PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lenny Charles (ranked 8359 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buck Richardson (ranked 6303 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Lenny Charles has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Charles
vs
Richardson

187 cm
25
279 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

193 cm
22
243 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lenny Charles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Buck Richardson!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Cecil Peabody and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richardson shoots in and drives through. Charles sprawls well.

Charles bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Richardson is looking to regain half guard here but Charles keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Richardson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richardson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Charles wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richardson is trying to control Charles's posture but Charles avoids it.
Richardson gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Richardson.
Richardson stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Richardson is looking for a sweep.
Charles could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Richardson holds on to Charles's head and controls the position momentarily.

Charles looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Richardson is looking to regain half guard here but Charles keeps moving and retains side control.
Richardson controls the position for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Richardson wants to control but Charles postures up.
Richardson tries to improve position but can't.
Richardson is trying to control Charles's posture but Charles avoids it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Richardson tries to improve position but can't.
Richardson wants to control but Charles postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Richardson tries to sprawl but Charles drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Richardson manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Charles keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Richardson.

Charles pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Richardson shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Charles manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Charles being controlled here, momentarily.
Charles is trying to control the position but Richardson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Charles 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.
Richardson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Richardson postures up.

Charles had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Richardson defends it easily.
Richardson wants to control from the top but Charles keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Charles is trying to control the position but Richardson postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Buck Richardson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Charles's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Charles shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Richardson's guard.
Richardson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Charles looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Charles wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Richardson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Charles swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Richardson 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richardson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Charles is keeping the position for now.
Charles looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richardson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Richardson lands a couple of elbows.
Richardson 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.
Charles manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Richardson manages to get himself to full guard.

Charles gets to his feet. Richardson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Charles dodges the punch combination from Richardson.

Charles gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardson tries to score a body lock takedown but Charles shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Charles ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Charles no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Charles controls Richardson momentarily but Richardson frees himself.
Richardson trying to control the position from guard on top but Charles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richardson wants to stand and escape but instead Charles has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Charles has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Richardson holds on and takes a little breather.
Charles tries to stand but Richardson is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles being controlled here momentarily.

Richardson has his foot on Charles's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Charles works his way back into a safe position though.
Richardson trying to keep a closed guard but Charles is proving a slippery customer.
Richardson has momentary wrist control but Charles slips an elbow through the middle.
Richardson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Charles throwing strikes but missing.

That's four 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.
Charles preventing the sweep.
Richardson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Richardson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Richardson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Charles closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lenny Charles dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Charles keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
It looked like Charles was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Charles gets the takedown into side control.

Richardson sneaks out the side door and pushes Charles away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Lenny Charles is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Richardson shoots in for a takedown but Charles shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Richardson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Charles as he jumps to the side.
Lenny Charles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buck Richardson.

Richardson moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Charles is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Richardson can't fight it off and eventually Charles manages to take the fight to the floor. Richardson looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Richardson has Charles pulled in close to control his posture.
Let's hope that Richardson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Richardson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Richardson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Richardson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Charles accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Charles loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Richardson controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Richardson with a poor takedown

and Charles counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Richardson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Charles breaks from the clinch.
Richardson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Charles moves away.
As Richardson looks to move away, Charles throws a big counter combo but Richardson just gets out of the way.

Richardson gets caught napping as Charles dives in and scores a takedown. Richardson manages to retain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Charles stopping the sweep attempt from Richardson.

Richardson looking for a guillotine here but Charles defends easily.
Charles trying to stand up but can't free himself from Richardson's guard.
Richardson trying to control the position.
Richardson is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Charles would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Richardson gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Charles is looking for a sweep. Richardson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Buck Richardson.
I think Richardson 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Buck Richardson!
A very excited looking Buck Richardson rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.