PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erwin Rommel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Richard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rommel comes to the cage accompanied by Eric B. & Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Rommel
vs
Richard

184 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

183 cm
20
175 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Erwin Rommel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mike Richard!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Nard Betker and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richard misses with a takedown attempt

and Rommel counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rommel.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rommel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rommel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Richard is keeping the position for now.
Rommel looking to sit in guard and control but Richard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rommel throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rommel working a defensive guard here.
Rommel looking for a sweep. Not yet Rommel, not yet.

Rommel looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Richard passes into half guard.
Rommel regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rommel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Richard looking to pass the guard.
Rommel is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Rommel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Richard defends well.

Richard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rommel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Richard is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Richard postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rommel is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Richard, into his guard.
Rommel wants to control from the top but Richard keeps moving.
Rommel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Richard controls Rommel momentarily but Rommel frees himself.
Rommel has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Richard is proving hard to escape from.
Richard keeping moving, preventing Rommel from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rommel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rommel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rommel trying to control but Richard is working from the bottom.
Rommel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Erwin Rommel just wasn't active enough.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rommel is defended easily by Richard.
Rommel fails with a takedown attempt.
Richard has his takedown stuffed

and Rommel moves into the clinch.
Rommel lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rommel pulls Richard into guard.
Richard passes Rommel's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rommel trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Richard manages to pass to mount!
Rommel wants to control but Richard is having none of it.
Rommel tries to reverse the position but Richard maintains control.

Richard with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Rommel is in all sorts of trouble here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rommel manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rommel looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Rommel tries to get to full guard but Richard has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erwin Rommel dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Richard misses with a takedown attempt

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

Rommel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Richard is just riding it out for now. Rommel eventually gives up the hold.
Rommel content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Richard is trying to maintain the position but Rommel is very close to passing his half guard.
Rommel winds up and cracks Richard with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Richard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rommel.
Rommel content to control rather than advance.
Rommel wants to take a breather but Richard is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rommel prevents Richard from improving his position.
Richard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rommel's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rommel's back!
Rommel breaks Richard's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Richard working a defensive guard here.
Rommel trying to control the position from guard on top but Richard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rommel tries to free his leg and advance position but Richard is retaining full guard.
Rommel is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rommel seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Richard for as long as he can get away with.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Erwin Rommel.

Rommel shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Richard manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richard keeping moving, preventing Rommel from controlling successfully.
Rommel advances position into side control!
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!
Rommel is looking to take a break and control but Richard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Richard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rommel wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Richard, who protects the arm well.

Rommel thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Richard is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richard is not content to let Rommel control the position.
Rommel tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Rommel laying and praying for a moment but Richard takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richard is trying to maintain the position but Rommel is very close to passing his half guard.

Rommel seems to be working for a kimura but Richard defends the submission attempt.
Richard manages to get to full guard.
Rommel wants to control from the top but Richard keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rommel trying to stand up but can't free himself from Richard's guard.
Rommel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Richard is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erwin Rommel dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Richard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rommel counters with a nice double leg into side control. Richard won't be happy with that.
Richard can't do much from the bottom here.
Rommel is looking to take a break and control but Richard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Rommel is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Richard knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rommel is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Richard knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Richard is looking to reverse the position.

Rommel looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Erwin Rommel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rommel throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Rommel throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Richard prevents Rommel from improving position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rommel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Richard keeps working.
Richard is trying to work for a sweep but Rommel has mounted him!
Richard sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Richard is looking for a sweep. Rommel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rommel wants to take a breather but Richard is having none of it.
Rommel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Richard wants to control but Rommel is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Richard is refusing to be controlled, as Rommel sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Erwin Rommel.
Rommel shoots in and drives through. Richard sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richard with a poor takedown
and Rommel counters with a nice low kick that buckles Richard's knee momentarily.
Richard with a poor takedown
and Richard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Erwin Rommel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Richard.
No luck for Rommel with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rommel rushes Richard and presses him up against the cage.
Rommel prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rommel is pressed up against the cage. Richard has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rommel down to the mat. Rommel avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Rommel drives through with a takedown into Richard's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Richard holds on and takes a little breather.
Richard looking for a sweep. Not yet Richard, not yet.
Erwin Rommel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rommel tries to free his leg and advance position but Richard is retaining full guard.
Richard can't keep his opponent in guard - Rommel advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Richard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rommel wants to work for an arm triangle but Richard is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Richard wants to control but Rommel is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Richard is holding on to half guard well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rommel is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Mike Richard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rommel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Richard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erwin Rommel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rommel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erwin Rommel!
After winning the bout, Erwin Rommel thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.