PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kesuke Miyagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Miyagi might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Your'e The Best Around. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Sean Richards enters the cage!

Miyagi
vs
Richards

166 cm
38
142 lbs
45 - 11 - 3

170 cm
24
146 lbs
15 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 45 - 11 - 3, fighting out of Hilo, Kesuke Miyagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sean Richards!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Josh West and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miyagi scores with a leg kick.
Nice jab there from Richards.
Richards smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Miyagi throws a head kick that misses.
Miyagi dodges the punch combination from Richards.
Richards checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Richards doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Miyagi thows a leg kick but Richards checks it
and Richards counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Miyagi thinking.
Richards swinging wildly here.
Miyagi is looking for a counter combo.
Richards misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Miyagi rushes Richards and presses him up against the cage.

Miyagi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Richards looks to land a left hand but Miyagi moved out of range nicely.
Richards moves out of range of the body kick.
Richards misses with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Richards blocks a head kick by Miyagi.
Richards blocks a head kick by Miyagi.
Miyagi tries a head kick but it misses.
Miyagi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Richards throws a hook to the side of Miyagi's head but Miyagi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Miyagi quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Richards checks a low kick from Miyagi.
Miyagi takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Miyagi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Richards cracks Miyagi with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Richards has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Sean Richards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richards feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Miyagi's calf.
Miyagi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Richards throws a jab when Miyagi was well out of range.
A shot to the body from Richards misses
and Miyagi counters with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi moves out of range as Richards throws a body kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Miyagi lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Richards has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Richards and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Miyagi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Miyagi lands a nice knee to the body.
Richards lands a nice uppercut.
Stalling in the clinch from Miyagi.
Richards is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Miyagi dodges an elbow strike from Richards.
Richards goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Miyagi avoids a wild elbow strike from Richards.
Miyagi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Miyagi manages to break the clinch.
Richards blocks a leg kick.
Miyagi cracks the inside of Richards's front leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards swinging wildly here.
Miyagi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Richards misses with a low kick.
Miyagi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Miyagi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A swing and a miss from Richards.
Miyagi tried to counter with a leg kick but Richards avoided it.
Richards connects with a right hand. Miyagi shakes it off.
Richards misses with a looping left.
Richards misses with a low kick.
Miyagi lands with a thumping leg kick.
The fighters circling - Richards throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Miyagi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Richards doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Miyagi fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Richards is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi throws a head kick but Richards moves out of range.
Richards fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Miyagi misses with a kick to the body.
Richards lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Miyagi circles away quickly and effectively.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards throws a body punch but Miyagi moves out of range.
Miyagi throws a counter high kick but Richards was just alert enough to avoid it.
Nice body kick there by Richards.
A clash of legs there as Richards blocks the low kick.
Richards explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Richards looks to land a body kick but Miyagi moved away.
Miyagi looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Miyagi is looking to clinch but Richards is avoiding it.
Richards follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Richards avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Miyagi tries a head kick but it misses.
Miyagi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Richards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Richards 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.

Miyagi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Richards throws a low kick but it's checked well by Miyagi.
Richards keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Miyagi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Richards. That did some damage!
Richards fails to land with a series of punches.
Sean Richards seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Richards tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Miyagi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Richards's calf.
Richards pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Miyagi plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Sean Richards has been cut.
Miyagi tried to score with a low kick but Richards checks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Richards dips to his left and cracks Miyagi with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards lands with a cross.
Richards throws a hook to the side of Miyagi's head but Miyagi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The fighters circling - Richards throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Richards feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Miyagi's calf.
Miyagi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Richards attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Miyagi throws a leg kick which misses Richards's front leg but catches the back leg as Richards tries to avoid it.
Miyagi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Richards has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Richards misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Miyagi tries to clinch but Richards moves away
and Richards counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Miyagi has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Richards throws a combination that misses
and Miyagi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Richards looks to score with a jab to the body but Miyagi is just out of range.
Miyagi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Richards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Richards throws a push kick but Miyagi slaps the foot to one side.
Richards misses with an attempted mid kick.
Miyagi tries to work over Richards's front leg with a kick but Richards checks it.
Richards unleashes a big counter combination but Miyagi bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Miyagi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Miyagi throws a quick inside leg kick.
A shot to the body from Richards misses
and Miyagi counters with a leg kick.
Richards's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A head kick by Miyagi misses
and Richards counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Miyagi thinking.
Miyagi moves out of range of the leg kick from Richards.
Richards keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Miyagi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Richards is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Miyagi with a body shot.
Miyagi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Richards is able to avoid easily.
Miyagi throws a push kick but Richards slaps the foot to one side.
Miyagi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Richards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Miyagi slips under a jab.
Miyagi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Miyagi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Miyagi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Richards.

Miyagi pushes Richards up against the cage in a clinch.
Richards creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Miyagi blocks the elbow strike.
Richards misses with a hook from the clinch.
Miyagi working Richards over with knees to the body.
Richards trying to land knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Miyagi.
Richards softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Miyagi breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi throws a leg kick that is checked
and Richards connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Miyagi throws a front kick that sends Richards stumbling back into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Miyagi slips under a jab.
A low kick from Richards is predictable there
and Miyagi counters with a nice leg kick.
Miyagi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Richards misses the jab.
Richards on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Miyagi throws a leg kick but Richards checks it.
Miyagi slips under a jab.
Miyagi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Richards is able to avoid easily.
A jab from Richards finds it's way through Miyagi's defenses.
Richards lands a really nice looking cross but Miyagi seems unphased.
Richards takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kesuke Miyagi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sean Richards's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Miyagi misses with a low kick as Richards jumps back.
Miyagi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Richards. That did some damage!
Miyagi throws a leg kick that misses.
Miyagi blocks a jab.
Richards tries a low kick but Miyagi avoids it.
Miyagi misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Richards.
Miyagi tries to land a leg kick but Richards saw it coming and moves away.
Miyagi takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miyagi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Miyagi tries to close the distance and clinch but Richards swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Miyagi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Richards misses with a hook.
Miyagi appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyagi tries a head kick but it misses.
And Richards responds with a good body kick, but Miyagi manages to step out the way in time.
Miyagi is looking to slow Richards down with leg kicks.

Miyagi moves into the clinch successfully.

Miyagi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Miyagi wants to land a leg kick but Richards is out of range.
Richards is looking for the big counter here.
Richards throws out a loose jab but Miyagi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Richards connects with an inside leg kick.
Richards throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Miyagi counters with a nice low kick that buckles Richards's knee momentarily.
Richards tries to land a body kick
and Miyagi makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Richards really felt that one!
Miyagi lands a nice leg kick that just misses Richards's sensitive parts.
Nice body kick there by Richards.
Richards misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi checks a leg kick.
Miyagi fires out a quick counter leg kick but Richards just manages to avoid it.
Richards throws a chopping leg kick but Miyagi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Richards looks to land a combination but Miyagi avoids it well.
Miyagi throws a low kick but Richards avoids it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richards blocks a head kick by Miyagi.
Richards tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Miyagi was well out of range. Poor timing from Richards.
Richards tests Miyagi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Richards throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Miyagi rushes Richards and presses him up against the cage.

Miyagi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Richards lands a jab to Miyagi's midsection.
Richards takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Miyagi throws a leg kick
letting Richards counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Richards blocks the leg kick.
Richards swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Richards throws an overhand right that lands on Miyagi's shoulder, as Miyagi tries to avoid the shot.
Miyagi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A head kick by Miyagi misses
and Richards counters with a solid body kick.
Miyagi takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Miyagi checks a leg kick nicely.
As Richards looks to move away, Miyagi throws a big counter combo bu Richards just gets out of the way.
Miyagi throws a push kick but Richards slaps the foot to one side.
Richards takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Miyagi slips under a jab.
As Richards backs away, Miyagi returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Miyagi connects with a solid leg kick.
Miyagi explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi throws a head kick but Richards moves out of range.
Richards throws a leg kick but Miyagi checks it.
Miyagi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Miyagi, right into the meat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Richards avoids the head kick by Miyagi.
Miyagi wants to clinch.
Miyagi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Richards. That did some damage!
Miyagi throws a solid leg kick but Richards takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Miyagi.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kesuke Miyagi.
I think Miyagi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kesuke Miyagi!
Kesuke Miyagi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.