PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jon Arona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arona's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Knock you out!. Jon Arona could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Keith Richards's chin.

Arona
vs
Richards

179 cm
28
155 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

175 cm
24
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jon Arona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Keith Richards!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Roger Salmon and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arona tries to clinch up.

Richards decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Arona is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Richards pulls his head out easily.

Richards moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Arona.
Richards scoring with punches and elbows.
Richards tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Richards wants to lay and pray for a moment but Arona keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Richards is trying to get an arm triangle but Arona is defending well.
Richards is chipping away with strikes.
Richards looks up at the clock and then as Arona takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Richards smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Arona is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards wants to control but Arona is keeping him busy.
Arona gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Arona works his way to full guard. Good work.
Richards tries to free his leg and advance position but Arona is retaining full guard.

Richards avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Richards throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Richards pushing down on Arona's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Arona is refusing to be controlled, as Richards sits in half guard.
Arona won't allow Richards to pass to mount.

Arona looking for submissions off his back.
Arona on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Richards landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Richards wants to control but Arona is keeping him busy.
Richards wants to free his trapped foot but Arona is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Arona tries to roll over but Richards keeps him under control.
Richards missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Richards lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Richards content to control rather than advance.
It looks like Richards might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Arona actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arona is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Richards pulls his head out easily.
Richards throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Arona is looking to improve his position.
Richards is trying to control. Arona wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Richards looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Richards moves nicely into side control.
Richards moves into full mount!
Arona taking shots to the head.
Richards scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Arona?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arona is bucking up trying to escape but Richards cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Arona is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Arona wants to try and get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Arona tries to hold on but Richards pushes him away.
Richards unloading with bombs!
Arona regains half guard.
Arona is not content to let Richards control the position.

Richards wants to work for an arm triangle but Arona is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Richards is trying to control. Arona wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Richards not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Arona is refusing to be controlled, as Richards sits in half guard.
Richards not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Arona gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Arona lands a shoulder strike.

Richards wants the takedown. Arona is fighting it off but Richards persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Arona's guard against the cage.
Richards landing some decent shots from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Richards's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Richards got a little sloppy there for a moment and Arona has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Richards has managed to get both his arms back between Arona's legs - danger averted.
Richards's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Arona looking for a guillotine here but Richards defends easily.
Richards content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
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!
Richards throws a big right hand that misses.
Richards throwing strikes but missing.
Richards postures up in Arona's guard and throws a big left but Arona blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards wants to pass the guard but Arona is keeping the position.
Arona utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Arona avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Richardsis looking to pass into half guard but Arona pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Arona is in guard.
Richards wants to stand but Arona is controlling the position.
Richards keeping moving, preventing Arona from controlling successfully.
Richards wants to stand and escape but Arona is having none of it.
Arona throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Richards works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Richards wants to stand but Arona is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arona drops back looking for a leg! Richards is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Richards manages to kick Arona off! Arona jumps back into Richards's guard.
Richards keeping full guard, as Arona tries to pass.
Arona is looking to stand up but Richards won't let him.

Richards wriggles free and stands up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Richards.
Keith Richards has got the better of the ground game so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Richards is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Arona is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Arona is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Richards's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Richards wants to take a breather but Arona is having none of it.

Richards is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Arona has managed to free his arm - good work.
Arona taking some punishment here, with Richards in his half guard.
Arona tries to get to full guard but Richards has control of the leg.
Arona wants to control but Richards is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Richards thows a huge punch but Arona dodges it nicely.
Arona has hold of Richards's hands but Richards slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Arona has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Richards is working away from the top position though.
Richards is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards is keen to just control but Arona is a slippery customer.
Arona is looking to improve his position.
Arona misses with some strikes from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards slips a nice elbow through Arona's hands, connecting with Arona's forehead.
Richards misses with a head shot. Arona uses the momentum to regain guard.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Arona is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Richards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Arona wants to clinch.
Arona fails with an attempt to clinch.
No joy there for Arona, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Arona is looking to clinch.
Arona throws a hook to the side of Richards's head but Richards sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Arona misses with a wild combination.
Arona fails in his attempt to clinch.
Arona tries to clinch up but Richards circles away and keeps his distance.
Arona tries to clinch up.

Arona takes the fight into the clinch.

Richards lands a takedown into guard.
Richards looking to pass the guard.
Richards trying to control but Arona is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Richards postures up and lands a big shot to Arona's brow.
Richards throwing strikes but missing.
Richards throwing strikes but missing.
Arona has momentary wrist control but Richards slips an elbow through the middle.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Arona is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arona looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Arona trying to keep a closed guard but Richards is proving a slippery customer.
Arona keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards controlling from the top position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Keith Richards hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Richards feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Arona is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Richards lands a couple of elbows.

Arona looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Richards working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Arona's head.
Richards is in close to Arona's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Richards landing with the ground and pound.
Richards slips nicely into half guard.
Keith Richards is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards lands strikes from half guard.
Arona is not content to let Richards control the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Richards in particular looking to stall.
Richards is trying to control the action in half guard but Arona is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Arona is looking for a sweep. Richards is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Richards looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Arona looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Arona is not content to let Richards control the position.
Still in half guard, Richards seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards is trying to control the action in half guard but Arona is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Richards prevents Arona from improving his position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Keith Richards.
Arona misses with the combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A combination from Arona does no damage.
A punch combination from Arona misses.

Richards closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Richards passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Arona!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Richards controlling the position easily from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Arona is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith Richards comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Richards winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

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