PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Georgy Degratov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Degratov
vs
Richards

179 cm
22
191 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
21
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Georgy Degratov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anthony Richards!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Degratov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Richards defending well as Degratov loads up on a big left hand.
Richards looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Degratov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Degratov throws a right hand that Richards ducks under and follows up with a left that Richards also avoids with ease.
Degratov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Degratov looks to land a left hand but Richards moved out of range nicely.
Richards pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Degratov catches Richards with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Degratov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Richards circles away quickly and effectively.
Richards throws a quick inside leg kick.
Richards throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Degratov's waist but Degratov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Richards off to one side.
Degratov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Degratov misses with a straight right.
Sloppy strikes from Degratov. Those never looked like landing.

Richards shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Richards showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Richards stops Degratov from getting back to his feet.
Richards wants to lay and pray for a moment but Degratov keeps working.
Richards tries to pass to full mount but Degratov defends it.
Richards is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Richards is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Richards stops Degratov from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards wants to control but Degratov is keeping him busy.
Degratov is trying to stand.
Degratov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Richards on the ground.
Richards trying to mount his opponent but Degratov defends it.
Richards wants to control but Degratov is keeping him busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Anthony Richards.
Degratov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice straight punches there by Degratov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Degratov.
Richards fails with a takedown attempt.
Georgy Degratov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Richards.
Degratov throws a jab when Richards was well out of range.
Degratov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Degratov misses.
Some wild striking there from Richards.
Degratov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Richards.
Degratov is breathing heavily.
Degratov looks to land a combination but Richards avoids it well.
Georgy Degratov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Degratov throws a jab but it's blocked by Richards.

Richards has taken the fight to the clinch.

Richards manages to break the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Degratov. Those never looked like landing.
Degratov misses with a straight right.
Degratov misses with a wild combination.
Richards moves out of range as Degratov strikes.
Richards fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Degratov misses its intended target.
Degratov misses with a body shot.
Degratov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Degratov looks to land a combination but Richards avoids it well.
Richards tries to clinch up.
Richards doesn't manage to clinch there - Degratov circles away.
Richards fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Degratov is looking to chop away at Richards's legs.
A jab from Degratov misses.
Richards has his takedown stuffed
and Degratov counters with a three punch combo that has Richards backing up. Richards nods at Degratov to acknowledge the strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards shoots in for a takedown but Degratov shows good takedown defense.
Degratov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Richards on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Georgy Degratov will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Degratov swings for the body but Richards moves out of range.
Degratov throws out a loose jab but Richards uses good head movement to avoid it.
Degratov throws a series of punches but Richards moves out of range.
Richards tries to clinch up.
Georgy Degratov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Degratov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Richards's head backwards.
Degratov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Degratov misses with a head kick.
Degratov misses the jab.
Richards tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Degratov swivels and escapes.
Richards fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Richards shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Georgy Degratov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Richards.
Richards is breathing heavily.
Richards delivers a nice body kick.
Degratov throws an overhand right that lands on Richards's shoulder, as Richards tries to avoid the shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Degratov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Degratov throws a sloppy head kick and Richards moves out of range easily.
Degratov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Degratov misses with the combination.
Richards shoots in for a double leg but Degratov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Georgy Degratov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richards avoids the body shot from Degratov.
Richards slips a jab from Degratov.
Degratov fails to land with a series of punches.
Richards fails with the takedown.
Degratov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Richards moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A big left from Degratov misses.

Richards closes the distance and pushes Degratov back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Richards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Degratov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Richards misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Richards fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Degratov avoids it really well and circles away.
A head kick misses from Degratov.
Degratov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Degratov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Richards moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Degratov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Richards shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Degratov sprawls well. Degratov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Richards gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Degratov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Degratov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Degratov misses with a few strikes there.
Richards throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Degratov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Degratov gets caught flat footed, as Richards shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Richards stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Richards shoots in for a takedown but Degratov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Degratov misses with a head kick.
A punch combination from Degratov misses.
Richards is trying hard to land a takedown here. Degratov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards walks into a stiff left hand from Degratov.
Richards tries to score a power double leg takedown but Degratov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Richards somewhat.
Degratov scores with a punch to the head.
Degratov throws a sloppy head kick and Richards moves out of range easily.
Richards plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
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!
Degratov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Richards scores with a shot to the body.
Richards misses with a takedown
and Degratov counters with a straight right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Degratov as he avoids it easily.
Degratov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
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 Georgy Degratov will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Degratov. Those never looked like landing.
Degratov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Richards to counter with a crisp jab.
Degratov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Richards.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Richards.
Degratov connects with a right hand. Richards shakes it off.
Some wild striking there from Degratov.
Degratov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Richards moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Richards shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Degratov moves into range and connects with a jab.
Degratov misses with a double jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Degratov slaps away a takedown attempt from Richards, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Georgy Degratov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Richards.
A jab lands there for Degratov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Degratov scores with a hook.
Degratov throws a head kick that misses.
A big left from Degratov misses.

Richards closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Degratov to the mat! Degratov manages to get full guard.
Richards cracks Degratov with a solid left hand.
Degratov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Richards controls the pace.
Richards throws an elbow that misses. Degratov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Richards's guard. Nice move by Degratov!
Degratov wanted to stand there but Richards had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Degratov's guard.
Richards sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Degratov uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Degratov throws a right hand that Richards ducks under and follows up with a left that Richards also avoids with ease.
Richards tries to clinch up.
Degratov stuffs the takedown.
Richards moves in looking to clinch but Degratov pushes him off.
Degratov misses with a double jab.
Degratov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Richards moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Richards wants to clinch up but Degratov keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Degratov.
Degratov attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
No joy there for Richards, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Degratov fails to land with a series of punches.
Richards is looking to clinch but Degratov is avoiding it.
Degratov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Richards blocks a jab.
Richards throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Degratov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Richards shoots in looking for a takedown. Degratov tries to sprawl out of it but Richards keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Degratov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Degratov displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

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 Georgy Degratov.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Degratov, 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Georgy Degratov!