PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Takahiro Nishijima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicolas Richards (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.

Nishijima
vs
Richards

170 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Takahiro Nishijima!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nicolas Richards!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Richards looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Richards is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Nishijima still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Nishijima has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Nishijima throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Richards struggling a bit here.
Richards is not content to let Nishijima control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards is trying to control Nishijima's posture but Nishijima avoids it.
Richards is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Nishijima trying to control the action but Richards is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nishijima wants to stand but Richards has his arm trapped.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Richards can do anything to dispel that myth.
Richards is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nishijima's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Richards is controlling Nishijima's trapped leg to prevent Nishijima from advancing to side control.
Richards wants to get back to full guard.

Richards actively working from the bottom here.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nishijima wants to get back to his feet.
Nishijima seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Richards does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Richards trying to control from the bottom.
Richards is concentrating on defense, preventing Nishijima from advancing position.
Richards wants to stand back up but Nishijima manages to pass into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Nishijima.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nishijima working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Richards is looking to regain half guard here but Nishijima keeps moving and retains side control.
Nishijima wants to stand but Richards is controlling his arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richards is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Richards is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Nishijima jumps into side control!
Richards is trying to control Nishijima's posture but Nishijima avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nishijima is looking to take a break and control but Richards is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Richards tries to buck Nishijima off but Nishijima is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nishijima is looking to take a break and control but Richards is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Richards dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Richards looks for a takedown but Nishijima sprawls well.

Nishijima gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Nishijima ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Nishijima no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Nishijima tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Nishijima working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Richards doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Richards manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Richards looking to pass the guard.
Richards engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards tries to free his leg and advance position but Nishijima is retaining full guard.
Richards working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Nishijima 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.
Richards throwing strikes from guard but Nishijima blocks nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Richards working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nishijima being controlled here, momentarily.
Richards really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nishijima. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards wants to stand but Nishijima is controlling his posture from full guard.
Richards must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Richards throws a big elbow that misses.
Richards sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nicolas Richards wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nishijima fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Nishijima gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Richards to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Richards tries to free his leg and advance position but Nishijima is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nicolas Richards has got the better of the ground game so far.
Richards controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Nicolas Richards.

Richards scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Richards postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nishijima is trying to escape the position but Richards is controlling the position.
Nishijima is looking for a sweep.

Richards thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Richards slows the pace down.
Nishijima wants to control but Richards postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Richards takes a little break here. Nishijima wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Richards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Nishijima's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Richards closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nishijima circles away.

Richards shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Richards forces his way into half guard.
It looks like Richards is going to stand back up.
Nishijima misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Richards looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nishijima with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Richards thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nishijima's head.
Richards missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Richards with the ground and pound but Nishijima uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Nishijima wants to stand and escape but Richards is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nishijima is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Richards trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Nishijima manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Nishijima might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Richards tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Richards pulls Nishijima in close to prevent any damage.

Richards escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nishijima gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Richards seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards tries to strike from the bottom.
Nishijima won't allow Richards to sweep him here.
Richards wants to get back to his feet but Nishijima passes into half guard.
Nishijima wants to pass the guard but Richards is defending well.
Richards wants to get back to his feet.
Nishijima seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards trying to control but Nishijima postures up.
Nishijima prevents Richards from standing back up.
Nishijima prevents Richards from improving his position.
Richards holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Richards is looking to escape.
Richards keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nicolas Richards was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Richards closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richards is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nishijima has managed to free his arm - good work.
Richards wants to pass the guard but Nishijima is defending well.
Richards controlling the pace.
Richards wants to stand up but Nishijima has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nishijima pushes Richards off looking to stand but Richards dives back in and keeps control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicolas 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

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