PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nate Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Richardson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Diaz
vs
Richardson

184 cm
22
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nate Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ray Richardson!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Eliza Hachem and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Richardson looks to clinch
and Diaz counters with a two punch combo.
Diaz scores with a three punch combo!
Diaz lands a high kick!
Richardson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Richardson swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
Ray Richardson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz is looking to clinch.
Diaz scores with a head kick.

Richardson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Diaz on his heels. He'll look to pass Diaz's guard now, I'm sure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Richardson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Richardson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Diaz's head.
Richardson distracts Diaz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diaz wants to stand but Richardson is controlling the position.
Richardson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Diaz keeping full guard, as Richardson tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Diaz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Diaz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Richardson trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richardson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Richardson throws an elbow that misses. Diaz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Richardson's guard. Nice move by Diaz!
Richardson wants to stand but Diaz is controlling the position.
Richardson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Diaz won't allow Richardson to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Richardson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Diaz is aware though and is defending well.
Diaz postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Richardson looking for a sweep. Not yet Richardson, not yet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Richardson controls Diaz momentarily but Diaz frees himself.

Richardson has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Diaz is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Richardson.
Richardson is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson gets back to half guard.
Diaz slows the pace down in half guard.
Richardson is trying to get back to full guard.
Diaz trying to control from half guard but Richardson is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richardson is looking for a sweep. Diaz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Richardson trying to hold on to Diaz's head to control him but Diaz postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz works his foot free and advances to mount.
Richardson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Richardson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Diaz working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richardson is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ray Richardson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Diaz scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Richardson keeps the fight on the outside.

Diaz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Richardson has had enough of the clinch but Diaz keeps him there for the moment.
Diaz gets underhooks to prevent Richardson's takedown attempt.
Richardson is looking to take this one to the mat.

Diaz breaks the clinch.
Diaz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Richardson pinned against the cage. Richardson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Diaz shoots for a takedown but Richardson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Diaz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nate Diaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ray Richardson.
Diaz looks for a takedown but Richardson sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Diaz.
Diaz scores with a kick to the body.
Richardson has a takedown stuffed.
Diaz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Richardson is fending him off so far but Diaz persists. Nope, Richardson circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Diaz.
Diaz keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Richardson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Diaz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Diaz shoots in and drives through. Richardson sprawls well.
Richardson tries to clinch but Diaz moves out of range.
Nate Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diaz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Richardson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Richardson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Richardson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Richardson looking for a takedown.

Diaz pulls Richardson into guard.
Diaz trying to keep a closed guard but Richardson is proving a slippery customer.
Richardson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diaz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Richardson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Richardson landing with the ground and pound.
Richardson trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Richardson trying to control the position from guard on top but Diaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richardson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Richardson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Richardson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Diaz as he avoids it easily.
Diaz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Richardson.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Richardson misses with a takedown attempt - Diaz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Diaz connects with a solid leg kick.
Diaz really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richardson stuffs the takedown.
Diaz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Richardson is fending him off so far but Diaz persists. Nope, Richardson circles away and we're back to standing.
Richardson swinging wildly here.
Richardson dives in and grabs Diaz's left leg, looking for a takedown. Diaz pushes down on Richardson's head and hops out.

Diaz is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Richardson's half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Diaz has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Richardson wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diaz prevents Richardson from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nate Diaz will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Diaz clinches up against the cage.
Richardson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Diaz prevents it.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.
Richardson misses with a hook
and Diaz counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Diaz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Diaz wants it to stay on the feet.
Richardson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Diaz counters with a series of strikes. Richardson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Diaz misses with a takedown

and Richardson counters with a single leg into guard. Diaz didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Richardson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Diaz is keeping the position for now.

Diaz looking for a guillotine here but Richardson defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richardson throwing strikes but missing.
Diaz controls Richardson momentarily but Richardson frees himself.
Diaz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Diaz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Richardson is controlling him.
Richardson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Richardson throwing strikes from guard but Diaz blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Richardson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Richardson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Diaz has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Richardson has passed into side control.
Diaz on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Ray Richardson has got the better of the ground game so far.

Richardson is trying to get an arm triangle but Diaz is defending well.
Richardson lands a few punches from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richardson lands a few punches from side control.
Diaz stops Richardson from passing to mount.
Richardson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Diaz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Diaz is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Richardson tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Diaz is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Richardson off and has taken his back!
Diaz is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Richardson. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Diaz is hanging on to Richardson's back as he tries to escape.

Diaz has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Richardson tries to roll but Diaz sticks to his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is persistently looking for the submission but Richardson is defending it well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz avoiding Richardson 's attempts to control his hands.
I really don't envy Richardson right now.
Richardson trying to control the position but Diaz manages to sink in the hooks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Richardson is trying to break free.
Diaz trying to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ray Richardson.
I think Richardson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Richardson!
An out of breath Ray Richardson thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.