PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lonnie Kiger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Richards could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Lonnie Kiger's chin.

Richards
vs
Kiger

190 cm
22
220 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

198 cm
24
258 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lonnie Kiger!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kiger shoots in looking for a takedown. Richards tries to sprawl out of it but Kiger keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Richards manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kiger looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Richards is fending him off so far but Kiger persists. Nope, Richards circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Kiger with that takedown attempt.
Ben Richards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lonnie Kiger.
Kiger just misses with a punch to the body.

Richards gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Richards wants to stand but Kiger is controlling the position.
Richards pulls Kiger in close to his closed guard and prevents Kiger from doing any damage or advancing position.
Richards not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kiger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Richards is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Kiger thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Richards trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ben Richards just wasn't active enough.
Kiger shoots in for a double leg but Richards sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kiger looks gassed!
Kiger tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Richards swivels and escapes.
Horrible takedown by Kiger or perhaps it was just good defense by Richards which made him look bad.
Kiger swinging wildly here.
Richards scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Richards lands with a shot to the body.

Richards has closed the distance and engaged Kiger in a clinch.

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

Richards clinches up against the cage.
Richards misses with a knee strike.
Kiger tries to pull guard but Richards won't allow it.
Richards dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiger tries to pull guard but Richards won't allow it.

Richards pulls guard effortlessly.
Richards controlling Kiger's posture.
Richards lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Richards looking to control.
Richards tries to strike from the bottom.
Richards is adopting a defensive guard.

Richards working for a triangle but Kiger defends it easily.
Kiger throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Richards works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kiger is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Richards is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Richards has escaped and now he's on top!
Kiger wants to sweep but no luck.
Richards loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Richards wants to control from the top but Kiger keeps moving.
Richards engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

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.

Ben Richards has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kiger shoots in but Richards avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Kiger looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Richards desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Richards won't allow Kiger to pass to mount.
Richards is looking to improve his position.
Richards is trying to stand.
Richards tries to roll over but Kiger keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Richards dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kiger on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Richards goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Richards has managed to clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Richards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kiger jumps guard but Richards stands there with Kiger around his waist. Kiger gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Richards missing with knees to the body.
Richards stalling against the cage.
Kiger tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Richards smiles and moves away.
Sloppy strikes from Kiger. Those never looked like landing.
No luck for Kiger with that takedown attempt.
Ben Richards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lonnie Kiger.
Richards dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Richards tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kiger manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kiger is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richards scores with a takedown into Kiger's guard.
Richards tries to stand but Kiger is controlling from the bottom.

Richards avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Richards would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kiger keeping full guard, as Richards tries to pass.
Richards is pushing down on Kiger's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kiger is fighting to maintain full guard but Richards has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards is keen to just control but Kiger is a slippery customer.
Richards knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kiger on the ground.

Kiger looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Richards perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kiger wants to get back to full guard.

Richards wants to work for an arm triangle but Kiger is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Richards is trying to control. Kiger wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Kiger looking for submissions off his back.

Kiger actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiger is staying active underneath Richards, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kiger is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Richards is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Richards prevents Kiger from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Richards wants to pass the guard but Kiger is defending well.

Richards looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Kiger looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Richards dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Richards clinches up with Kiger and pushes him back against the cage.
Kiger tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kiger jumps guard but Richards stands there with Kiger around his waist. Kiger gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kiger tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ben Richards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lonnie Kiger.

Kiger pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kiger shoots for a double leg takedown but Richards sprawls well. He's pushed Kiger's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Richards tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kiger manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Richards drives through and clinches with Kiger against the cage.
Kiger fails to pull guard.
Richards displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kiger up against the cage.

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 is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kiger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kiger throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Richards looking to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Kiger thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Richards striking from his own guard.
Kiger in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kiger trying to control the position from guard on top but Richards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richards working a defensive guard here.
Richards throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Kiger drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kiger jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Richards is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kiger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Richards preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kiger throws a big right hand that misses.
Kiger thows a big elbow that misses.
Richards is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kiger trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Kiger thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kiger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Richards pushes Kiger off and gets back to his feet.

Richards bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards tries to advance to mount but Kiger denies him.

Richards working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kiger tries to buck Richards off but Richards is having none of it.
Kiger is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Richards trying to control the action but Kiger is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kiger is looking to reverse the position.

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.

Richards has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Lonnie Kiger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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

Richards breaks the clinch.

Richards pushes Kiger up against the cage in a clinch.

Richards works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Richards would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Richards controls from within his opponent's guard.

Kiger has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Richards can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Richards showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Richards has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

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