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). Miyagi comes to the cage accompanied by Your'e The Best Around. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Miyagi
vs
Richards

166 cm
39
142 lbs
47 - 11 - 3

170 cm
25
146 lbs
16 - 11 - 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 47 - 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 16 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sean Richards!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miyagi misses with a low kick.
Miyagi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Miyagi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Miyagi.
Richards throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Richards misses with a kick to the body.
Miyagi half committed to a counter leg kick.
Miyagi moves out of range of the strikes.
Miyagi attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Richards wants to counter the offense by Miyagi and move into the clinch position.
Miyagi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Miyagi is looking to land body kicks.
Richards tries to counter by closing the distance.
We've been informed that Richards has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miyagi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Richards motions for Miyagi to come forward. Richards throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Miyagi keeps the fight on the outside.
Miyagi throws a leg kick that misses.
Richards tries to counter with a clinch but Miyagi shakes him off and moves away.
Miyagi throws a head kick that misses.
Richards wants to counter with a clinch but Miyagi pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Miyagi clinches.

Miyagi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Miyagi is looking to land body kicks.
Richards checks a leg kick.
Richards scores with a nice strike.
Richards tries to clinch there but Miyagi circles away.
Richards throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Richards comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Richards is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Miyagi is defending well for now.
Richards lands a nice elbow.
Richards connects with a knee to the head.

Miyagi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Miyagi keeps the fight on the outside.
Miyagi throws a leg kick but Richards sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi swats away the attempt to clinch by Richards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Miyagi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Richards.
Miyagi misses with a head kick.
Richards moves out of range as Miyagi throws a body kick.
Miyagi connects with an inside leg kick.
Miyagi avoids the head kick by Richards.
Miyagi cracks the inside of Richards's front leg.
Miyagi avoids the body shot from Richards.
Miyagi went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Nice body kick there by Richards.
Miyagi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Richards just misses with a punch to the body.
Richards throws a nice outside leg kick.
Richards lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Miyagi circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards digs a good hook to Miyagi's body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Miyagi. That's going to slow Richards down.
Miyagi tries to clinch up but Richards circles away and keeps his distance.
Richards tries to counter with a clinch but Miyagi shakes him off and moves away.
Richards dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Richards fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Miyagi, pushing him back against the cage.
Richards is looking to control Miyagi's arms but Miyagi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Richards has his back to the cage.

Miyagi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No joy there for Richards, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Richards throws a nice looking combination but Miyagi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Miyagi throws a solid leg kick but Richards takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Miyagi.
Sean Richards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richards checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Richards wants to counter the offense by Miyagi and move into the clinch position.
Richards throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Miyagi appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Richards keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Miyagi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Richards is able to avoid easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi swats away the attempt to clinch by Richards.
Miyagi thinks about countering with a head kick.

Richards has taken the fight to the clinch.
Richards tries a body shot but Miyagi blocks it.
Miyagi slows down the pace here.
Miyagi blocks an uppercut.
Richards swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Richards keeps control of Miyagi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Richards tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Richards lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Miyagi backwards.

Miyagi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
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 interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Miyagi is looking to slow Richards down with leg kicks.
A telegraphed right hand from Richards misses the target.
Miyagi appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Miyagi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice uppercut there from Richards.
Miyagi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Richards tries to counter with a clinch but Miyagi shakes him off and moves away.
Miyagi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Richards is out of range and Miyagi settles back down.
Richards tries to counter by closing the distance.
Richards looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards loads up on a big right hand but Miyagi slips the punch.
Richards tries to clinch but Miyagi is having none of it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Miyagi has had enough of the clinch but Richards keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyagi stalling in the clinch.

Miyagi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
An inside leg kick lands from Miyagi.
Miyagi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A lazy body kick from Richards
and Miyagi counters with a slapping leg kick.
Richards checks the leg kick nicely there.
Miyagi throws a wild body kick that Richards sees coming a mile off.
Richards misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Richards throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
That kick from Miyagi tenderised Richards's leg. Richards is trying to keep his angry face on.
Miyagi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Richards to score with a decent uppercut.
Richards throws a wild body kick that Miyagi sees coming a mile off.
Richards lands a really nice looking cross but Miyagi seems unphased.

Richards has closed the distance and engaged Miyagi in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Miyagi is defending well for now.
Richards lands a right hand that snaps the head of Miyagi backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miyagi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Richards has him pressed against the cage.
Richards has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Richards throws an elbow but it misses.
Richards creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Miyagi's defenses.
Richards lands a nice uppercut.

Miyagi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Richards.
Richards is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Miyagi.
Richards tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Miyagi throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Richards misses with a leg kick
and Miyagi counters with a thumping low kick.
No joy there for Richards, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Richards moves out of range of the leg kick from Miyagi.
Richards wants to counter with a clinch but Miyagi pushes him away.
Miyagi tries to clinch there but Richards circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards checks a leg kick nicely.
Miyagi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Sean Richards has been cut.
Miyagi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Richards misses the shot to the body.
Miyagi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Miyagi moves out of range of the body kick from Richards.
Miyagi tried to counter with a leg kick but Richards avoided it.
Richards throws the kick towards the body but Miyagi avoids it.
Miyagi attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Richards misses with a low kick.
Miyagi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Richards.
Richards tried to score with a low kick but Miyagi checks it.
Miyagi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Richards getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Miyagi misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards checks the leg kick nicely there.
Richards throws a wild body kick that Miyagi sees coming a mile off.
Richards blocks a leg kick.
Richards motions for Miyagi to come forward. Richards throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Miyagi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Richards is out of range and Miyagi settles back down.
Richards steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Miyagi.
Richards feints and then cracks Miyagi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Miyagi down.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Miyagi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Miyagi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Richards's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Richards throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Miyagi throws a chopping leg kick but Richards manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Miyagi misses with a head kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Richards finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Miyagi clinches with his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sean Richards will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sean Richards's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Miyagi ducks under a wild hook from Richards.
Miyagi moves out of range of the leg kick from Richards.
Richards misses with a double jab.
Richards throws a low kick but Miyagi avoids it.
Miyagi misses with a low kick.
Richards avoids a kick to the body.
Richards throws a push kick but Miyagi slaps the foot to one side.
Richards misses with a body shot.
Richards looks to land a right hand but Miyagi moved out of range.
Richards throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miyagi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Richards.
Richards checks a leg kick nicely.
Richards steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Miyagi.
Miyagi tries a low kick but Richards avoids it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Richards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miyagi misses with a leg kick.
Miyagi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Miyagi misses with a leg kick.
Miyagi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Miyagi wants to slow Richards down by chopping away at his legs.
Richards is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Sean Richards seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Miyagi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Miyagi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Miyagi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Richards buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Richards is looking to clinch.
Miyagi throws a big counter combination but Richards scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Miyagi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Richards.
Richards throws out a leg kick but Miyagi moves out of range and Richards only half commits.
Richards swings for the body but Miyagi moves out of range.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi throws out a leg kick but Richards moves out of range and Miyagi only half commits.
Miyagi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Richards.
Richards throws a jab but it's blocked by Miyagi.
Miyagi fires out a quick counter leg kick but Richards just manages to avoid it.
Richards throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Miyagi half committed to a counter leg kick.
Miyagi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Richards.
Miyagi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Miyagi keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Miyagi is looking for a counter combo.
Richards misses with a wild body shot.
A good leg kick by Richards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Miyagi misses with a head kick.
Miyagi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Miyagi is looking to counter with head kicks.
Richards throws an overhand right that lands on Miyagi's shoulder, as Miyagi tries to avoid the shot.
Miyagi fires out a quick counter leg kick but Richards just manages to avoid it.
Miyagi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Richards tries to counter with a clinch but Miyagi shakes him off and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards tries a head kick but it misses.
Richards misses with a hook
and Miyagi counters with a leg kick.
Richards throws a head kick but Miyagi moves out of range.
Miyagi throws a low kick but Richards moves out of range easily.
A nice combination there by Richards.
Richards pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Miyagi throws a head kick but Richards moves out of range.
Richards is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Miyagi forces Richards back against the cage and clinches.

Miyagi breaks from the clinch.
Richards misses with a body kick.
Richards misses with a double jab.
Miyagi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Richards connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Miyagi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Richards misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Miyagi, right into the meat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice inside leg kick there by Miyagi. That's going to slow Richards down.
Miyagi tries a low kick but Richards avoids it.
Richards wants to counter with a clinch but Miyagi pushes him away.
Miyagi attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Richards looks to land a combination but Miyagi avoids it well.
Miyagi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Miyagi throws a head kick that misses.
Miyagi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Miyagi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Richards tries to counter by closing the distance.
Richards connects with a crisp jab.
Kesuke Miyagi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sean Richards is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Richards tries to clinch up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sean Richards.
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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sean Richards!
Our winner, Sean Richards, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.