PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steve Starkweather (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stan Richard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Starkweather comes into the arena with I'm On a Boat blaring out of the sound system. Richard has chosen In Ashes They Shall Reap as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Starkweather
vs
Richard

177 cm
24
168 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

168 cm
24
168 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 159's - $45

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steve Starkweather!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stan Richard!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Russell Pearce and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Richard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Richard loads up on a big right hand but Starkweather slips the punch.
Starkweather swings for the body but Richard moves out of range.
Richard checks a low kick from Starkweather.
Starkweather jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Starkweather pivots, looking for a leg kick but Richard is out of range and Starkweather settles back down.
Starkweather scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Richard avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Starkweather has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Starkweather there as he acknowledges the shot.
Starkweather throws a leg kick but Richard moved away.
Richard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Starkweather. That did some damage!
Starkweather tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Richard avoids a punch combination nicely.
Richard fails to land the takedown.

Richard moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Richard.
Richard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Starkweather creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Starkweather taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Richard lands a shot to the body.
Starkweather leaning his opponent against the cage.
Starkweather swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Richard works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Richard is trying to break the clinch but Starkweather is controlling him.
Starkweather tries to work over Richard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Richard.
Starkweather working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Starkweather.
Starkweather lands a body punch in the clinch.
Richard blocks an uppercut.
Richard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Starkweather.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Richard misses with a hook to the ribs.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Richard as Starkweather tries to tie him up.
A right hook to the body lands for Starkweather.
Starkweather stalling in the clinch.
Starkweather wants to stall.
Starkweather on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Richard with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Starkweather is trying to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richard tries to work over Starkweather's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Richard lands a body punch in the clinch.
Richard landing knees to the body.
Starkweather lands with a right to the head.
Richard lands a body punch in the clinch.
Richard tries to work over Starkweather's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Richard.
Richard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Richard lands with a short shot to the head.
Richard lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Starkweather or not.
Richard has a couple of punches blocked by Starkweather.
Richard misses with a hook to the ribs.
Richard putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Starkweather in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
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!
Starkweather stalling the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richard struggles to land a body shot inside as Starkweather controls his hands.
Starkweather throws a head punch that misses.
Richard connects with a nasty looking knee right to Starkweather's face.
Richard is working Starkweather over against the cage.
Richard is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Starkweather looking to stall.
Starkweather tries to work over Richard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Starkweather struggles to land a body shot inside as Richard controls his hands.
Starkweather misses with a shot to the kidneys.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Richard.
Richard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Starkweather swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Richard tries a body shot but Starkweather blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stan Richard dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A slapping leg kick lands for Richard.
Richard tries to clinch but Starkweather moves out of range.
Richard buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Starkweather goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Starkweather keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Richard moves away from the strike by Starkweather.
Starkweather misses with a wild body shot.
Richard misses with an uppercut. Starkweather saw that one coming.
Nice uppercut there from Richard.
Starkweather misses with a takedown attempt - Richard sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Richard throws a leg kick that is checked
and Starkweather counters with a left to the body.
Starkweather takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Richard lands a body shot.
Richard misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A head kick misses from Richard.
Starkweather avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Starkweather fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Richard manages to avoid it.
Richard scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
That kick from Richard tenderised Starkweather's leg. Starkweather is trying to keep his angry face on.
Richard scores with a one two! Starkweather had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Starkweather misses with a straight left.
Starkweather swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Richard is looking to slow Starkweather down with leg kicks.
Starkweather showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Richard.
Richard lands with an uppercut that bounces Starkweather off the cage and back into range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Starkweather as he avoids it easily.
A lazy left from Starkweather finds it's target.
Starkweather throws a body punch but Richard moves out of range.
Richard tries to clinch but Starkweather moves out of range.
Starkweather throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Starkweather looks to score with a jab to the body but Richard is just out of range.
Richard tries to clinch but Starkweather moves out of range.
Starkweather circles away from the clinch attempt.
Starkweather lands with a good body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Starkweather.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richard lands a leg kick that knocks Starkweather off balance momentarily.
Stan Richard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Starkweather moves out of range of the strikes.
Starkweather checks a leg kick.
Starkweather motions for Richard to come forward. Starkweather throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Richard moves away from the strike by Starkweather.
Starkweather throws out a leg kick but Richard moves out of range and Starkweather only half commits.
A solid leg kick lands there for Starkweather.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Richard!
Starkweather throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Starkweather tries a low kick but Richard avoids it.
Some wild striking there from Richard.
Richard misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starkweather displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Richard throws out the jab.
Richard swinging wildly here.
Starkweather scoring well with a low kick there.
Richard misses with a hook. Starkweather ducked under it nicely.
Richard on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Starkweather takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Starkweather.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An inside leg kick from Starkweather misses.
Starkweather misses with a hook. Richard ducked under it nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richard moves in looking to clinch but Starkweather pushes him off.
Starkweather scores with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stan Richard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Starkweather cracks Richard with a good jab.
Starkweather buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Richard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Starkweather.
Starkweather misses with an uppercut.
Richard misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Starkweather throws a body punch but Richard moves out of range.
Richard ducks under a wild hook from Starkweather.
Starkweather scores with a one two! Richard had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Richard is looking to land body kicks.
Richard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Starkweather swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Starkweather moves out of range as Richard throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richard scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A swing and a miss from Richard.
Richard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Richard takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Richard tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Starkweather manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Richard checks a low kick from Starkweather.
Good leg kick by Richard there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Richard throws a series of punches but Starkweather avoids them all with ease.
A nice leg kick lands there from Starkweather.
Starkweather fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Richard moves in looking to clinch but Starkweather pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Richard as he checks the leg kick.
Richard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Starkweather slips a jab from Richard.
Richard clobbers Starkweather with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Starkweather blocks a head kick by Richard.
A leg kick checked by Richard.
Richard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Good leg kick by Richard there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Richard looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Richard avoids the body shot from Starkweather.
Richard lands a leg kick that knocks Starkweather off balance momentarily.
Starkweather is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Richard checks a low kick from Starkweather.
Steve Starkweather has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Starkweather dodges the punch combination from Richard.
Richard pivots, looking for a leg kick but Starkweather is out of range and Richard settles back down.
Richard moves out of range of the strikes.
Richard comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Starkweather throws a body punch but Richard moves out of range.
Richard attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Good shot there by Richard.
Starkweather scoring well with a low kick there.
Richard ducks under a wild hook from Starkweather.
Richard connects with an inside leg kick.
Richard blocks a jab.
Richard connects with a looping right hand.
Stan Richard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Starkweather turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Starkweather cracks Richard with an open hand slap.
A looping hook to the body misses from Starkweather. Richard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Starkweather throws a body punch but Richard moves out of range.
Starkweather is looking to wear down Richard with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Richard shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Richard was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Richard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Richard tries to control but Starkweather wriggling away.
Starkweather bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Starkweather throws a big elbow that misses.

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 Steve Starkweather.
Well Richard 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stan Richard!
A determined Stan Richard didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!