PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Keven Rich (ranked 7376 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vikrama Lykke (ranked 7277 p4p, 0 weight class). Lykke is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: 2Pac - Dear Mama. Keven Rich has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Rich
vs
Lykke

199 cm
24
140 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
26
147 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Keven Rich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vikrama Lykke!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Rich misses.

Rich clinches up with Lykke and pushes him back against the cage.

Rich manages to break the clinch.
Rich throws a head kick that misses.
Rich throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lykke.

Rich has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lykke is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rich is defending well for now.
Rich wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich takes an elbow to the temple.
Rich tries for a takedown. No joy.

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

Rich clinches up with Lykke and pushes him back against the cage.

Rich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rich clinches.
Lykke stalling against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Lykke gets tackled into the cage by Rich. Rich maintains the clinch.
Rich has a couple of punches blocked by Lykke.
Rich avoiding damage as Lykke throws knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Lykke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lykke breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rich gets a clinch.
Lykke is pressed up against the cage. Rich has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lykke down to the mat. Lykke avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keven Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rich moves into the clinch successfully.
Lykke lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Keven Rich has been cut.
Lykke is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rich is defending well for now.
Lykke is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rich drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lykke is struggling to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rich breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keven Rich dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Keven Rich's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rich closes the distance and pushes Lykke back into the cage.
Rich tries for a takedown but Lykke manages to get underhooks.
Rich has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lykke is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lykke tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rich's elbow.
Rich is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keven Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lykke has Rich pushed against the cage.
Lykke's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The crowd are getting on Lykke's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lykke throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lykke prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rich tries to score a body lock takedown but Lykke shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Lykke.
Rich creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Rich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rich closes the distance and clinches.
Lykke is pushing Rich up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Rich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rich moves into the clinch.
Rich wants a takedown but no success here.
Lykke displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rich up against the cage.
Lykke is stalling here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Rich pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rich closes the distance and clinches.
Stalling in the clinch from Lykke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keven Rich dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Keven Rich's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rich rushes Lykke and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lykke prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lykke tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rich avoids it.
Lykke throws a punch but it's blocked by Rich.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lykke has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rich is trying to keep an underhook but Lykke manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Rich is controlling Lykke's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Rich looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lykke content to control rather than advance.

Rich looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rich trying to control here.
Lykke sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Lykke is continuing to stall.

Rich actively working from the bottom here.
Rich trying to control but Lykke postures up.
Lykke not doing much here.
Rich is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lykke's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lykke's back!

Rich is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Lykke has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Rich will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lykke is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Lykke trying to control the hands but Rich breaks the grip.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rich really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lykke is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Rich is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Lykke tries to escape the position.

Rich tightening his grip on Lykke, looking for the choke.
Rich avoiding Lykke 's attempts to control his hands.
Lykke is trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Lykke right now.
Lykke is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Lykke wants to escape the position.
I would not like to be Lykke right now.

Rich is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Lykke defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Rich has the hooks in. Lykke is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vikrama Lykke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Keven Rich is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Rich is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Lykke knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Lykke for a finish.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keven Rich showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rich 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keven Rich!