PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tyler Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Laph Roaig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roaig has chosen The Doors - Alabama song as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Richards
vs
Roaig

179 cm
24
194 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

191 cm
23
198 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hardcore Nutrition
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tyler Richards!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Laph Roaig!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Joseph Jones and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards moves away from the strike by Roaig.
Richards moves out of range of the strikes.
A head kick misses from Richards.
Roaig bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Richards's head backwards.
Roaig throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Richards wants to clinch up but Roaig keeps it at a distance.
Richards avoids the body shot from Roaig.
Tyler Richards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roaig pivots, looking for a leg kick but Richards is out of range and Roaig settles back down.
Danga de danga de dang - Richards scores with a four punch combination!
Roaig feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Richards's calf.
Roaig misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Richards.
Richards takes a swing at Roaig's ribcage but misses.
Roaig cracks the inside of Richards's front leg.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Richards takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Richards jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Roaig throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Richards.

Richards darts in and clinches Roaig up against the cage.
Roaig misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roaig blocking some punches.
Richards lands an uppercut.

Roaig's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Roaig lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A looping hook to the body misses from Roaig. Richards does a little dance to reset his feet.
Richards keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Richards slips a straight right by Roaig.
A looping hook to the body misses from Roaig. Richards does a little dance to reset his feet.
Roaig ducks under a wild hook from Richards.

Richards 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.
Richards throws a big right hand that misses.
Roaig is looking to stand up but Richards isn't so interested in that idea.
Richards engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roaig working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Richards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards won't allow Roaig to get back to his feet.
Richards is working Roaig over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Richards drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Richards jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Richards is looking to work some ground and pound but Roaig has wrist control.
Roaig is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Richards is controlling him.
Richards 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.
Roaig keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
Richards trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Roaig wants to get back to his feet but Richards is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Richards trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Roaig is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Richards is controlling him.
Richards looking to pass the guard.
Richards wants to control from the top but Roaig keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Richards ducks under a wild hook from Roaig.
Roaig takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Richards moves into the clinch.
Richards has a couple of punches blocked by Roaig.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Roaig tries a body shot but Richards blocks it.
Richards throws a head punch that misses.
Richards blocking some punches.
Roaig blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Roaig tries to break the clinch but Richards is controlling the position.
Roaig wants to break the clinch but can't.
Richards being controlled against the cage.
Roaig is trying to break free.
Richards throws a head punch that misses.
Richards misses with a hook to the ribs.
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!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Roaig tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Richards misses with a punch on the inside.
Richards throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Roaigs head.
Richards misses with some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Laph Roaig will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Richards moves away from the strike by Roaig.
Roaig throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Richards connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Roaig's hands.
Richards throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Roaig throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Richards fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Roaig, pushing him back against the cage.
Roaig wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Roaig.
Roaig tries to throw a body punch but Richards avoids it by throwing Roaig back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Richards.
Richards tries a body shot but Roaig blocks it.
Richards throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Roaigs head.
Richards misses with a short punch on the inside.
Richards wants a takedown but no success here.

Roaig pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Roaig dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Richards. That did some damage!
Richards fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Roaig manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards scores with a push kick.
Richards bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Roaig's head backwards.
Roaig throws the left hand but Richards avoids the punch easily.
Roaig throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Richards.
Richards throws a leg kick which misses Roaig's front leg but catches the back leg as Roaig tries to avoid it.
Richards with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Roaig jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Roaig defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Richards.
Richards looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Richards comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Roaig fails with an attempt to clinch.
Roaig looks to throw the jab but Richards is out of range.
Roaig fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Richards manages to avoid it.
Richards lands a lovely overhand right.

That's two 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 lunges at Roaig with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Roaig's hand.

Richards moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Richards.
Roaig scores with a shot to the side of Richards's head.

Roaig breaks from the clinch.
Roaig throws a right hand that Richards ducks under and follows up with a left that Richards also avoids with ease.
Richards is looking to clinch but Roaig is avoiding it.
Richards misses with a wild body shot.
Roaig pivots, looking for a leg kick but Richards is out of range and Roaig settles back down.
Roaig misses with a straight left.
Richards moves away from the strike by Roaig.
Richards delivers a nice body kick.
Roaig throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Richards.

Richards shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Roaig is trying to defend but Richards finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Richards seems to be working for a kimura but Roaig defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roaig kicks Richards off and gets back to his feet.
Richards takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Richards throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Roaig sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Richards scores with a kick to the midsection.
Richards misses with a body kick.
Roaig misses with a straight right.
Richards lands a jab to Roaig's midsection.
Richards misses with a hook. Roaig ducked under it nicely.
Roaig lands with a nice body punch.
Richards uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Roaig.
Richards misses with a hook
and Roaig counters with a nice kick to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Roaig tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Richards counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards is pressing down on Roaig's thigh, looking to free his foot. Roaig is holding on for now.
Richards controlling the action here.

Richards is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Richards not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Roaig wants to get back to his feet.

Richards is looking for a kimura but Roaig is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Richards to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyler Richards dominated that second 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 slips a straight right by Roaig.
Good exchange - Richards coming out on top.
A chopping leg kick lands by Richards.
Richards looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Roaig is fending him off so far but Richards persists. Nope, Roaig circles away and we're back to standing.
Roaig ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Roaig is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Richards blocks a jab.
Roaig pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Richards moves into the clinch.
Richards has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Roaig avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Roaig looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A body shot lands from Roaig.
Roaig tries a body shot but Richards blocks it.

Roaig breaks the clinch.
Richards throws a looping overhand right but Roaig ducks down to avoid it.
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!
Richards takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards swings for the body but Roaig moves out of range.
Roaig rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Richards moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Richards tries to clinch up
and Roaig counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Roaig lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Roaig keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Richards.
Roaig slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Laph Roaig seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Roaig slaps away a takedown attempt from Richards, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyler Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Richards lands a slapping body shot.
Richards getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Roaig throws a jab but it's blocked by Richards.
Roaig throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards misses with an attempted mid kick.
Roaig avoids the body shot from Richards.
Richards throws out a powerful jab.
Roaig swings for the body but Richards moves out of range.
Richards scores with a nice strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richards moves out of range of the strikes.
Roaig circles away from the clinch attempt.
Roaig takes a swing at Richards's ribcage but misses.
Richards takes one to the chin there.
Roaig looks to land a right hand but Richards moved out of range.
Richards lands a slapping body shot.
Richards misses with a body shot.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Richards.

Richards tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Richards has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roaig keeps working.
Richards tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Roaig wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The strikes coming from Richards are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Richards throws an elbow but Roaig slips to the side and avoids it well.
Roaig is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Richards trying to control the action but Roaig is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Roaig is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Richards is really struggling to control Roaig but he's trying to hold on to the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Roaig is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Richards is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Tyler Richards did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Roaig tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Richards was well out of range. Poor timing from Roaig.
Richards moves out of range of the leg kick from Roaig.
Richards throws a jab but it's blocked by Roaig.
Roaig takes a swing at Richards's ribcage but misses.
Roaig scores with a nice body kick.
Roaig throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Roaig doesn't manage to clinch there - Richards circles away.
Richards goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Roaig misses with a body kick.
Richards avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Richards misses the jab.
Roaig walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A combination from Roaig does no damage.
Richards misses with an uppercut.
Richards is looking to chop away at Roaig's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roaig throws a hook but Richards avoids it easily.
Richards connects with a good right hand that stumbles Roaig. Roaig circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Richards throws a hook but Roaig avoids it easily.
Roaig misses with a low kick.
Roaig jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Richards comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Roaig connects with a crisp jab.
Richards ducks under a wild hook from Roaig.
Roaig lands an overhand right.
Richards fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Roaig misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Richards fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Roaig manages to avoid it.
Richards cracks a nice hook into Roaig's ribs.
Roaig looks to throw the jab but Richards is out of range.
Roaig lands a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good shot there by Richards.
Roaig steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Richards. That one must have hurt.
Roaig is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Richards throws the left hand but Roaig avoids the punch easily.
Richards scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Roaig throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Richards misses with a low kick.
Laph Roaig is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick misses from Richards.
Roaig keeps the fight on the outside.
Roaig throws a front kick aimed at Richards's knee but Richards avoids it well.
Roaig wants to land a leg kick but Richards is out of range.
Richards slips a jab from Roaig.
Roaig moves out of range of the strikes.
Roaig throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Richards's head.

It looks like Tyler Richards has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards looks to land a right hand but Roaig moved out of range.
Richards slips under a jab from Roaig.
Richards throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Roaig moves out of range as Richards strikes.
Roaig throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Richards darts in and clinches Roaig up against the cage.
Roaig blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Roaig pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Richards swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Roaig.

Richards shoots in and bounces Roaig off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Roaig wants to stand and escape but Richards is having none of it.
Richards postures up in Roaig's guard and throws a big left but Roaig blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roaig wants to get back to his feet but Richards is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Richards is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Roaig can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Richards controls the pace.
Tyler Richards overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Richards wants to control from the top but Roaig keeps moving.
Roaig wants to get back to his feet but Richards is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Richards throwing strikes from guard but Roaig blocks nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards connects with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Tyler Richards will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tyler Richards's cut.
That's time! Richards's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Roaig looks to throw the jab but Richards is out of range.
Richards uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Roaig.
Richards walks into a straight right hand from Roaig.

Richards closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Roaig quickly recovers to half guard.
Roaig is not content to let Richards control the position.
Richards thows a huge punch but Roaig dodges it nicely.
Nice strikes from Richards there.
Richards looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Roaig looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roaig is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Richards missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Richards wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roaig keeps working.
Richards takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Richards stops Roaig from getting back to his feet.
Richards is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Roaig!
Richards lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Roaig is rocked!
Roaig takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Richards's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tyler Richards!
Tyler Richards retains his middleweight title!
Our winner, Tyler Richards, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.