PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Ceja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scotty Richmond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ceja
vs
Richmond

159 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Carlos Ceja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Scotty Richmond!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ceja dives in and grabs Richmond's left leg, looking for a takedown. Richmond pushes down on Ceja's head and hops out.
Ceja could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Richmond connects with a single shot there.

Ceja closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ceja lands in his opponent's guard.
Ceja throws a big elbow that misses.
Ceja postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ceja has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Richmond is pulling down on Ceja's head to control his posture.
Ceja might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ceja postures up.
Richmond seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Scotty Richmond.

Ceja has managed to clinch.

Richmond decides to pull guard.

Ceja postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Richmond is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ceja, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ceja looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Richmond trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ceja seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ceja bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Richmond's guard.
Richmond wants to hit a switch here but Ceja passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Richmond there!
Ceja working Richmond over with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richmond is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ceja throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Richmond because Ceja loaded up on that one.
Richmond is trying to stand.

Ceja working for a submission but Richmond is keeping him at bay.
Richmond wants to hold on but Ceja pushes him away.

Ceja stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
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!
Ceja tries to clinch up but Richmond circles away and keeps his distance.

Ceja has closed the distance and engaged Richmond in a clinch.
Richmond stalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richmond is looking to break free of the clinch but Ceja has double underhooks.
Ceja is trying to drag Richmond to the mat but Richmond just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Richmond has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ceja after a bit of a struggle.
Ceja wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ceja avoids a wild elbow strike from Richmond.
Richmond stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Richmond gets underhooks to prevent Ceja's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Ceja. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richmond manages to break the clinch.
Ceja looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Richmond is fending him off so far but Ceja persists. Nope, Richmond circles away and we're back to standing.
Ceja is breathing heavily.
Ceja avoids a punch combination nicely.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ceja enables Richmond to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ceja manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Richmond must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ceja controls Richmond momentarily but Richmond frees himself.
Ceja looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richmond seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Richmond lands a couple of elbows.
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 Carlos Ceja will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Richmond shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ceja as he avoids it easily.
Richmond misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Richmond shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ceja tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Richmond manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ceja tries to clinch but Richmond moves out of range.
Ceja lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Richmond circles away quickly and effectively.
Ceja tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ceja avoids the head kick by Richmond.
Richmond closes the distance but Ceja moves to the side
and Ceja counters with a stiff right hand.
Richmond throws a series of punches but Ceja avoids them all with ease.
Ceja fails with a takedown attempt.
Richmond blocks a head kick by Ceja.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richmond forces Ceja back against the cage and clinches.
Ceja can't get the takedown.

Richmond is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Ceja can't fight it off and eventually Richmond manages to take the fight to the floor. Ceja looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ceja trying to keep a closed guard but Richmond is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ceja is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Richmond is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richmond controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ceja is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

We're going to have a standup here because Carlos Ceja wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Richmond tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ceja swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Richmond.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Richmond controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Richmond is trying to get an arm triangle but Ceja is defending well.
Ceja is looking to reverse the position.
Richmond happy to just control the position for now.
Ceja tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richmond has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Richmond shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ceja is staying active underneath Richmond, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ceja trying to control but Richmond postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Richmond stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Ceja to get to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scotty Richmond showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ceja tries to clinch up.

Ceja forces Richmond back against the cage and clinches.

Ceja wants the takedown. Richmond is fighting it off but Ceja persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Richmond's guard against the cage.
Ceja preventing the sweep.
Richmond keeping full guard, as Ceja tries to pass.
Richmond wants to sweep here but Ceja controlling him for the moment.
Richmond pulls Ceja in close to his closed guard and prevents Ceja from doing any damage or advancing position.
Ceja prevents Richmond from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richmond trying to keep a closed guard but Ceja is proving a slippery customer.
Scotty Richmond has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Scotty Richmond wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nice sprawl there from Richmond as Ceja shoots in.
Ceja stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ceja wants it to stay on the feet.
Carlos Ceja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ceja shoots and misses
and Richmond counters with a two punch combo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Richmond gets a takedown into half guard.
Ceja is trying to control but can't.
Richmond is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richmond wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ceja keeps working.

Ceja makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The fight stays on the outside here - Richmond looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ceja shoots in but Richmond avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Ceja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ceja gets caught napping as Richmond dives in and scores a takedown. Ceja manages to retain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ceja trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Richmond decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Richmond misses with a head kick.

Ceja 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.
Richmond wants to sweep but no luck.
Ceja wants to stand but Richmond is controlling his posture from full guard.

Richmond has his foot on Ceja's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ceja works his way back into a safe position though.
Ceja trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ceja throws a strike but Richmond rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Richmond controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ceja working a defensive guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richmond is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scotty Richmond comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Richmond has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scotty Richmond!