PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Qasem Soleimani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Richardson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richard Richardson acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Soleimani
vs
Richardson

185 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
25
216 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Nutrition Down Under

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Qasem Soleimani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Richard Richardson !
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Francis DeMontford and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richardson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Richardson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Richardson throws a series of punches but Soleimani moves out of range.
Soleimani throws a big counter combination but Richardson scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Soleimani 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 Richardson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Richardson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Richardson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Soleimani.
Soleimani seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Richardson looks to land a right hand but Soleimani moved out of range.
Soleimani turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Soleimani scores with a leg kick.
Richardson checks a low kick from Soleimani.
Soleimani connects with a leg kick. Richardson looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Soleimani moves out of range of the strikes.
A head kick misses from Soleimani.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soleimani is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Soleimani throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Soleimani looks for the body kick but Richardson saw that one coming.
Soleimani walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Soleimani.
Richardson 's coach down at was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Richardson 's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Richardson both land. Nice combination.
Soleimani wants to clinch up but Richardson keeps it at a distance.
Richardson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Richardson checks a low kick from Soleimani.
Richardson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Soleimani moves out of range of the strikes.
Richardson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Soleimani feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Richardson 's calf.
An inside leg kick from Soleimani misses.
Soleimani drops his hands momentarily and Richardson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Soleimani looks for the body kick but Richardson saw that one coming.
Soleimani lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Soleimani uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Richardson .
Soleimani went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Richardson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Richardson lands a jab to the nose.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A low kick from Soleimani misses
letting Richardson counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Soleimani 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 Richardson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Richardson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Soleimani misses with an attempted mid kick.
Soleimani does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Richardson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Soleimani sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Soleimani fires out a quick counter leg kick but Richardson just manages to avoid it.
Richardson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Soleimani moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Richardson blocks the body kick.
Soleimani lets loose with a powerful body kick. Richardson will feel that in the morning.
Soleimani wants to land a leg kick but Richardson is out of range.
Soleimani throws a leg kick
and Richardson counters with a three punch combo that has Soleimani backing up. Soleimani nods at Richardson to acknowledge the strikes.
Soleimani thows a leg kick but Richardson checks it
and Richardson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Richardson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Soleimani tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Richardson misses the target.
A head kick misses from Soleimani.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Richardson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Soleimani looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Richardson checks a low kick from Soleimani.
Soleimani fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Richardson checks it well.
Richardson keeps the fight on the outside.
Soleimani tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Soleimani throws a leg kick that misses.
A little jabbing left from Richardson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Soleimani wants to slow Richardson down by chopping away at his legs.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Richardson ! But no joy.
Richardson throws out a loose jab but Soleimani uses good head movement to avoid it.
Richardson steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Soleimani. That one must have hurt.
Soleimani turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Soleimani throws a nice inside leg kick.
Richardson lands with a nice combination. Soleimani backs away looking to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soleimani turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Soleimani looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A thudding body kick lands there by Soleimani!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Soleimani throws out a leg kick but Richardson moves out of range and Soleimani only half commits.
Richardson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Richardson 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.
Richardson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Good work by Richardson as he checks the leg kick.
Soleimani throws a head kick but Richardson moves out of range.
Soleimani tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Soleimani shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Qasem Soleimani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soleimani throws a head kick that misses.
Soleimani tries to score with a low kick but Richardson moves his leg out of the way.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Richardson ! But no joy.
Soleimani throws a leg kick that is checked
and Richardson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That kick from Soleimani tenderised Richardson 's leg. Richardson is trying to keep his angry face on.
An inside leg kick from Soleimani misses.
As Soleimani backs off Richardson throws a huge counter combo but Soleimani manages to avoid it all.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Qasem Soleimani will probably get the nod.
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.

Soleimani fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Richardson checks it well.
Some bone on bone action there as Richardson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Soleimani moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Soleimani tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Richardson checks a low kick from Soleimani.
Soleimani throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Qasem Soleimani is winning the standup battle so far.
Soleimani scoring well with a low kick there.
A low kick from Richardson is predictable there
and Soleimani counters with a solid body kick.
Richardson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Soleimani.
Soleimani looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Soleimani misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Soleimani.
Richardson might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Richardson looks to land a right hand but Soleimani moved out of range.
Richardson avoids the head kick by Soleimani.
Richardson misses with a straight left.
Soleimani fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Richardson checks it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soleimani tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Soleimani pivots, looking for a leg kick but Richardson is out of range and Soleimani settles back down.
Richardson let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Richardson 's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Soleimani ducks under a wild hook from Richardson .
Soleimani tries to clinch but Richardson moves out of range.
Soleimani dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Richardson . That did some damage!
Soleimani looks for the body kick but Richardson saw that one coming.
Soleimani lands with a kick to the temple. Richardson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Richardson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Soleimani is looking to slow Richardson down with leg kicks.
Soleimani misses with a low kick.
Soleimani throws a leg kick but Richardson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Soleimani throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Richardson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Soleimani.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardson 's jab looks to have found its range, popping Soleimani under the eye.
Richardson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Richardson with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Richardson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Soleimani fails in his attempt to clinch.
Richardson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Richardson is breathing heavily.
Soleimani swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Richardson is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Soleimani with a body shot.
Soleimani slips a straight right by Richardson .
Soleimani throws a low kick but Richardson moves out of range easily.
Richardson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Soleimani throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Richardson tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Richardson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Soleimani.
Richardson checks a leg kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soleimani attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Richardson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Richardson checks a low kick from Soleimani.
Soleimani misses with a leg kick.
Richardson throws an overhand right that lands on Soleimani's shoulder, as Soleimani tries to avoid the shot.
Good work by Richardson as he checks the leg kick.
Richardson checks a low kick from Soleimani.
Richardson missing with a left hand there. Soleimani was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
That kick from Soleimani tenderised Richardson 's leg. Richardson is trying to keep his angry face on.
Richardson avoids the head kick by Soleimani.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Richardson ! But no joy.
Richardson scores with a jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Soleimani.
Richardson blocks a leg kick.
Soleimani goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soleimani fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Richardson checks it well.
Soleimani throws a head kick that misses.
Soleimani throws a body kick that misses.
Soleimani throws a sloppy head kick and Richardson moves out of range easily.
Richardson throws a body punch but Soleimani moves out of range.
Soleimani slips a jab from Richardson .
Soleimani pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Soleimani throws a leg kick but Richardson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Richardson checks a low kick from Soleimani.
Soleimani misses with a low kick.
Soleimani wants to slow Richardson down by chopping away at his legs.
Soleimani lands a head kick. Richardson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soleimani finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Richardson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Soleimani.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Qasem Soleimani dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Soleimani throws a low kick, looking for Richardson 's leg but Richardson calmly moves out of range.
Richardson blocks the body kick.
Soleimani wants to clinch but Richardson slips to the side
and Richardson counters with a series of strikes. Soleimani will be more careful next time no doubt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Soleimani.
Soleimani throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A leg kick checked by Richardson .
Richardson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Good shot there by Richardson .
A slapping body kick lands there for Soleimani.
Richardson checks a low kick from Soleimani.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Richardson misses.
Soleimani throws a head kick that Richardson semi-blocks.
Soleimani scores with a head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soleimani lands a nice leg kick that just misses Richardson 's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soleimani throws a leg kick but Richardson sees it coming and moves out of range.
You can see that Richardson has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks
Richardson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Soleimani. Soleimani circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Soleimani lands with a thumping leg kick.
Soleimani pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Soleimani throws a low kick but Richardson avoids it.
Soleimani tries a head kick but it misses.
Richardson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Soleimani cracks the inside of Richardson 's front leg.
Richardson just misses with a punch to the body.
A jab from Richardson misses.
Richardson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A combination from Richardson does no damage.
Richardson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Soleimani, right into the meat.
A head kick misses from Soleimani.
Richardson blocks a head kick by Soleimani.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soleimani swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Soleimani turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Soleimani tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Soleimani throws a sloppy head kick and Richardson moves out of range easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Richardson misses with a straight left.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Richardson checks a leg kick.
Soleimani staying out of range there.
Soleimani does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Soleimani misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Soleimani fails in his attempt to clinch.
Soleimani fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Richardson .
Richardson misses with a looping left.
Soleimani half committed to a counter leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Soleimani.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soleimani throws a leg kick which misses Richardson 's front leg but catches the back leg as Richardson tries to avoid it.
Richardson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Soleimani swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Soleimani tries to clinch there but Richardson circles away.
Richardson lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Soleimani misses with a low kick as Richardson jumps back.
It seemed like Richardson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Richardson misses with a wild combination.
Soleimani throws a quick counter head kick but Richardson was just out of range.
Soleimani fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Richardson is out of range.
Soleimani tries to land a front kick but Richardson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A swing and a miss from Richardson .
Soleimani throws a quick counter kick to the body but Richardson avoids it.
Soleimani connects with an inside leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Soleimani misses.
Richardson throws a counter combo.
Soleimani throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soleimani shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Some bone on bone action there as Richardson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Soleimani is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Richardson can do to turn this around?
Soleimani throws a nice outside leg kick.
Richardson throws out a powerful jab.
A bone on bone clash there as Richardson blocks the leg kick.
Soleimani throws a low kick, looking for Richardson 's leg but Richardson calmly moves out of range.
Soleimani throws a sloppy head kick and Richardson moves out of range easily.
Soleimani takes one to the chin there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Soleimani steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Richardson .
Soleimani looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Richardson throws a looping overhand right but Soleimani ducks down to avoid it.
Soleimani feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Soleimani blocks a jab.
Soleimani avoids a kick to the body.
Richard Richardson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Qasem Soleimani is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Soleimani fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Richardson is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Qasem Soleimani showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Soleimani 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 30:28
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Qasem Soleimani!
After the big win, Qasem Soleimani made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Nutrition Down Under and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.