PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ello Ase (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Richman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ello Ase has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ase
vs
Richman

189 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
27
150 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

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, Ello Ase!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Richman!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ase circles away quickly and effectively.

Ase pushes Richman up against the cage in a clinch.

Richman jumps guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Richman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ase's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ase in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ase wants to stand and escape but instead Richman has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Ase wants to get back to his feet but Richman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Richman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Richman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ase swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Richman postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ase really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ase is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Richman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Richman postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ase is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Richman, into his guard.
Richman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ase's guard.
Ase is looking to stand up but Richman isn't so interested in that idea.
Ase will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ase manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Richman taking shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richman is squirming around, avoiding Ase's attempts to control the action.
Ase throwing strikes here but Richman is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Ase sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ase seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Richman for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richman avoids a series of strikes thrown by Ase.
Ase 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ase avoids the attempt from Richman to control.
Ase postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Richman looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Richman is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ello Ase dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ase moves into the clinch.
Ase with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Ase manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Richman postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ase is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Richman, into his guard.
Ase trying to control the position from guard on top but Richman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ello Ase overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ase slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ase working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Richman's head.
Richman has a closed guard, preventing Ase from standing up.
Ase with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ase won't allow Richman to sweep him here.
Ase in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richman working a defensive guard here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Richman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ase avoids the head kick by Richman.

Richman gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ase is looking to stand up but Richman won't let him.
Ase is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ase wants to control from the top but Richman keeps moving.
Ase working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

We're going to have a standup here because Ello Ase wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Ase throws a right and a left that both miss.
Richman throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Richman throws a sloppy head kick and Ase moves out of range easily.

Richman drops Ase with a right and a left! Richman comes rushing in but Ase regains his composure and manages to keep Richman in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Richman tries to free his leg and advance position but Ase is retaining full guard.
Richman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ase has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ase wants to stand up but Richman is controlling him.
Ase is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Richman is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Ase is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Richman drops back looking for a leg! Ase is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ase manages to kick Richman off! Richman jumps back into Ase's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mike Richman will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Richman throws a sloppy head kick and Ase moves out of range easily.
Ase moves out of range as Richman strikes.
Ase looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Richman lands with a hook. Ase tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Ase is rocked!
Ase takes a swing at Richman's ribcage but misses.

A big head kick from Richman and Ase is sent sprawling to the canvas!
Oh Ase is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Richman gets to his feet and stands over Ase, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Ase felt that one! Richman unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Ase from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mike Richman!