PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cao Pi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hakim Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Pi
vs
Richards

185 cm
22
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cao Pi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hakim Richards!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Pi shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Pi stops Richards from getting back to his feet.
Richards moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Pi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Richards keeping full guard, as Pi tries to pass.
Richards bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pi's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pi wants to sweep here but Richards controlling him for the moment.
Richards wants to pass the guard but Pi is keeping the position.
Richards is looking to stand up but Pi won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pi wants to sweep but no luck.
Richards slips nicely into half guard.

Richards is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pi defends it well.

Richards is working for a submission of some sort.
Richards looks gassed!
Richards is keen to just control but Pi is a slippery customer.
Richards is pressing down on Pi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pi is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pi is working hard here to advance position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A combination from Richards does no damage.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Pi swats away the attempt to clinch by Richards.
Some wild striking there from Richards.
Hakim Richards is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Richards did well to prevent Pi getting side control.
Pi is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Pi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Richards knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Pi is looking to take a break and control but Richards is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Richards is trying to stand.
Pi seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Pi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards moves into full guard.
Pi trying to control the position from guard on top but Richards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pi tries to free his leg and advance position but Richards is retaining full guard.
Pi 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Richards is on top in guard.

Richards drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Richards jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Richards forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Cao Pi will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Richards tries to bum rush Pi with a series of wild strikes but Pi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Pi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Richards napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Pi taking a breather here.
Richards regains half guard.
Richards gets back to full guard.
Pi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Richards wants to stand but Pi is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pi controlling from the top position.
Pi has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Richards is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pi wants to pass the guard but Richards is keeping the position.
Richards 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 moves nicely into side control.

Richards has an Americana. Pi didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Richards is delighted and gyrates infront of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Richards hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Hakim Richards!