PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Martinez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Martinez
vs
Richards

185 cm
22
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pedro Martinez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steve Richards!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Martinez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Richards connects with a single shot there.
Martinez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Martinez is looking to clinch but Richards is avoiding it.
Martinez misses with a double jab

and Richards counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Richards postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Richards tries to free his leg and advance position but Martinez is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richards slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Martinez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards is arching his back trying to strike from the bottom but Martinez turns him over and now has his back.
Richards can't escape the position.

Richards is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Martinez gets his way!

Martinez is looking for a choke. Richards gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Richards manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Richards works over Martinez with some ground and pound from guard.

Richards stands up and waves to Martinez to follow him.
Martinez fails with the takedown
and Richards counters with a nice uppercut.
Richards comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards tries to bum rush Martinez with a series of wild strikes but Martinez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Martinez tries to clinch there but Richards circles away.
Martinez walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Martinez tries to clinch there but Richards circles away.
No joy there for Richards, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Martinez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Martinez rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Richards counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Richards throwing strikes but missing.
Martinez keeping full guard, as Richards tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Martinez had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Richards is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Martinez Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Richards's back instead.

Richards is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Martinez is breathing heavily.
Richards controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Richards dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Richards scores with a decent looking hook.
Martinez is looking to clinch.
Martinez misses with a takedown

and Richards counters with a nice double leg into side control. Martinez won't be happy with that.

Richards decides to stand back up.
Martinez misses with a kick to the body.
No joy there for Richards, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Martinez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Richards.
Martinez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez tries for a takedown but Richards circles away easily
and Martinez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Richards misses with a double jab.
Richards fails to land with a series of punches.
Martinez tries to clinch there but Richards circles away.

Richards changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Martinez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Richards in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Richards looks up at the clock and then as Martinez takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Richards smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards working the ground and pound.
Richards wants to control but Martinez is keeping him busy.
Richards scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Martinez to see if he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards is putting a hurting on Martinez here, landing some big shots from side control.
Richards is looking to take a break and control but Martinez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Martinez tries to buck Richards off but Richards is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards scoring with punches from side control.

Richards decides to stand back up.

Richards shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Richards is breathing heavily.
Richards works his way into full mount!
Martinez working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards trying to control but Martinez is having none of it.
Martinez is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Martinez is working hard here to advance position.
Richards can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Martinez is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Richards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Martinez tries to clinch but Richards is having none of it.
Steve Richards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richards bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Martinez's head backwards.
Richards lands a jab-cross combination.
Richards throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Martinez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Richards circles away from the clinch attempt.
Martinez throws a wild body kick that Richards sees coming a mile off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martinez misses with a takedown attempt
and Richards counters with a straight right hand.
A punch lands to the side of Martinez 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Martinez tries for a takedown but Richards circles away easily

and Richards counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Richards postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Martinez to stand up.
A lazy left from Richards finds it's target.
Martinez has his takedown stuffed
and Richards counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pedro Martinez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big right from Martinez misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martinez wants to clinch

and Richards counters with a shoot takedown. Martinez fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Richards stands up and waves to Martinez to follow him.
Richards has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Martinez with a poor takedown

and Richards counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Martinez's guard now.

Richards stands up and waves to Martinez to follow him.
Richards scores with a jab to the body.
Martinez tries for a takedown but Richards circles away easily
and Richards counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martinez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Richards counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Richards wants to lay and pray for a moment but Martinez keeps working.
Martinez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Martinez throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Martinez throws his legs up looking for a submission but Richards uses it to pass to side control.

Richards stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Martinez misses with a takedown
and Martinez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pedro Martinez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Richards showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Martinez.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Left hook, right uppercut from Martinez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Richards comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Richards has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 26:30

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