PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Richard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taulua Fautanua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Richard
vs
Fautanua

172 cm
21
151 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Richard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Taulua Fautanua!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Ben Hemmingworth and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fautanua fails with the takedown
and Richard counters with a straight right hand.
Fautanua throws a low kick but Richard moves out of range easily.

Fautanua throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Richard tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Fautanua is in Richard's guard.

Richard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fautanua defends it easily.
Fautanua controlling from the top position.
Richard is looking to sweep but instead, Fautanua has passed into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ground and pound from Fautanua.
Richard punching from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fautanua controlling the pace.
Richard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fautanua on the ground.
Richard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Fautanua lands with a punch from half guard.
Fautanua is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Richard wants to get back to full guard but Fautanua has passed into side control.
Richard is being controlled here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fautanua's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Richard wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

Fautanua is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Richard has escaped the position, nice work there.
Fautanua is staying tight to Richard's torso, preventing him from escaping.
It looks like Fautanua might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Richard is trying to buck Fautanua off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Fautanua wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Richard takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Fautanua has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fautanua cracks Richard with a big right hand but Richard just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Fautanua decides to stand up, so the ref orders Richard to his feet.

Fautanua fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Richard sprawls well initially but Fautanua persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Richard wants to stand back up but Fautanua manages to pass into side control.
Fautanua scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Richard to see if he's OK.
Fautanua controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fautanua has hold of Richard's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Richard tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Fautanua cranks the arm and Richard screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Richard, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Taulua Fautanua!
In his post fight interview, Taulua Fautanua started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.