PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stu Pidaso (ranked 7373 p4p, 760 weight class) and James Richards (ranked 7039 p4p, 749 weight class). Richards is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: NF - Intro. James Richards struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Stu Pidaso has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Pidaso
vs
Richards

188 cm
26
180 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

186 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 180$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Stu Pidaso !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Richards!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards throws a shot from downtown. Pidaso moves away and avoids it.
Richards fails with a takedown attempt.
Richards moves in looking to clinch but Pidaso pushes him off.

Pidaso darts in and clinches Richards up against the cage.

Pidaso breaks the clinch.
Nice uppercut there from Richards.
Richards wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pidaso throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Pidaso fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Pidaso lands a nice looking body kick.
Pidaso lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards wants to clinch
and Pidaso counters with a series of strikes. Richards will be more careful next time no doubt.
Richards looks winded!
Pidaso looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Pidaso takes the fight into the clinch.
Richards tries to pull guard but Pidaso won't allow it.
Pidaso is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Stu Pidaso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Richards.
Pidaso wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pidaso definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Richards pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A thudding body kick lands there by Pidaso !
Pidaso scores with a nice body kick.

Pidaso lands a head kick that stumbles Richards and the fighters go to the mat.

It looks like James Richards has been cut.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pidaso trying to control the position from guard on top but Richards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pidaso gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Stu Pidaso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pidaso lets loose with a powerful body kick. Richards will feel that in the morning.

Pidaso darts in and clinches Richards up against the cage.
Richards jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pidaso walks away with a smile on his face. Richards gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Pidaso .
Pidaso bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Pidaso scores with a kick to the body.
Pidaso lands with a nice body kick.
Pidaso lands a two punch combo.

Pidaso fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Richards sprawls well initially but Pidaso persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Pidaso stands up out of the half guard.
Richards on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Richards takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Richards has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Pidaso .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pidaso throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Richards.
Pidaso scores with a kick to the midsection.
Pidaso lands a nice looking body kick.
Richards takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Pidaso throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Richards takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Pidaso explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Pidaso manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Richards on his heels. He'll look to pass Richards's guard now, I'm sure.
Richards not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pidaso 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Richards is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Richards has a closed guard, preventing Pidaso from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richards looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pidaso postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Pidaso is in close to Richards's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pidaso working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Richards's head.

Pidaso stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Richards gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pidaso wants to break free but Richards has control.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pidaso wants to break the clinch but can't.
Richards leaning his opponent against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stu Pidaso dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Richards's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thud! ouch! good body kick from Pidaso - that will leave a mark!

Richards takes the fight into the clinch.
Richards tries for a takedown but Pidaso manages to get underhooks.
Pidaso has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Richards is trying to pull guard but Pidaso turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Stu Pidaso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Richards.
Richards is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Pidaso to keep the fight standing.
Richards missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards is trying to pull guard but Pidaso has him pressed against the cage.
Richards is breathing heavily.
Richards keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pidaso 's efforts to push away.
Richards is trying to pull guard but Pidaso turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Richards pulls guard.

Richards escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pidaso gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Richards pulls Pidaso in close to prevent any damage.
Pidaso has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Richards is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Richards throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Richards trying to control the position.
Pidaso working some strikes from top position.

Pidaso gets to his feet. Richards looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Richards is looking to clinch.
A solid body kick from Pidaso .

Pidaso closes the distance and clinches.
Richards fails to pull guard.
Pidaso wants to get back to striking at distance but Richards won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pidaso has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pidaso wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pidaso crunches a lovely knee into Richards's ribcage.
Richards has Pidaso pressed against the cage, preventing Pidaso from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Richards has Pidaso pressed against the cage, preventing Pidaso from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Richards manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Pidaso working some strikes from top position.
Pidaso is in close to Richards's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Pidaso gets to his feet. Richards looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Pidaso lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Pidaso tenderised Richards's leg. Richards is trying to keep his angry face on.
Pidaso is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Richards can do to turn this around?
Pidaso pushes Richards away with a front kick.
Pidaso lands with a nice body kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Pidaso !
Pidaso throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pidaso lands a nice leg kick that just misses Richards's sensitive parts.
Richards tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pidaso throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Pidaso thuds his shin into the meat of Richards's side.
Richards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pidaso pushes Richards away with a front kick.
Pidaso lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Richards at a distance.
Richards tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stu Pidaso dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Richards's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Pidaso slips a straight right by Richards.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pidaso swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Richards throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Pidaso fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Richards, pushing him back against the cage.
Pidaso is trying to push Richards away but Richards has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Richards tries to pull guard but Pidaso forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Pidaso tries to break free but Richards pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards stalling in the clinch but Pidaso improves position.
Richards tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Richards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Pidaso jumps guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Pidaso is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stu Pidaso overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Richards drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pidaso looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pidaso looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pidaso !

Pidaso decides to stand up, so the ref orders Richards to his feet.
Pidaso thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Richards if he has to take too many more of those.

Pidaso gets the takedown into side control.
Pidaso lands a nice forearm strike.
Pidaso scores with a couple of short elbows.
Richards has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Pidaso stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pidaso stuffs the takedown.
It appears Pidaso was looking to counter with a kick there.
Stu Pidaso has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Richards.
Pidaso thows a body kick. Richards tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Richards takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Pidaso pushes Richards away with a front kick.
Richards takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Pidaso scores with a head kick. Richards tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Pidaso lands with a nice body kick.
Pidaso lands a head kick. Richards smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Nice uppercut there from Pidaso .
Pidaso tries to land a front kick but Richards steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Pidaso walks into a straight right hand from Richards.
Richards looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stu Pidaso is winning the standup battle so far.

Pidaso has Richards up against the cage in a clinch.
Stu Pidaso has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Pidaso wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Richards has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards is trying to pull guard but Pidaso turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Richards decides to pull guard.

Richards escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pidaso gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Richards escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pidaso gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pidaso scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pidaso gets to his feet. Richards looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Pidaso chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Crunch! Pidaso slams his shin into Richards's torso.
Richards steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Pidaso . That one must have hurt.
Stu Pidaso is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Pidaso clinches.

Pidaso breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pidaso lands a head kick. Richards smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Pidaso pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pidaso lands a front kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pidaso tries to break the clinch but Richards is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stu Pidaso showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pidaso 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stu Pidaso !
Stu Pidaso decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.