PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Richard Richards (ranked 3593 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dexter Varela (ranked 2843 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Dexter Varela was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Richards
vs
Varela

155 cm
18
150 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
150 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Richard Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dexter Varela !
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, David Hoff and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Varela clinches.
Varela fails to pull guard.
Richards has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Richards leaning his opponent against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Varela 's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Varela jumps into guard, dragging Richards to the mat.
Richards loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Varela is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Varela keeping full guard, as Richards tries to pass.
Richards slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Richards is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards sitting in guard here, content to control.
Richards postures up.
Richards knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Varela on the ground.
Varela keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Richards drives through with a takedown into guard.
Richards stays in close to Varela 's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Varela is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards is really struggling to control Varela but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Richards stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Varela swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Varela not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Varela is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Richards has gone for a leg lock! Varela slips out almost immediately though and dives into Richards's guard.

Richards might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Richards has his foot on Varela 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Varela works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Varela .
Varela slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Richards is looking for a sweep.
Varela trying to control the action but Richards is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Richards's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Varela is looking to take a break and control but Richards is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Varela is trying to get an arm triangle but Richards is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards wants to control but Varela postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Varela tries to stand but Richards is controlling his head.
Richards is trying to control Varela 's posture but Varela avoids it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Varela tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Varela has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Varela wants to control but Richards is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dexter Varela dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Varela shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Richards but Richards pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Richards throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Varela is defended easily by Richards.
Varela misses with a takedown

and Richards counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Richards.
Richard Richards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dexter Varela .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Varela looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Richards got a little sloppy there for a moment and Varela has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Richards has managed to get both his arms back between Varela 's legs - danger averted.
Richards has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Richards pushing down on Varela 's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richards is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Richards is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Varela has managed to free his arm - good work.

Richards is working for a kimura but Varela is defending it quite comfortably.
Varela is trying to control but can't.
Varela is looking for a sweep. Richards is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Richards wants to pass to mount but Varela is defending the position.

Richards is looking for a kimura but Varela is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Richards to get the leverage.
Varela is trying to stand up here but Richards is controlling him well.

Richards looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Varela is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards is just content to waste time from the top position. Varela takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Richards wants to control from the top but Varela keeps moving.
Richards is looking to work some ground and pound but Varela has wrist control.

Varela looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Richards has picked Varela up and slammed him! Varela can't keep hold of the triangle and Richards manages to pass to side control!

Richards tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Richards has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Richards wants to control but Varela is keeping him busy.

Richards looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards trying to control the position but Varela is working away.
Richards working away.

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

Varela fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Richards, pushing him back against the cage.
Varela wants a takedown.
Varela is trying to break the clinch but Richards has him pressed against the cage.

Richards turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Richards manages to end up in side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Varela gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Richards wants to lay and pray for a moment but Varela keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Richards 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Varela tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Richards swivels and escapes.

Varela closes the distance and clinches.
A hook to the body from Varela .

Richards gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Varela looks like he's trying to stand up.
Richards content to control rather than advance.
Varela tries to roll over but Richards keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Richards is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Varela doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Richards.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richards is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Richards is looking for a kimura here.
Richards stops Varela from getting back to his feet.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

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.
Varela wants to control but Richards is keeping busy.

Richards is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Richards is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Varela gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Varela blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varela is looking to take this one to the mat.
Richards drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Varela gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Varela is working for takedown but Richards is calmly controlling the position for now.
Richard Richards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dexter Varela .

Richards gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Varela regains guard.
Varela trying to control the position.
Richards won't allow Varela to get back to his feet.

Richards is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Varela is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Varela has escaped and now he's on top!

Richards isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Varela stacks Richards on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Varela !

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards is not content to let Varela control the position.
Richards is trying to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Richards's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Varela throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dexter Varela .
I think Varela 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dexter Varela !