PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Virtua Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Richards
vs
Bird

175 cm
22
184 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
189 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Granite chin

Demonic Drugs
Demonic Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Virtua Bird!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Bird as Richards shoots in.
Bird takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Richards closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Richards lands in his opponent's guard.

Bird is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Bird is looking for a triangle but Richards pushes his legs off easily.

Bird working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Richards doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Richards manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Bird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards trying to control but Bird is working from the bottom.

Bird looking for a guillotine here but Richards defends easily.
Richards has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Richards is looking to stand up but Bird won't let him.
Bird keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
Richards wants to stand but Bird has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Richards preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bird keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
Bird controls Richards momentarily but Richards frees himself.

Bird throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bird working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Richards doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Richards manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Richards wanted to stand there but Bird had control of the position.
Richards with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bird seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Richards loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Bird looking for a guillotine here but Richards defends easily.
Bird keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
Richards pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bird is keeping the position for now.
Bird tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Bird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Richards stands up and waves to Bird to follow him.
Bird with a lazy takedown attempt

and Richards counters with a takedown into side control.
Richards is breathing heavily.
Richards working the ground and pound.
Bird should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Bird wants to control but Richards postures up.
Richards wants to control but Bird is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Bird's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bird dodges the ground and pound from Richards.
Richards working away.
Bird is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Richards off and has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bird is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Richards has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Bird 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, Richards 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.

A close round but Virtua Bird will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Richards fails to land the takedown.
Bird misses with a takedown attempt
and Richards counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Richards tries to clinch up.
Richards misses with a head kick.
Richards shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bird as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bird moves into range and clinches up with Richards.
Richards looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Richards prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Richards tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bird just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards wants to break free but Bird has control.
Richards has had enough of the clinch but Bird keeps him there for the moment.

Richards jumps into guard, dragging Bird to the mat.
Richards keeping full guard, as Bird tries to pass.

Richards is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bird lands a couple of elbows.
Bird is stalling in the full guard.
Bird looking to sit in guard and control but Richards gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bird has his foot on Richards's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Richards works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards won't allow Bird to sweep him here.
Bird trying to strike off his back.
Richards has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bird is proving hard to escape from.
Bird wants to sweep here but Richards controlling him for the moment.

Bird throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bird is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Richards missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bird working for a triangle but Richards defends it easily.
Bird trying to keep a closed guard but Richards is proving a slippery customer.

Bird throws his legs up looking for a submission but Richards uses it to pass to side control.
Bird sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Richards is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bird defends it well.
Bird makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bird.

Bird escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Richards gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards stands up over Bird, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Richards has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Bird to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Richards is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Bird pulls down on the head and he's put Richards to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Virtua Bird!