PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rafa Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silva's entrance music is UFC Theme Song. A fine choice. Sean Richards has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Silva
vs
Richards

173 cm
43
142 lbs
57 - 14 - 3

170 cm
30
146 lbs
25 - 19 - 2

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
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 57 - 14 - 3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafa Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sean Richards!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Silva.
A low kick from Silva misses
and Richards counters with a two punch combo.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A head punch on the inside from Silva fails to land.
Silva dodges an elbow strike from Richards.
Silva struggles to land a body shot inside as Richards controls his hands.
A short left from Richards.
Silva doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Richards lands a nice uppercut.
Silva jumps guard but Richards stands there with Silva around his waist. Silva gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Richards stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
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.
Richards stalling in the clinch.
Silva working hard to break the clinch.
Come on Richards - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Richards lands a good knee to the midsection. Silva won't want to take too many of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Richards.
A nice left hand lands by Silva.
Richards lands with a light punch inside.
Richards stalling the fight.
Silva is trying to break the clinch but Richards has him pressed against the cage.
Richards stalling against the cage.
Silva blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Silva misses with some punches.
Silva tries a body shot but Richards blocks it.
Silva throws a head punch that misses.
Richards dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Silva working aggressively here.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Richards connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Richards has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Silva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Richards.
Silva with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Silva throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Silva throws the kick towards the body but Richards avoids it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silva is looking to chop away at Richards's legs.
Richards fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Silva.
Silva throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Richards counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Silva misses with an attempted mid kick.
Silva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Silva throws a lazy head kick
letting Richards counter with a right hand.
Silva throws a leg kick but Richards checks it.
Silva throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Richards throws a big counter head kick but Silva avoids it with no problem.
Silva takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Silva misses.
Silva misses with an uppercut
and Richards counters with a series of strikes. Silva will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd cheers as Richards lands an impressive looking overhand right. Silva doesn't seem phased though.
Good work by Richards as he checks the leg kick.
A low kick from Silva misses
and Richards finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Richards uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Silva.
Richards lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Richards blocks the body kick.
Silva throws a wild body kick that Richards sees coming a mile off.
Silva throws a shot from downtown. Richards moves away and avoids it.
Richards is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Silva takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Richards looks for the body kick but Silva saw that one coming.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Richards shapes to counter with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva 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.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Silva is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Richards.
Richards appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
A head kick misses from Silva.
Richards checks a leg kick.
Richards tries a head kick but it misses.
Silva throws a low kick but Richards avoids it.
Silva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Silva lands a nice looking kick to the body. Richards takes a step back to recover.
Richards scores with a head kick.
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.

Silva scores with a push kick.
Rafa Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick by Silva misses
and Richards counters with a solid body kick.
Silva avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Richards throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Silva throws a head kick that misses.
A low kick from Silva misses
and Richards counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Richards checks a leg kick nicely.
Silva throws a head kick that misses

and Richards counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silva misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva blocks an elbow strike.
Richards lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Silva misses with a hook from the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Silva as Richards tries to tie him up.
Richards misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Silva misses with a punch to the body.
Silva misses with a punch to the body.
Silva lands with a right to the head.
Richards lands an elbow that stopped Silva in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Rafa Silva has been cut.
Richards doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Richards's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Richards lands with a left to the head.

Silva pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Richards takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Silva throws the kick towards the body but Richards avoids it.
Richards changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Silva throws a leg kick
and Richards counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Richards throws a head kick that misses
enabling Silva to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richards throws a head kick but Silva moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Richards there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Richards lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Silva throws a half hearted mid kick.
Richards tries to counter by closing the distance.
Richards has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Richards looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Silva is looking to counter with head kicks.
Richards checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Richards appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Silva chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Richards can pounce on him.
Sean Richards seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Richards forces Silva back against the cage and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Richards lands with a left to the head.
Richards lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Silva pushes Richards back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Silva misses with the head strike.
Richards throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Silva blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards crunches a lovely knee into Silva's ribcage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Silva.

Silva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Silva misses with an attempted mid kick.
Richards doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Richards cracks Silva with a right hand to the side of the head.
Silva throws a leg kick that is checked
and Richards counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Silva throws a leg kick but Richards moved away.
Nice shot by Silva.
Richards turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Silva finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Silva is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Silva walks into a stiff left hand from Richards.
Silva misses with the body kick
and Richards counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva tries to land a front kick but Richards steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters circling - Richards throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Silva swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A slapping leg kick lands for Silva.
Silva lands a head kick!
Silva throws out a powerful jab.
Richards waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Silva.
Richards bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Richards uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Silva.
Richards cracks the inside of Silva's front leg.
Richards fails with an attempt to clinch.
Silva goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Richards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rafa Silva's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Silva checks a leg kick.
Richards just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromSilva.
Richards swings widly with a right hand
and Silva makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Richards really felt that one!
A slow jab from Silva misses its intended target.
Silva motions for Richards to come forward. Silva throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Silva tries to land a front kick but Richards steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Silva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Richards will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Silva throws a lazy head kick
and Richards finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Silva misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Richards connects with a high kick.
Richards is looking to land body kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva misses with a kick to the body.
Silva misses with a low kick as Richards jumps back.
And Richards responds with a good body kick, but Silva manages to step out the way in time.
Silva wants to land a leg kick but Richards is out of range.
Silva ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Richards moves away.
Richards is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Richards avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Silva looks to score with a jab to the body but Richards is just out of range.
Silva thows a leg kick but Richards checks it
and Richards counters with an outside leg kick.
Richards pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Richards looks to score with a jab to the body but Silva is just out of range.
Silva avoids the head kick by Richards.
Richards lands with a nice body kick.
Silva throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Silva attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Silva loads up on a big right hand but Richards slips the punch.
Richards walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Silva checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A nice leg kick lands there from Richards.
Richards moves out of range of the strikes.
Silva throws a leg kick
enabling Richards to counter with a crisp jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Richards.
A looping hook to the body misses from Richards. Silva does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Silva wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Silva throws a leg kick which misses Richards's front leg but catches the back leg as Richards tries to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silva avoids the body shot from Richards.
Silva misses with a leg kick
enabling Richards to counter with a crisp jab.
Rafa Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Richards darts in and clinches Silva up against the cage.
A hook to the body from Richards.
Richards has Silva pressed against the cage.
Richards is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Silva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Richards has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Richards lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Silva's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Richards lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Silva is rocked!
Richards pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Richards lands a nice shot to the body.
Sean Richards seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Silva.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Silva.
A head punch on the inside from Silva fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards misses with a hook to the ribs.
Silva throws a punch but it's blocked by Richards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Richards.
Silva blocks an uppercut.
Silva blocking some punches.
Silva misses with a punch to the body.
Richards is trying to maintain a safe position but Silva gets an underhook and turns Richards into the cage.
Richards blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silva doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Silva is trying to break free.
Silva throws a head punch that misses.
Silva working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Silva misses with a punch to the body.
Silva misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Richards.
Richards tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sean Richards is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Richards blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Richards gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean Richards!
A relieved looking Sean Richards thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.