PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esteban Cordoza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richards's entrance music is Into the Fire. A fine choice. Mickey Richards has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Richards
vs
Cordoza

180 cm
22
210 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

185 cm
21
204 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mickey Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Esteban Cordoza!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cordoza moves in looking to clinch but Richards pushes him off.
Richards swats away the attempt to clinch by Cordoza.
Richards throws a right and a left that Cordoza avoids nicely.
Richards fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nice defenses there by Cordoza.
Cordoza wants to clinch.
Cordoza takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Cordoza tries to clinch up.
Cordoza moves in looking to clinch but Richards pushes him off.
Richards throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cordoza.
No joy there for Richards, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Richards looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cordoza.
Richards throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cordoza tries to clinch up but Richards circles away and keeps his distance.
Cordoza uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Richards.
Cordoza showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Richards.
Richards misses with a series of wild punches.
Cordoza is looking to clinch.
Cordoza tries to clinch but Richards is having none of it.
Cordoza doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cordoza shoots in looking for a takedown. Richards tries to sprawl out of it but Cordoza keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Richards manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Richards throws a shot to the body.
Cordoza tries to clinch but Richards moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cordoza dodges the punch combination from Richards.
Cordoza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Cordoza has Richards up against the cage in a clinch.
Richards tries for a takedown. No joy.
Richards is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cordoza stops a takedown attempt from Richards.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mickey Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cordoza crunches a lovely knee into Richards's ribcage.
Cordoza pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Cordoza misses with an elbow over the top.
Richards has Cordoza pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cordoza manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Richards is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cordoza gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Cordoza is trying to stall.
Richards is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cordoza pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Richards is breathing heavily.

Cordoza 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards throws a big right hand that misses.
Richards won't allow Cordoza to get back to his feet.
Richards throwing strikes from guard but Cordoza blocks nicely.
Cordoza not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cordoza is looking to stand up but Richards isn't so interested in that idea.

Cordoza throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Cordoza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Richards seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Richards in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Richards lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Richards content to stall in guard here.
Richards connects with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Richards with a flurry of punches that miss.

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

Mickey Richards dominated that 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.

Richards lands a really nice looking cross but Cordoza seems unphased.
Cordoza dodges the punch combination from Richards.
Cordoza doesn't manage to clinch there - Richards circles away.
Cordoza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Richards paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cordoza tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Richards misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cordoza tries to close the distance and clinch up but Richards swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards scores with a shot to the body.
Cordoza looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Richards misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cordoza.
Cordoza dodges the punch combination from Richards.
Cordoza will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cordoza moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Richards lands a jab to the head.
Cordoza dives in and grabs Richards's left leg, looking for a takedown. Richards pushes down on Cordoza's head and hops out.
Cordoza wants to clinch.
Cordoza wants to clinch.
Richards scores with a sloppy right hand. Cordoza should have avoided that one.
Cordoza tries to clinch but Richards is having none of it.
Cordoza pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Richards throws a series of punches but Cordoza avoids them all with ease.
Richards misses with a double jab.
Richards lands a nice shot to the body.
Cordoza dodges the punch combination from Richards.
Richards throws a jab but it's blocked by Cordoza.
Cordoza fails with the takedown.
Mickey Richards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esteban Cordoza.
Cordoza is looking to clinch.
Richards throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cordoza.
Richards scores with a jab to the body.
Richards throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cordoza counters with a nice leg kick.
Richards lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cordoza is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Richards, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cordoza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Richards manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Richards will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cordoza takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Richards scores with a jab to the head.
Cordoza takes one to the side of the head.
Richards throws a right hand that Cordoza ducks under and follows up with a left that Cordoza also avoids with ease.
Cordoza wants to clinch up but Richards keeps it at a distance.
Cordoza tries to clinch but Richards moves out of range.
Cordoza wants to clinch up but Richards keeps it at a distance.
Mickey Richards is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sloppy strikes from Richards. Those never looked like landing.
Cordoza tries to close the distance and clinch but Richards swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards throws a one two combo.
Cordoza tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Richards manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Richards scores with a one two! Cordoza had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Richards connects with a single shot there.
Cordoza looks to land a body kick but Richards moved away.
Some wild striking there from Richards.
Cordoza tries to clinch there but Richards circles away.
Richards circles away from the clinch attempt.
Richards lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Richards blocks a head kick by Cordoza.
Cordoza avoids a punch combination nicely.

Cordoza gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Richards dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cordoza dodges the punch combination from Richards.
Richards misses with the combination.
Cordoza tries to clinch up.
Nice takedown defense from Richards. No joy for Cordoza on that attempt.
Cordoza tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Richards swivels and escapes.
Cordoza tries to clinch there but Richards circles away.
Cordoza tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cordoza looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cordoza looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mickey Richards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esteban Cordoza.
Cordoza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Richards scores with a crisp jab that stopped Cordoza in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cordoza closes this distance looking for a takedown but Richards circles away.
Cordoza moves out of range of the body kick from Richards.
Richards swats away the attempt to clinch by Cordoza.
Mickey Richards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Richards circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cordoza is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cordoza tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Richards paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A punch combination from Richards misses.
Richards digs a good hook to Cordoza's body.
Cordoza avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cordoza on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Richards looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cordoza shoots in for a double leg but Richards sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cordoza tries to clinch up but Richards circles away and keeps his distance.
Richards misses with a series of wild punches.
Richards scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Richards swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Cordoza counters by clinching up.
Richards is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cordoza gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Richards goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cordoza prevents it.
Richards has Cordoza pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cordoza manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Richards gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cordoza is on top in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cordoza wanted to stand there but Richards had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cordoza trying to control but Richards is working from the bottom.
Richards is adopting a defensive guard.

Cordoza drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Richards manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cordoza has Richards in his guard.
Richards loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Richards forces his way into half guard.
Richards is taking a breather. Cordoza says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Cordoza avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Richards.
Esteban Cordoza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Richards not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Richards has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cordoza tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Richards thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cordoza is looking to improve his position.
Richards seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mickey Richards showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Richards, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Mickey Richards!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Mickey Richards!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Mickey Richards!

Mickey Richards wins by unanimous decision!