PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Adam Grimes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Grimes
vs
Richards

180 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
21
184 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Adam Grimes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anthony Richards!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Richards shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Richards is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Grimes doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Richards.

Grimes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Richards is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Richards gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Danga de danga de dang - Richards scores with a four punch combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richards shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Grimes's guard.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Grimes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richards is looking to work some ground and pound but Grimes has wrist control.
Richards wants to pass the guard but Grimes is keeping the position.
Grimes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Richards throwing strikes from guard but Grimes blocks nicely.
Richards wants to control from the top but Grimes keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Grimes can't keep his opponent in guard - Richards advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
It looks like Richards is going to stand back up.
Richards keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Grimes tries to roll over but Richards keeps him under control.
Richards is taking a breather. Grimes says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Richards connects with a nice short shot to Grimes's temple.
Richards tries to stand and escape but Grimes is controlling the position.
Richards working the head and body with strikes.
Grimes missing with punches from the bottom.

Richards is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Grimes doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Richards.
Grimes is breathing heavily.

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 thows a huge punch but Grimes dodges it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Grimes actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Richards dominated that round.
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 throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Adam Grimes has been cut.
Richards lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Richards scores with a head kick.
Grimes dives in and grabs Richards's left leg, looking for a takedown. Richards pushes down on Grimes's head and hops out.

Richards drives through with a takedown into guard.
Richards throws a strike but Grimes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Grimes drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Richards dives on top into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Richards content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards wants to control from the top but Grimes keeps moving.
Richards makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Richards keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Grimes's head.

Grimes 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 Grimes.
Richards scores with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards tries to advance to mount but Grimes denies him.
Grimes tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Richards easily slips into full mount!
Richards scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Richards working for a guillotine from mount but Grimes is in no mood to give up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richards tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Richards controlling from the full mount.
Richards punishing his opponent with strikes.
Richards lands a heavy elbow.
Richards working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Richards in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Richards raining down shots from the mount!
Richards lands with some strikes.
Richards has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Richards with good strikes from the mount here!
Grimes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Richards working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Grimes is rocked!
Richards landing strikes from the mount.
Oh Grimes is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Richards can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Grimes is looking to escape.
Grimes seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Richards cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Richards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Adam Grimes's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Richards fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Grimes to the ground. Richards is now in Grimes's guard.
Richards wants to control from the top but Grimes keeps moving.
Richards works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Richards is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Richards tries to stand and escape but Grimes is controlling the position.
Richards is trying to control. Grimes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Grimes is looking to get back to full guard here but Richards has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards taking a break here but Grimes is having none of it and regains half guard.

Richards decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Grimes slaps away a takedown attempt from Richards, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Richards swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Richards misses with a takedown attempt - Grimes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Grimes clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Grimes successfully pulls guard.

Grimes is working an open guard so Richards takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Grimes shoots in but no luck this time.

Richards has Grimes up against the cage in a clinch.
Richards has Grimes pressed against the cage, preventing Grimes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Richards pulls guard successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Grimes wants to pass the guard but Richards is keeping the position.

Richards pushes Grimes off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards misses with a takedown attempt - Grimes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Adam Grimes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Richards.
Richards stuffs the takedown.
Richards shoots in but no luck this time.
Richards tries to score a power double leg takedown but Grimes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Richards somewhat.
Richards shoots in looking for a takedown. Grimes tries to sprawl out of it but Richards keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Grimes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Richards keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richards is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Grimes's half guard.
Richards trying to control from half guard but Grimes is working away.
Richards thows a huge punch but Grimes dodges it nicely.

Richards is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Grimes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 26:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30

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