PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ferdinand Richmond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malcom Francis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Richmond
vs
Francis

176 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ferdinand Richmond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Malcom Francis!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Lou da Vinci and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Francis closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Richmond quickly recovers to half guard.
Richmond has hold of Francis's hands but Francis slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Still in half guard, Francis seems content to control.
Francis seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Richmond does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Francis tries to pass the half guard into mount. Richmond knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Still in half guard, Francis seems content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richmond regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Francis.
Richmond might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Francis lands a couple of elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richmond is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Francis is looking to work some ground and pound but Richmond has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Francis trying to control but Richmond is working from the bottom.
Francis looking to sit in guard and control but Richmond gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Francis is trying to keep Richmond in close.
Richmond is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Francis trying to keep a closed guard but Richmond is proving a slippery customer.

Francis has his foot on Richmond's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Richmond works his way back into a safe position though.
Francis looking to control.
Francis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Richmond.
Richmond wants to control from the top but Francis keeps moving.
Richmond content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Richmond's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Richmond has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Francis trying to control the position.
Richmond would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Francis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Richmond in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Richmond scoring with some ground and pound.
Richmond works over Francis with some ground and pound from guard.
Richmond scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Francis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Francis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Richmond doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Richmond manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Richmond wants to stand but Francis has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Richmond controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Richmond is controlling him.
Francis is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Richmond controls from within his opponent's guard.
Richmond preventing the sweep.

Francis has his feet on Richmond's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Richmond pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Richmond throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Francis moves into the clinch.
Richmond is trying to break free.
Richmond is trying to force a seperation but Francis has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richmond is fighting off a takedown attempt but Francis is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Richmond to the mat. Richmond regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Richmond trying to strike off his back.
Richmond is looking to stand up but Francis isn't so interested in that idea.
Francis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Francis really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Richmond. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Richmond looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Francis puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Francis wants to work for an arm triangle but Richmond is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Francis stalling away here and it's allowed Richmond to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Richmond trying to keep a closed guard but Francis is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Malcom Francis will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Francis feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Richmond wants to sweep here but Francis controlling him for the moment.
Richmond trying to keep a closed guard but Francis is proving a slippery customer.
Richmond looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Francis with a nice head shot there.
Richmond wants to get back to his feet but Francis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Richmond is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richmond keeping moving, preventing Francis from controlling successfully.
Richmond wants to sweep here but Francis controlling him for the moment.
Francis's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Francis closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Richmond is not content to let Francis control the position.
Francis wants to free his trapped foot but Richmond is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis wants to take a breather but Richmond is having none of it.
Richmond is trying to get back to full guard.
Francis is looking to take a break and control but Richmond is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Richmond regains full guard. Nicely done.
Francis postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis trying to control the position from guard on top but Richmond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Francis closes the distance and pushes Richmond back into the cage.

Francis has clasped his hands together around Richmond's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Francis throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Richmond is looking for a sweep.
Richmond manages to work his way to half guard, despite Francis's best efforts.
Richmond preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Francis trying to pass the guard but Richmond defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Francis is just content to waste time from the top position. Richmond takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Francis stops Richmond from standing up.
Richmond keeping full guard, as Francis tries to pass.
Francis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Francis looking to sit in guard and control but Richmond gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Francis is trying to keep Richmond in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Malcom Francis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Francis wants to clinch up but Richmond keeps it at a distance.

Francis has managed to clinch.
Francis looking to stall.
Richmond is trying to break free.
Richmond tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Francis lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Richmond wants to control but Francis is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Francis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Richmond has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Richmond manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richmond tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Richmond working a defensive guard here.
Francis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Richmond wants to stand up but Francis is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Richmond shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Francis pinned against the cage. Francis gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Francis drives through with a takedown into guard.
Richmond utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Francis passes Richmond's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Richmond avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Francis.
Malcom Francis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Francis is keen to just control but Richmond is a slippery customer.
Richmond trying to control but Francis postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Francis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Richmond keeps working.
Richmond controlling the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Malcom Francis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Francis stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Richmond.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Richmond gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Francis to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Francis is pushing down on Richmond's leg trying to pass to half guard. Richmond is fighting to maintain full guard but Francis has managed to sneak the leg through.
Francis tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Richmond.
Richmond is doing well to control the position and prevent Francis from advancing to side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Francis trying to control from half guard but Richmond is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malcom Francis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Francis winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malcom Francis!