PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Po Panda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rex Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Panda comes to the cage accompanied by Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Panda
vs
Richards

180 cm
30
300 lbs
18 - 6 - 0

196 cm
35
272 lbs
19 - 23 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Steel Penn's All 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Po Panda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Rex Richards!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Joseph Jones and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Panda takes one to the chin there.
Richards misses with a double jab.
Panda looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Richards is fending him off so far but Panda persists. Nope, Richards circles away and we're back to standing.
Richards misses with a body kick.
Richards will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Richards avoids the body shot from Panda.
Panda misses with a body shot.
Panda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Richards slips a straight right by Panda.
A big left from Richards misses.
Richards shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Panda sprawls well. Panda wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Richards gets slowly back to his feet.
Panda needs to keep his hands up - Richards had a free shot at his head there.
Richards misses with a lunging right hand
and Panda counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Panda slips under a jab from Richards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panda fails with the takedown.
Richards just misses with a punch to the body.

Richards closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Richards lands in his opponent's guard.
Richards lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Richards postures up in Panda's guard and throws a big left but Panda blocks it.
Richards stopping the sweep attempt from Panda.
Richards is fighting to break Panda's control of his arms but Panda is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Panda avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Richards throws an elbow that misses. Panda uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Richards's guard. Nice move by Panda!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Richards escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Panda gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Panda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Richards is keeping the position for now.
Panda stands and throws Richards's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Richards is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Richards on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Richards is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Panda scores with a couple of nice shots.
Panda tries to pass the half guard into mount. Richards knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Richards wants to improve his position but Panda is controlling well.
Richards has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Panda wants to pass to mount but Richards is defending the position.

Richards looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Panda working over Richards with some ground and pound. Richards looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panda is trying to control the action in half guard but Richards is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Panda working Richards over with strikes.
Richards slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Panda lands a couple of digs.

Richards working for a triangle but Panda defends it easily.
Panda wants to pass the guard but Richards is keeping the position.

Richards has his foot on Panda's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Panda works his way back into a safe position though.
Panda might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Panda works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Panda seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Panda passes the guard and advances to mount!
Panda postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Richards in real trouble here! The ref calls for Richards to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Po Panda!
During a confident post fight interview, Po Panda thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.