PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between marucio machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

machida
vs
Richards

175 cm
19
160 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

181 cm
23
158 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, marucio machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gary Richards!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yuuki Gou and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Richards closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming machida to the mat! machida manages to get full guard.
machida will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Richards trying to control but machida is working from the bottom.
Richards passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Richards is nestled in close to machida, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Richards tries to pass to full mount but machida defends it.
machida is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Richards passes to side control.
Richards has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
machida is looking to regain half guard here but Richards keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
machida throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Richards wants to lay and pray for a moment but machida keeps working.
machida misses with an elbow from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

machida scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
machida thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Richards's head.
Richards trying to hold on to machida's head to control him but machida postures up.
machida throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Richards is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
machida misses with a head shot. Richards uses the momentum to regain guard.

Richards has his foot on machida's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. machida works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
machida throws and elbow that misses. Richards uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in machida's guard. Nice move by Richards!
machida looking to hit a scissor sweep but Richards is one step ahead there.
machida knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Richards on the ground.
machida keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
machida thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
machida is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
machida thows a huge punch but Richards dodges it nicely.
machida slips a nice elbow through Richards's hands, connecting with Richards's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. machida lands a nice short elbow.
Richards looks gassed!
machida missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
machida is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Richards can't escape the position.
Richards taking shots to the head.
BOOM! machida connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
machida is landing with some decent strikes but Richards is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). marucio machida!