PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rick Richardson (ranked 1494 p4p, 1288 weight class) and Dill Nickle (ranked 130 p4p, 110 weight class). Richardson's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Alma Enamorada (Chalino Sánchez). Dill Nickle has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Richardson
vs
Nickle

175 cm
30
145
17 - 11 - 0

176 cm
29
148
16 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite 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 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rick Richardson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dill Nickle!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Skip Squint and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richardson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nickle.
Richardson tries to close the distance and clinch but Nickle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Richardson misses with a straight right.
Nickle changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Nickle keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Richardson.
Richardson misses with an uppercut. Nickle saw that one coming.
Nickle unleashes a big counter combination but Richardson bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Richardson takes a swing at Nickle's ribcage but misses.
Nickle tries to clinch there but Richardson circles away.
Nickle takes one on the chin but seems OK.

It looks like Dill Nickle has been cut.
Nickle tries to clinch but Richardson is having none of it.
Richardson throws a hook but Nickle blocks it.
Nickle tries to counter with a clinch but Richardson shakes him off and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richardson scores with a sloppy right hand. Nickle should have avoided that one.
Nickle connects with a body shot.
Nickle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Richardson.

Richardson has Nickle up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richardson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Richardson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Richardson lands a nice shot to the body.
Richardson misses with the head strike.
Richardson scores with a shot to the side of Nickle's head.
Richardson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nickle letting Richardson take a breather here.
Richardson working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nickle.
Richardson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Richardson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Nickle is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nickle is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nickle takes a shot to the head.
Still in the clinch, Richardson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nickle tries for a takedown but Richardson manages to get underhooks.
Nickle has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Richardson seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Nickle can turn it around.
Rick Richardson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dill Nickle.
Richardson blocking some punches.
Richardson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardson has a couple of punches blocked by Nickle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richardson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Richardson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Nickle is working for takedown but Richardson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Richardson working aggressively here.
Nickle tries for a takedown but Richardson manages to get underhooks.
Nickle has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Richardson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Richardson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nickle blocking some punches.
A short uppercut from Richardson.
Nickle wants to take the fight to the mat but Richardson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Richardson misses with a hook from the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Richardson.
Nickle looks winded!
Richardson scores with a hook to the body.
Nickle blocks an uppercut.
Richardson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Richardson.

Nickle works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Richardson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nickle manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Richardson takes a little break here. Nickle wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Richardson tries to advance to mount but Nickle denies him.
Nickle misses with an elbow from the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Nickle is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Richardson is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Nickle's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nickle wants to control but Richardson postures up.
The referee asks Richardson politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Richardson prefers to stall for the moment though.
Richardson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Richardson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Nickle tries to improve position but can't.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Richardson working away.
Richardson advances nicely into full mount.
Richardson controlling the pace for now.
Richardson trying to control but Nickle is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Richardson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dill Nickle's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Richardson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nickle tries to clinch there but Richardson circles away.
Richardson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nickle looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Richardson scores with a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good standup being displayed there by Richardson as he connects with a hook.
Richardson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nickle can do to turn this around?
Richardson misses with a straight left.
Nickle drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Richardson defends it well.
Richardson throws a hook but Nickle avoids it easily.
Richardson keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richardson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nickle sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Richardson misses with a body shot.
Richardson throws a hook but Nickle avoids it easily.

Richardson has closed the distance and engaged Nickle in a clinch.
Nickle blocking some punches.
Richardson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Richardson misses with the head strike.
Richardson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nickle is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Richardson pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Nickle drags the fight down to the ground.
Richardson pushing down on Nickle's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Richardson controlling the pace.
Richardson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Richardson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nickle trying to hold on to Richardson's head to control him but Richardson postures up.
Richardson content to control rather than advance.

Nickle looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nickle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Nickle looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Richardson is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson controlling the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richardson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Nickle!
Rick Richardson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Richardson content just to control the position here.
Nickle is desperately trying to improve his position but Richardson has a good base and remains in mount.
Nickle wants to hold on but Richardson pushes him away.
Richardson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nickle keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richardson controlling the pace for now.
Nickle working to try and regain half guard.
Richardson controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nickle is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Richardson tries to control but Nickle wriggling away.
Richardson content just to control the position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Richardson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dill Nickle's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Richardson tries to clinch up.
Rick Richardson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richardson looks to throw the jab but Nickle is out of range.
Richardson throws a lazy uppercut
and Nickle counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Nickle clinches up with Richardson and pushes him back against the cage.
Richardson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Richardson working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Richardson fails to land.
Richardson wants to stall.
Nickle drops down looking for an ankle pick but Richardson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Richardson cracks Nickle with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Richardson takes the fight into the clinch.
Nickle blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nickle can't get the takedown.
Richardson swings wildly with an uppercut but Nickle uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nickle is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Richardson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rick Richardson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dill Nickle.
Richardson misses with a punch on the inside.
Rick Richardson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Richardson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nickle blocks a body shot from Richardson.
Richardson trying to stall but Nickle improves his position.
Nickle blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Richardson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Richardson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nickle scores with a shot to the side of Richardson's head.
Richardson takes a shot to the head.
Nickle wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Richardson has him pressed against the cage.
Richardson prevents Nickle from breaking the clinch.
Nickle drops down looking for an ankle pick but Richardson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Richardson looks to score with a jab to the body but Nickle is just out of range.
Rick Richardson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Richardson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Richardson scores with a nice head shot.
Richardson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Nickle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nickle tries to clinch but Richardson is having none of it.
Richardson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nickle wants to clinch.
Nickle walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Nickle misses.
Richardson throws an overhand right that lands on Nickle's shoulder, as Nickle tries to avoid the shot.
Rick Richardson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nickle fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Richardson throws a shot from downtown. Nickle moves away and avoids it.
As Richardson backs off Nickle throws a huge counter combo but Richardson manages to avoid it all.
Nickle on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Nickle takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Nickle takes the fight into the clinch.
A short right from Nickle.
Richardson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Richardson.
Richardson gets through Nickle's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Nickle blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nickle has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Richardson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Richardson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Nickle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A short uppercut from Richardson.
Nickle is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Richardson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Richardson tries to work over Nickle's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
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!
Richardson misses with a body punch.
Nickle misses with a hook to the ribs.
Richardson leaning his opponent against the cage.
Nickle is working for takedown but Richardson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Richardson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Richardson lands with a light punch inside.
Richardson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Richardson lands with a right to the head.
Nickle takes a shot to the head.
Dill Nickle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nickle can't find room to land a body shot as Richardson controls the action.
Nickle can't find room to land a body shot as Richardson controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Richardson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Richardson 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Richardson!
Rick Richardson decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.