
Richards shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Memphis Klaspinowski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Richards clinches up with Klaspinowski and pushes him back against the cage.
Richards is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Klaspinowski is defending well for now.

Richards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Klaspinowski's corner calls for a 1-2. Klaspinowski obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Richards tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Klaspinowski lands with a shot to the body.
Richards wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Klaspinowski!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Richards.

Richards moves into the clinch.

Richards ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Richards no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Richards really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Klaspinowski. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Richards trying to strike off his back.
Klaspinowski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Richards works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Klaspinowski throws a big right hand that misses.
Klaspinowski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Richards wants to stand and escape but Klaspinowski is having none of it.
Klaspinowski is looking to work some ground and pound but Richards has wrist control.
Richards is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Klaspinowski is controlling him.
Memphis Klaspinowski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Richards's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Richards duly obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Klaspinowski's head.
Klaspinowski swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Richards wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Richards tries to clinch up but Klaspinowski circles away and keeps his distance.
Richards fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Klaspinowski chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Richards can pounce on him.
Richards works Klaspinowski's body with a nice hook.
Richards shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Klaspinowski as he avoids it easily.
Memphis Klaspinowski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Richards.

Richards gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Klaspinowski to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Klaspinowski preventing the sweep.
Klaspinowski chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klaspinowski in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Klaspinowski lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Klaspinowski lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Richards keeping moving, preventing Klaspinowski from controlling successfully.
Klaspinowski loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Richards throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Klaspinowski wants to control from the top but Richards keeps moving.
Richards wants to sweep but no luck.
Richards not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Klaspinowski lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Richards catches Klaspinowski with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards fails to land with a series of punches.
Richards wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Richards misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Klaspinowski throws a body punch but Richards moves out of range.

Klaspinowski drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Richards managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Klaspinowski.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Richards is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Klaspinowski tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Richards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Memphis Klaspinowski's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Klaspinowski keeps the fight on the outside.
Klaspinowski scores with a push kick.
Klaspinowski is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Richards takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A nice combination there by Klaspinowski.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Klaspinowski shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
BOOM! Klaspinowski connects with a massive shot to the dome!
A nice elbow there by Klaspinowski.
Klaspinowski landing strikes from the mount and Richards is in trouble!
Richards really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Klaspinowski looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Richards sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klaspinowski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Klaspinowski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Richards's head.
Richards manages to get to full guard.
Klaspinowski stops Richards from standing up.
Klaspinowski working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Richards's head.
Klaspinowski passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Klaspinowski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Richards keeps working.

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.
Richards tries to escape but Klaspinowski is in control.
Klaspinowski cracks Richards with a big right hand but Richards just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Richards is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Klaspinowski has just dragged him back down to the mat.
You can see the frustration on Richards's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Klaspinowski lands an elbow.
Klaspinowski cracks Richards with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Klaspinowski works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Richards is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Klaspinowski is controlling him well.
Richards is not content to let Klaspinowski control the position.
Richards is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Klaspinowski is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Klaspinowski working the ground and pound from side control.
Klaspinowski throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Klaspinowski creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Richards sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Klaspinowski sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Richards is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Richards.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Klaspinowski paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Richards takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Klaspinowski fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Richards fails to land the takedown.
Klaspinowski looks to score with a jab to the body but Richards is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nice takedown defense from Richards. No joy for Klaspinowski on that attempt.
Klaspinowski takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Richards doesn't manage to clinch there - Klaspinowski circles away.

Richards gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Klaspinowski makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Richards is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Klaspinowski is controlling him.

Klaspinowski gets to his feet. Richards looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Klaspinowski displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Klaspinowski is looking to wear down Richards with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Richards stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Richards wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Memphis Klaspinowski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Klaspinowski swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Richards fails with an attempt to clinch.
Richards shoots in but Klaspinowski avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Klaspinowski scores with a takedown into Richards's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Memphis Klaspinowski showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Klaspinowski has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Memphis Klaspinowski!