PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Christian Neffgen (ranked 6174 p4p, 646 weight class) and Roman Richards (ranked 4945 p4p, 549 weight class). Christian Neffgen could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Roman Richards's chin.

Neffgen
vs
Richards

200 cm
26
194 lbs
4 - 9 - 1

188 cm
25
186 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 9 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Christian Neffgen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Roman Richards!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Michael Johnstone and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Neffgen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Richards.

Richards successfully pulls guard.
Richards looking for a sweep. Not yet Richards, not yet.
Our spies down at at Ferocious Beast inform us that Richards has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Richards wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Neffgen is now in half guard.
Neffgen works his way into full mount!
Richards is working to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Neffgen keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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 trying to control but Neffgen is working from the bottom.
Richards is looking to work some ground and pound but Neffgen has wrist control.
Richards throws an elbow that misses. Neffgen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Richards's guard. Nice move by Neffgen!

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Richards can do anything to dispel that myth.
Neffgen throws a big elbow that misses.
Richards wants to hit a switch here but Neffgen passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Richards there!
Neffgen looking to ground and pound but Richards is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards tries to lock up and control but Neffgen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Richards sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Richards wants to get back to full guard.
Richards is trying to stand up here but Neffgen is controlling him well.
Richards avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Neffgen.
Richards tries to get to full guard but Neffgen has control of the leg.
Neffgen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Richards's head.
Neffgen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neffgen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Richards has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Neffgen is working away from the top position though.
Neffgen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Richards avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Neffgen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards wants to improve his position but Neffgen is controlling well.
Neffgen definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Richards keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Richards is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Richards blocking the ground and pound attempt from Neffgen.
Neffgen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Richards wants to improve his position but Neffgen is controlling well.
Neffgen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Richards avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Neffgen.

Richards looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Neffgen thows a huge punch but Richards dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neffgen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Richards avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Neffgen.
Richards pushes Neffgen off but Neffgen dives into side control.
Richards is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Neffgen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Richards has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Neffgen is working away from the top position though.
Richards is looking to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Richards avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Neffgen.
Neffgen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Richards defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Neffgen 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.

Richards closes the distance and pushes Neffgen back into the cage.
Neffgen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Richards tries to land a knee to the head but Neffgen blocks with his arms.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Neffgen.
Richards throws a knee to the head but misses.
Richards connects with a nasty looking knee right to Neffgen's face.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Richards connects with a knee to the head.
Richards landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Richards tries to land a knee to the head but Neffgen blocks with his arms.
Richards misses with a knee strike.
Richards lands a nice knee to the body.
Richards lands a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knees to the body from Richards.
Neffgen misses with the head strike.
Richards crunches a lovely knee into Neffgen's ribcage.
Neffgen takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Richards.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Richards has Neffgen pushed against the cage.
Richards unloads a knee to the mid-section. Neffgen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Richards is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Neffgen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Richards.
Richards tries for a takedown but Neffgen manages to get underhooks.
Neffgen lands a left hand.
A knee to the head by Richards.

Richards pulls guard effortlessly.
Richards looking to hit a scissor sweep but Neffgen is one step ahead there.
Neffgen throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Richards tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Neffgen pushing down on Richards's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Richards makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Neffgen forces Richards back against the cage and clinches.
Neffgen throws a punch but it's blocked by Richards.
Richards with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Neffgen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Richards lands a good knee to the midsection. Neffgen won't want to take too many of those.
Neffgen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Neffgen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Richards connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards landing knees to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Neffgen fails to land.
Neffgen throws a punch but it's blocked by Richards.
Richards blocks an uppercut.

Richards drags the fight down to the ground.
Richards trying to control the position.
Neffgen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Neffgen won't allow Richards to get back to his feet.
Neffgen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Richards is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Richards manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Neffgen manages to get himself to full guard.

Richards stands up and waves to Neffgen to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richards moves into range and clinches up with Neffgen.
Richards controlling the action here for a moment.
Richards has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Richards throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Neffgen blocks it with crossed arms.
Richards misses with a knee to the head.
Richards lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Richards using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Neffgen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Richards blocking some punches.
Richards landing knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Richards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Richards.
Richards utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Richards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Richards moves into the clinch successfully.
Richards putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Neffgen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Richards with a knee to the head.
Richards tries a knee to the head but Neffgen blocks it.
Richards scores with a knee to the head.
Richards blocks an uppercut.
Neffgen takes a knee right on the jaw!

Richards manages to pull guard.

Neffgen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Richards tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Richards is looking for a triangle here but Neffgen uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
An elbow from Neffgen crashes against the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards sneaks back into half guard.
Neffgen throwing shots but Richards is blocking nicely.
Richards avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Neffgen.
Richards wants to get back to full guard.
Richards blocking the ground and pound attempt from Neffgen.
Neffgen lands with a punch from half guard.
Richards looks like he's trying to stand up.
Neffgen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Neffgen is working away from the top position though.
Richards is looking to improve his position.
Neffgen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Neffgen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Richards keeping hold of Neffgen's head, controlling as best he can.
Richards keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Richards tries to get to full guard but Neffgen has control of the leg.
Richards blocking the ground and pound attempt from Neffgen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neffgen thows a huge punch but Richards dodges it nicely.
Richards has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Neffgen is working away from the top position though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Neffgen forces Richards back against the cage and clinches.
Come on Richards - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Richards throws a knee to the head but misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Neffgen.
Neffgen scores with a shoulder strike.
Richards blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Richards has Neffgen pressed against the cage.
Neffgen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Neffgen swings wildly with an uppercut but Richards uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Richards.
Richards lands a knee to the head.
Richards landing knees to the head.
Roman Richards seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Neffgen misses with the head strike.
Neffgen stops a takedown attempt from Richards.
Richards stalls.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A knee to the head by Richards.
Neffgen stops a takedown attempt from Richards.

Richards decides to pull guard.
Neffgen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Neffgen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Neffgen pushing down on Richards's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Richards has one foot on Neffgen's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Richards or perhaps it was just good defense by Neffgen, which made it look bad.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roman Richards comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Richards has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29

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