PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lenny Nero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clark Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nero
vs
Richards

175 cm
20
146 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

175 cm
26
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lenny Nero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Clark Richards!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nero throws a head kick that misses.
Nero misses with an uppercut.
Richards looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Richards gets a clinch.
Nero tries for a takedown but Richards manages to get underhooks.
Richards has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nero blocks an uppercut.
Nero with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Richards lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nero backwards.

Richards breaks the clinch.
Nero scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Richards blocks a jab.
Nero lands with a nice combination. Richards backs away looking to recover.
Richards keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Richards.
Richards looks to land a combination but Nero avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nero moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nero bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Richards's head.
Nero swinging wildly here.
Richards throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nero.
Nero walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Richards checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Richards throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Richards throws a low kick but Nero avoids it.
Richards looks to land a combination but Nero avoids it well.
The fighters circling - Nero throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nero tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Richards misses with a series of wild punches.
Clark Richards is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nero misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nero looks to land a combination. Richards sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Nero misses with a low kick.
Nero misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Richards.
Nero shoots in and drives through. Richards sprawls well.
Richards tries to bum rush Nero with a series of wild strikes but Nero uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nero slips a jab and a cross from Richards.
Richards drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Richards avoids the head kick by Nero.
Richards is looking to clinch but Nero is avoiding it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Richards throws a right and a left that Nero avoids nicely.
An inside leg kick from Nero misses.
Horrible takedown by Nero or perhaps it was just good defense by Richards which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lenny Nero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nero will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards wants to clinch up but Nero keeps it at a distance.
Richards throws a right hand that Nero ducks under and follows up with a left that Nero also avoids with ease.
Good exchange - Nero coming out on top.
Richards looks to throw the jab but Nero is out of range.
Lenny Nero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nero throws a leg kick but Richards checks it.
Richards misses with the combination.
Nero looks for the body kick but Richards saw that one coming.
Richards throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nero tried to score with a low kick but Richards checks it.

Nero fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Richards to the ground. Nero is now in Richards's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nero won't allow Richards to get back to his feet.
Nero is looking to stand up but Richards won't let him.

Nero drops back looking for a leg! Richards is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Richards manages to kick Nero off! Nero jumps back into Richards's guard.
Nero trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nero pushes down on Richards's leg and manages to get into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nero tries to pass the half guard into mount. Richards knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lenny Nero dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nero showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Richards.
A head kick misses from Nero.
Nero misses the shot to the body.
Richards swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The fighters circling - Nero throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Richards lands with a nice combination. Nero backs away looking to recover.
Nero misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Nero misses the target.
Richards missing with a left hand there. Nero was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nero paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nero darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nero shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nero looks to land a combination but Richards avoids it well.
Richards scores with a jab to the head.
Nero dodges the punch combination from Richards.
Nero takes a swing at Richards's ribcage but misses.
Richards tries to bum rush Nero with a series of wild strikes but Nero uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Richards throws a series of punches but Nero moves out of range.
Richards stuffs the takedown attempt from Nero. Nero gets slowly back to his feet.
A lazy left from Nero finds it's target.
Nero fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Richards avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lenny Nero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nero tries to score a power double leg takedown but Richards sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nero somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nero circles away quickly and effectively.
Richards misses with a leg kick.
Richards takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nero misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Richards.
Richards checks the leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Nero misses the target.
Richards tries to land a leg kick but Nero saw it coming and moves away.

Nero shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nero throwing strikes from guard but Richards blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Richards is controlling Nero's posture.
Richards manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nero manages to get himself to full guard.

Nero 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.
Nero 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.

Nero has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Richards 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 Nero.
Richards with the ground and pound but Nero regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nero looking for submissions off his back.
Nero is doing well to control the position and prevent Richards from advancing to side control.
Richards wants to free his trapped foot but Nero is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nero actively working from the bottom here.
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 Lenny Nero will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nero works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nero looks to land a combination but Richards avoids it well.
Lenny Nero is winning the standup battle so far.
Richards closes the distance looking to clinch
and Nero cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nero shoots in but Richards avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Richards misses with a wild combination.
Richards throws a nice looking combination but Nero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Nero!
Nero throws a right and a left that Richards avoids nicely.
Richards blocks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nero thuds his right hand into Richards's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Nero is trying hard to land a takedown here. Richards sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lenny Nero is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Richards lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nero circles away quickly and effectively.
Nero misses with the combination.
Nero scores with a jab. Richards acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Nero checks the leg kick nicely there.
The crowd cheers as Nero lands an impressive looking overhand right. Richards doesn't seem phased though.
Nero throws a shot from downtown. Richards moves away and avoids it.
Nero throws the left hand but Richards avoids the punch easily.
Nero tests Richards's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Clark Richards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Richards. Those never looked like landing.
Nero swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nero lands a jab to Richards's midsection.
Nero jabs Richards to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Richards doesn't manage to clinch there - Nero circles away.
Richards tries to bum rush Nero with a series of wild strikes but Nero uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Richards avoids the body shot from Nero.
Richards takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nero pivots, looking for a leg kick but Richards is out of range and Nero settles back down.
Nero rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Richards moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Richards ducks under a wild hook from Nero.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Richards.
Richards throws a hook but Nero avoids it easily.
Richards takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A punch combination from Nero misses.
Nero ducks under a wild hook from Richards.
Richards throws a shot from downtown. Nero moves away and avoids it.
Richards lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Richards.
Richards dodges the punch combination from Nero.
Richards attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Nero misses with a looping right.
Richards ducks under a wild hook from Nero.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nero shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Richards as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lenny Nero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Richards throws a nice looking combination but Nero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Richards misses with a few strikes there.
Nero throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Richards lands a two punch combo.
Richards wants to clinch.
Lenny Nero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nero.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Richards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lenny Nero showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nero, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lenny Nero!
During a confident post fight interview, Lenny Nero thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.