PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Plant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Richards is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Plant
vs
Richards

184 cm
24
205 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

190 cm
24
210 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Robert Plant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steve Richards!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Plant shoots for a double leg takedown but Richards sprawls well. He's pushed Plant's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Richards slaps away a takedown attempt from Plant, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Richards stuffs the takedown attempt from Plant. Plant gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Plant. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Plant will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Plant shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Richards defends it nicely.

Richards clinches.

Plant has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Richards uses from the top position.
Plant wants to sweep but no luck.
Plant working a defensive guard here.
Richards wants to pass the guard but Plant is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Richards gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Richards works over Plant's head and body with a nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plant fails with a takedown attempt.
Richards sizes up Plant with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Richards fails to land with a series of punches.
Richards looks to land a combination but Plant avoids it well.
Richards lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Plant circles away quickly and effectively.
Richards throws a series of punches but Plant avoids them all with ease.

Richards closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Richards lands in his opponent's guard.
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 Plant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richards looks gassed!
Plant trying to keep a closed guard but Richards is proving a slippery customer.
Richards being controlled here momentarily.
Richards must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Plant wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards wanted to stand there but Plant had control of the position.
Richards trying to control but Plant is working from the bottom.
Richards missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Plant with a lazy takedown attempt

and Richards counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Plant!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Richards avoids the attempt from Plant to control.
Richards wants to control the pace but Plant is squirming around nicely.
Plant sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards is thwarting Plant's attempts to control the position.
Plant is pressing down on Richards's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Plant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Plant keeping full guard, as Richards tries to pass.
Plant is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Richards wants to stand but Plant is controlling his posture from full guard.
Plant controls Richards momentarily but Richards frees himself.
Plant seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Plant not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Richards displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Richards throws a right hand that Plant ducks under and follows up with a left that Plant also avoids with ease.
Plant has his takedown stuffed
and Richards counters with a nice body shot.
Plant doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Richards cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Plant slips a jab and a cross from Richards.
Plant with a lazy takedown attempt

and Richards counters with a shoot takedown. Plant fights it but they end up in guard.
Plant trying to keep a closed guard but Richards is proving a slippery customer.
Plant is really struggling to control Richards but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Richards dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Richards lands an overhand right.
Richards tries to bum rush Plant with a series of wild strikes but Plant uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Plant slips a jab and a cross from Richards.
Plant gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Richards counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Plant showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Richards.
Plant fails with the takedown

and Richards counters with a shoot takedown. Plant fights it but they end up in guard.
Plant trying to keep a closed guard but Richards is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Richards wants to pass the guard but Plant is keeping the position.
Plant is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Richards is looking to stand up but Plant won't let him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plant working a defensive guard here.
Plant looking to hit a scissor sweep but Richards is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Plant misses with a takedown

and Richards counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Plant's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Plant. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Plant keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
Richards wants to get up but he can't break Plant's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Plant keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
Richards wants to stand but Plant is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards wants to control from the top but Plant keeps moving.
Richards stopping the sweep attempt from Plant.
Plant is trying to keep Richards in close.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Richards lands with a cross.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Richards!
Plant shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Richards counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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!
Richards wanted to stand there but Plant had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plant utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Plant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Plant bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Richards's guard.
Richards has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Plant stopping the sweep attempt from Richards.
Richards wants to get back to his feet but Plant is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Plant trying to control but Richards is working from the bottom.

That's four 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.
Richards wants to sweep here but Plant controlling him for the moment.
Plant trying to control the position from guard on top but Richards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Plant gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Richards counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Richards looks to land a combination but Plant avoids it well.
Plant doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Richards counters with a one-two to the body.
Plant shoots and misses
and Richards counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Richards gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Plant is trying to get back to half guard.
Richards controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Richards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Plant shoots and misses

and Richards counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Richards.
Richards stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Plant swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Richards tries to stand but Plant is controlling from the bottom.
Plant looking to control.

Richards stands and steps away. Plant gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Plant shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Richards counters with a nice double leg into side control. Plant won't be happy with that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Richards stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Plant misses with a takedown
and Richards counters with a left and a right that stings Plant.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Plant. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richards's corner calls for a 1-2. Richards obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Richards missing with a left hand there. Plant was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Plant tries for a takedown but Richards circles away easily

and Richards counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Richards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plant is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Richards makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Richards.
Richards keeping moving, preventing Plant from controlling successfully.
Plant stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Richards swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Plant prevents Richards from getting back to his feet.
Plant 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.
Richards is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Richards is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Plant is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Richards has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Richards wants to get back to his feet.
Steve Richards has got the better of the ground game so far.
Richards wants to control but Plant is keeping busy.
Plant is keen to just control but Richards is a slippery customer.
Richards trying to control here.
Plant takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Richards is not content to let Plant control the position.

Richards makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Plant shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Richards to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Richards shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Plant's guard.
Richards is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Richards trying to stand up but can't free himself from Plant's guard.
Plant not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Richards wants to stand but Plant has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Richards wants to control from the top but Plant keeps moving.
Plant looking to hit a scissor sweep but Richards is one step ahead there.
Richards wants to control from the top but Plant keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Plant misses with a takedown

and Richards counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Plant trying to hold on to Richards's head to control him but Richards postures up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Richards in particular looking to stall.
Richards working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Robert Plant has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Plant wants to control but Richards is keeping busy.

Richards decides to stand up.
Richards misses with a wild body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Plant misses with a takedown attempt

and Richards counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Steve Richards is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Richards would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Richards comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Richards has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 27:30

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