PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roman Richards (ranked 6639 p4p, 662 weight class) and Said Khatiev (ranked 4278 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Richards
vs
Khatiev

188 cm
25
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
25
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Roman Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Said Khatiev!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Michael Johnstone and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khatiev goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Richards is looking to clinch.
Richards looks for a takedown but Khatiev sprawls well.
Khatiev is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Nice takedown defense from Richards. No joy for Khatiev on that attempt.
Richards avoids the head kick by Khatiev.
No luck for Khatiev with that takedown attempt.

Richards gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards wants to take the fight to the mat but Khatiev manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Richards is trying to stall.
Khatiev has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Richards after a bit of a struggle.
Roman Richards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Said Khatiev.
Richards throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Khatiev blocks it with crossed arms.
Richards with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards tries a knee to the head but Khatiev blocks it.
Richards unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Richards connects with a nasty looking knee right to Khatiev's face.
Richards throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Khatiev blocks it with crossed arms.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Richards tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Richards with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Khatiev.
Richards tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Khatiev smiles and moves away.
Richards misses with a takedown attempt - Khatiev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Richards darts in looking for a takedown but Khatiev gets double underhooks and turns Richards into the cage.
Richards doesn't manage to clinch there - Khatiev circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khatiev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Khatiev has closed the distance and engaged Richards in a clinch.
Khatiev is looking to break free of the clinch but Richards has double underhooks.
Richards scores a nice knee to the body.
Richards tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Khatiev gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Richards.
Khatiev stalling in the clinch.
Richards avoiding damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richards tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Richards using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Khatiev has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Khatiev has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Richards after a bit of a struggle.
Khatiev softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Khatiev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Richards is defending well.
Richards unloads a knee to the mid-section. Khatiev lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Richards tries a knee to the head but Khatiev blocks it.
Richards is trying to pull guard but Khatiev has him pressed against the cage.
Richards unloads a knee to the mid-section. Khatiev lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Richards slows down the pace here.
Richards is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Khatiev is keeping busy.
Richards blocks the elbow strike.
Richards misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards tries a knee to the head but Khatiev blocks it.
Khatiev tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Richards trying to land knees to the body.
Khatiev lands a hook that snaps the head of Richards backwards.
Richards misses with a knee strike.

Khatiev jumps into guard, dragging Richards to the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Richards seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Richards stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Khatiev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Khatiev lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Richards dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Richards wants to clinch up but Khatiev keeps it at a distance.

Khatiev clinches up against the cage.
Richards tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Richards tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Khatiev avoiding damage as Richards throws knees to the body.
Khatiev managing to block the knees to the body from Richards.
Khatiev avoiding damage.
Richards jumps guard but Khatiev turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Richards throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Khatiev blocks it with crossed arms.
Richards jumps guard but Khatiev stands there with Richards around his waist. Richards gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khatiev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Richards is trying to pull guard but Khatiev has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Richards scores with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards drops down looking for an ankle pick but Khatiev pulls his leg out and moves away.
Roman Richards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Richards on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Khatiev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Richards defends well and Khatiev ends up having to push Richards into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Richards is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Khatiev can do to turn this around?

Khatiev clinches with his opponent.

Khatiev pulls guard effortlessly.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Khatiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richards won't allow Khatiev to sweep him here.
Richards loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Richards will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Richards wants to stand but Khatiev is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Khatiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khatiev is controlling Richards's posture.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Richards slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Richards moves into the clinch.
Khatiev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Richards smiles and moves away.
Richards fails in his attempt to clinch.
Richards avoids the head kick by Khatiev.
Khatiev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Khatiev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Richards tries to clinch but Khatiev moves out of range.
Richards shoots in for a takedown but Khatiev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Khatiev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Richards tries to clinch up but Khatiev circles away and keeps his distance.
Richards wants to clinch up but Khatiev keeps it at a distance.
Richards is looking to clinch but Khatiev is avoiding it.
A little jabbing left from Khatiev on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Richards clinches with his opponent.
Richards has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Khatiev avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Richards connects with a nasty looking knee right to Khatiev's face.
Richards crunches a lovely knee into Khatiev's ribcage.
Khatiev is trying to force a seperation but Richards has the dominant position.
Richards tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Khatiev avoids it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Khatiev jumps into guard, dragging Richards to the mat.
Khatiev is looking to sweep but instead, Richards has passed into half guard.
Khatiev is breathing heavily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Khatiev is refusing to be controlled, as Richards sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Roman Richards will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Richards fails with an attempt to clinch.
Khatiev throws a wild body kick that Richards sees coming a mile off.

Khatiev instigates a clinch.

Richards jumps guard.
Richards trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Khatiev stands up and waves to Richards to follow him.
Richards will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Khatiev with the counter takedown but Richards avoids it easily.
Richards fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Khatiev avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards blocks a head kick by Khatiev.
Khatiev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Richards circles away.
Khatiev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Richards shoots for a double leg takedown but Khatiev sprawls well. He's pushed Richards's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Richards gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Richards stuffs the takedown.
Richards is looking for a counter combo.
Khatiev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Khatiev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Khatiev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Richards slaps away a takedown attempt from Khatiev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Richards wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Richards tries to clinch up but Khatiev circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards doesn't manage to clinch there - Khatiev circles away.
Richards will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Khatiev is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Khatiev looking to score a takedown here. Richards is defending well but Khatiev drives through and ends up in Richards's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards looking to control.
Richards is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Khatiev is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Richards had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Khatiev defends it easily.
Richards doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Khatiev stands up from Richards's guard - Khatiev perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khatiev tries to keep at a distance but Richards has taken the fight into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Richards.
Richards tries a knee to the head but Khatiev blocks it.
Richards tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Khatiev avoids it.
Khatiev throws a knee to the head but misses.
Richards goes for a takedown in the clinch but Khatiev prevents it.
Richards tries for a takedown. No joy.
Khatiev on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Khatiev can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khatiev managing to block the knees to the body from Richards.
Khatiev wants to take the fight to the mat but Richards manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Richards with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Richards tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Richards wants a takedown but no success here.
Richards unloads a knee to the mid-section. Khatiev lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Richards lands a good knee to the midsection. Khatiev won't want to take too many of those.
Khatiev tries to score a body lock takedown but Richards shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Khatiev is looking for a takedown.
Richards tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Richards lands a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khatiev working hard to break the clinch.
Khatiev is trying to break the clinch but Richards is controlling him.
Said Khatiev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roman Richards is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Khatiev tries to pull guard but Richards won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Roman Richards.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Richards, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roman Richards!