PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Donnell Richardson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nester Locke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richardson's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Enter Sandman. Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Richardson
vs
Locke

192 cm
26
202 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

192 cm
20
192 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Donnell Richardson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nester Locke!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richardson shoots in for a takedown but Locke shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Richardson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Locke.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Locke!
Richardson walks into a stiff left hand from Locke.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Locke slaps away a takedown attempt from Richardson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Donnell Richardson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richardson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donnell Richardson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richardson misses with a hook
and Locke counters with a three punch combo that has Richardson backing up. Richardson nods at Locke to acknowledge the strikes.
Richardson fails to land the takedown.
Richardson misses with a takedown attempt - Locke sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nester Locke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Locke throws a series of punches but Richardson moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Richardson is defended easily by Locke.
Locke misses with a double jab.
Richardson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Locke is fending him off so far but Richardson persists. Nope, Locke circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Locke defends it nicely.
Locke lands with a nice combination. Richardson backs away looking to recover.
Richardson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Locke throws a lazy right hand but Richardson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Locke keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Locke scores with the left hand. Richardson knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Richardson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Locke's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Locke looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nester Locke 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 misses with a takedown
and Locke counters with a stiff right hand.
Locke throws a lazy uppercut

and Richardson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Locke won't be happy with that.
Locke is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Richardson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Locke looking for submissions off his back.
Richardson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Locke keeps working.
Richardson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Locke wants to control the action here but instead Richardson manages to pass to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke is in all sorts of trouble here.
Richardson lands a nice shot to the head.

Richardson is working for a guillotine from mount but Locke frees his head quite easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Richardson unloads with some shots from mount but Locke bucks and avoids them well.
Locke can't escape the position.
Locke wants to control but Richardson is having none of it.
Richardson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Locke is in all sorts of trouble here.
Richardson raining down hammerfists from mount.
Richardson tries to control but Locke wriggling away.
Poor strikes thrown by Richardson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardson with a couple of short strikes.
Locke is wriggling around trying to escape.
Richardson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice elbow there by Richardson.
Richardson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Locke because Richardson loaded up on that one.
Locke is in a horrible position here. Richardson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Locke avoids a series of strikes thrown by Richardson.
Locke is working to get back to half guard.
Richardson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Locke hang on?
Richardson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Richardson looking to finish with strikes here!
Locke is looking to improve his position but Richardson isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Locke tries to lock up and control but Richardson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Locke working to try and regain half guard.
Locke regains half guard.
Richardson is thwarting Locke's attempts to control the position.
Richardson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Locke on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Locke wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Richardson working over Locke with some ground and pound. Locke looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Locke is looking to control Richardson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Locke avoid being mounted?
Richardson 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.
Locke keeping hold of Richardson's head, controlling as best he can.
Richardson thows a huge punch but Locke dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richardson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Locke's head.
Richardson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Locke is looking to control Richardson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Locke avoid being mounted?
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Richardson stops Locke from getting back to his feet.
Richardson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Richardson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Locke slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Richardson pushes down on Locke's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Locke is trying is best to control the position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Locke trying to control but Richardson postures up.

Richardson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Locke doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Richardson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnell Richardson dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Richardson fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richardson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Locke throws a lazy uppercut

and Richardson counters with a takedown into side control.
Donnell Richardson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Richardson misses with the ground and pound.
Richardson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Locke is not content to let Richardson control the position.
Locke managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Richardson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Locke avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Richardson.
Richardson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Locke is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Richardson working away.
Richardson looks up at the clock and then as Locke takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Richardson smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Richardson trying to control the position but Locke is working away.
Richardson misses with the ground and pound.
Richardson working the ground and pound from side control.
Locke is looking to reverse the position.
Locke can't do much from the bottom here.
Richardson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Locke can't do much from the bottom here.
Locke is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson in side control, throwing shots but Locke defends.
Locke tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Richardson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Locke gets back to half guard.
Locke manages to get to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Richardson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Richardson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Richardson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Locke works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Richardson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Locke swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Locke tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Richardson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Richardson preventing the sweep.
Richardson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

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 distracts Locke with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Locke working for a triangle but Richardson defends it easily.
Locke seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Locke not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Richardson looking to pass the guard.
Locke is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nester Locke.
Richardson shoots in looking for a takedown. Locke tries to sprawl out of it but Richardson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Locke manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnell Richardson clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Richardson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Locke pinned against the cage. Locke gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Locke works over Richardson's head and body with a nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richardson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Locke throws a series of punches but Richardson moves out of range.
Locke falls off balance throwing a combination

and Richardson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Locke is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Locke looking to control.
Richardson landing some decent shots from guard.
Richardson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Locke's head.
Richardson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Locke works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Locke avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Richardson lands a couple of elbows.
Richardson wants to control from the top but Locke keeps moving.

Richardson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Richardson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Locke is trying to control the position but Richardson postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Locke works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Richardson postures up and lands a big shot to Locke's brow.
Locke manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Locke tries to control but Richardson wriggling away.
Locke is looking to stand but Locke has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Locke prevents Richardson from getting the reversal.
Richardson gives up his back whilst trying to strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richardson wants to control his opponent's hands but Locke gets his hands free.
Locke trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Locke is persistently looking for the submission but Richardson is defending it well.

Locke is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Richardson tries to break free.

Locke has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Richardson has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donnell Richardson had his way with Nester Locke in 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. This is the final round!

Richardson fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Locke misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Richardson with that takedown attempt.
Locke falls off balance throwing a combination

and Richardson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Locke's guard now.
Richardson postures up in Locke's guard and throws a big left but Locke blocks it.
Locke preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Richardson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Richardson throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Locke manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Locke is looking to work his way around to Richardson's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Locke can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Richardson is looking to escape.
Locke prevents Richardson from getting the reversal.
Locke avoids the attempt from Richardson to control.
Locke fails to advance to Richardson's back.
Locke wants to control the pace but Richardson is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Richardson reaches up to try and control the position but Locke seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Richardson rolls and tries to escape and now Locke has his back!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Locke's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Richardson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Locke's guard. Nice work there by Richardson.
Donnell Richardson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Locke tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Locke controlling Richardson's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Locke looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Locke working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Richardson.
Locke is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Richardson postures up in Locke's guard and throws a big left but Locke blocks it.
Locke controls Richardson momentarily but Richardson frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nester Locke was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Richardson is defended easily by Locke.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Donnell Richardson.
I think Richardson 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 49:46
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 49:46
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donnell Richardson!
Donnell Richardson retains his middleweight title!