PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mia St John (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duke Richard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). St John's entrance music is The Bitch is back. A fine choice. Duke Richard acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

St John
vs
Richard

168 cm
34
140 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

176 cm
39
155 lbs
19 - 23 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mia St John!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 23 - 0, fighting out of London, Duke Richard!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
St John tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Richard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
St John tries to close the distance and clinch up but Richard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Richard circles away from the clinch attempt
and Richard counters with a straight right hand.
St John darts in trying to clinch

and Richard counters with a nice double leg into side control. St John won't be happy with that.
St John is pushing Richard's head away, looking to escape. Richard manages to hold on to the position though.
Richard working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St John tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Richard decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Richard drives through with a takedown into St John's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St John is wriggling around but Richard manages to pass to half guard.
Richard trying to control from half guard but St John is working away.
St John is in trouble now - Richard has advanced to mount!
St John wants to get back to his feet.
Richard controlling from the full mount.
St John is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Richard has control of St John's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and St John regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Richard stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
St John tries to clinch up
and Richard counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

St John gets in close and instigates a clinch.
St John is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
St John wants to break free but Richard has control.
Richard wants a takedown.
St John tries to break free but Richard pushes him back against the cage.

St John breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mia St John is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Richard gets tackled into the cage by St John. St John maintains the clinch.
Richard has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. St John avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on St John's face as he tries to break the clinch.

St John breaks the clinch.
St John fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And Richard tries to counter it with a takedown but St John pushes his down on his head and steps out.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
St John tries to close the distance and clinch but Richard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

St John closes the distance and clinches.
St John is trying to break the clinch but Richard has him pressed against the cage.

St John's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
St John scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
St John darts in trying to clinch

and Richard decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in St John's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. St John manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
St John is pressed up against the cage. Richard has hold of a leg and is looking to drag St John down to the mat. St John avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mia St John has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Duke Richard.
St John closes the distance but Richard moves to the side

and Richard counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Richard.
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!
St John is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Richard drops back looking for a leg! St John is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and St John manages to kick Richard off! Richard jumps back into St John's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St John is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Richard is controlling him.
Richard trying to control but St John is working from the bottom.
Richard looking to pass the guard.
St John wants to stand up but Richard is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Richard dominated that 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.

St John darts in trying to clinch
and Richard counters with a nice uppercut.
St John tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Richard to counter with a crisp jab.
Richard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
St John tries to land a body kick

and Richard counters with a shoot takedown. St John fights it but they end up in guard.
Richard tries to free his leg and advance position but St John is retaining full guard.
St John is looking to stand up but Richard isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richard slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
St John bucks up and tries to throw Richard off but instead Richard has got his back!
St John is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

St John defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Richard's arms.

Richard looking for the RNC.

Richard looking for the RNC.
St John rolls, trying to escape but Richard keeps control of the position.
St John is trying to get back to his feet but Richard has full control of the position and if anything, St John has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Richard looking for the choke but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St John trying to get back to his feet but Richard is in full control for now.

Richard patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
St John is trying to get back to his feet but Richard has full control of the position and if anything, St John has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Richard tightening his grip on St John, looking for the choke.
St John is trying to get back to his feet but Richard has full control of the position and if anything, St John has just worked his way into a worse spot.
St John is really stuck here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richard working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Richard is looking to control St John but St John is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Duke Richard has got the better of the ground game so far.

St John manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
St John tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Richard counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
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!
St John closes the distance looking to clinch
and Richard counters with a stiff right hand.
St John tries to clinch
and Richard counters with a one-two to the body.
St John closes the distance but Richard moves to the side

and Richard decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in St John's guard.
Richard wants to control from the top but St John keeps moving.
Richard postures up and lands a big shot to St John's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Richard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from St John.
Richard unleashes a big counter combination but St John bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
We've been told by St John's head coaches at Beast Playground that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

St John clinches up with Richard and pushes him back against the cage.

St John's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
St John moves to clinch but Richard breaks away
and Richard counters with a straight right hand.
Richard misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St John closes the distance but Richard moves to the side
enabling Richard to counter with a crisp jab.

St John is rocked!
St John tries to clinch up.
Richard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Richard takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
St John moves in looking to clinch but Richard pushes him off.
Duke Richard seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St John tries to clinch but Richard moves away

and Richard counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Oh St John is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
St John can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Richard controls the pace.
St John seems to have got his legs back now.
St John wants to stand up but Richard is controlling him.

St John pushes Richard off and gets back to his feet.
St John tries to clinch but Richard moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - St John looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
St John lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
St John misses with a two punch combination.
Richard changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Richard shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. St John defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richard keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - St John looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
St John tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Richard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Richard has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
St John throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and St John takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fight stays on the outside here - St John looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Richard! But no joy.
St John moves to clinch but Richard breaks away
and Richard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Richard shoots in but St John avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

St John closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Richard is trying to drag St John to the mat but St John just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mia St John has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Duke Richard.

St John manages to break the clinch.
Richard swats away the attempt to clinch by St John.
St John tries to clinch but Richard moves away
letting Richard counter with a right hand.
Mia St John seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
St John tries to close the distance and clinch but Richard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Richard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
St John fails in his attempt to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Richard! But no joy.

St John gets in close and instigates a clinch.

St John breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St John tries to close the distance and clinch up but Richard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Richard changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
St John throws a leg kick
and Richard counters with a stiff right hand.
St John closes the distance but Richard moves to the side

so Richard counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Richard drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Richard jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
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!
Richard throwing strikes from guard but St John blocks nicely.
Richard throws a big elbow that misses.
Richard stops St John from standing up.
Mia St John has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
St John throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

St John is looking for a triangle but Richard pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Duke Richard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Richard winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Duke Richard!
Duke Richard took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, nope for their support in the buildup to the fight.