PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between William Regal (ranked 6841 p4p, 574 weight class) and Mick Richards (ranked 3584 p4p, 407 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Mick Richards enters the cage!

Regal
vs
Richards

225 cm
25
192 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, William Regal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mick Richards!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Radbod Blank and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Richards shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Regal napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Richards trying to control the position but Regal is working away.
Regal is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Regal is not content to let Richards control the position.
Richards connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Regal some visible discomfort.
Regal is pushing Richards's head away, looking to escape. Richards manages to hold on to the position though.
Richards throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards trying to control the action but Regal is working from the bottom.
Richards tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Regal on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Richards passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Regal!
Richards looking to control and managing it successfully.
The referee warns Regal that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Richards cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Richards connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Richards lands a big shot there that rocks Regal but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Richards content just to control the position here.
Regal knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Richards on the ground.
It looks like Richards might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Let's hope that Richards 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Richards swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Regal is now in Richards's guard. A big mistake from Richards there, giving up the dominant position!
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!
Regal stopping the sweep attempt from Richards.
Regal is fighting to break Richards's control of his arms but Richards is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Richards wriggles free and stands up.
Richards throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Regal shoots in but no luck this time.
Richards swings for the body but Regal moves out of range.
Regal seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Richards shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Regal sprawls well. Regal wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Richards gets slowly back to his feet.
Regal appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Regal tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Richards connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Richards lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Regal circles away quickly and effectively.

Regal gets caught napping as Richards dives in and scores a takedown. Regal manages to retain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Richards stands up from Regal's guard - Richards perhaps looking for a knockout.
Richards ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Regal defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Richards.
Richards tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Regal defends well and Richards ends up having to push Regal into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mick Richards dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Richards closes this distance looking for a takedown but Regal circles away.
Regal showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Richards.
Regal stuffs the takedown attempt from Richards. Richards gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Richards or perhaps it was just good defense by Regal, which made it look bad.
William Regal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mick Richards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Richards misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Richards both land. Nice combination.
Regal uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Richards.

Richards gets a takedown into half guard.

Regal has one foot on Richards's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
We've been informed that Richards has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Richards drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mick Richards has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Regal wants to stand and escape but Richards is having none of it.
Richards missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Richards looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Regal keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.

Richards stands and steps away. Regal gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Richards throws a right and a left that Regal avoids nicely.
Regal appears to be looking for a big counter.
Regal goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Regal has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Regal there as he acknowledges the shot.
Regal will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Richards closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Richards lands in his opponent's guard.

Regal kicks Richards off and gets to his feet.
Richards throws a body punch but Regal moves out of range.
Richards uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Regal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards scores with a crisp jab that stopped Regal in his tracks.
Regal avoids the body shot from Richards.
Regal seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Richards scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Regal moves out of range of the strikes.
Richards has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Regal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice defenses there by Regal.
Richards tries to score a power double leg takedown but Regal sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Richards somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mick Richards will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Richards shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Regal manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Richards is standing up over Regal. Regal looks to escape but Richards dives into side control.
Regal 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 trying to control the action but Regal is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Regal is letting Richards control him for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards misses with the ground and pound.
Richards has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Richards throwing strikes but Regal manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Richards explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
William Regal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Richards shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Regal's guard.

Regal manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards wants a takedown.
Richards can't get the takedown.
Richards wants a takedown.
William Regal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mick Richards.

Richards's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Regal throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Richards or perhaps it was just good defense by Regal, which made it look bad.
Regal is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Richards will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sloppy strikes from Richards. Those never looked like landing.
Regal changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Richards tries to avoid it but Regal manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Richards to the ground. Richards escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Richards shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Regal sprawls well. Regal wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Richards gets slowly back to his feet.
Regal is looking for a counter combo.
Mick Richards seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Richards fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Richards lands with a good body shot.
Richards punishes Regal's body with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Regal takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Some wild striking there from Richards.
Regal appears to be looking for a big counter.
Regal works over Richards's head and body with a nice combination.
Richards ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
William Regal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mick Richards is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Richards falls off balance throwing a combination
and Regal counters with a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mick Richards comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Richards winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30

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