PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Richard Richmond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathaniel Tabares (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.

Richmond
vs
Tabares

180 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Richard Richmond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nathaniel Tabares!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richmond looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Richmond misses with a kick to the body.
Tabares throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Richard Richmond has been cut.
Richmond goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Richmond closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Richmond lands a few punches from side control.
Tabares manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Tabares decides to return to a standing position.
Tabares keeps the fight on the outside.
Tabares feints a jab promting Richmond to slip. Tabares then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Richmond slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Richmond is rocked!
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!
Richmond fails with a takedown attempt.
Oh Richmond is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Richmond throws a body punch but Tabares moves out of range.
Richmond seems to have got his legs back now.
Tabares defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Richmond.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Richmond. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tabares shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tabares showed some decent athleticism there.
Richmond missing with punches from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richmond is not content to let Tabares control the position.
Richmond knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tabares on the ground.
Tabares passes to full mount!
Tabares raining down shots from the mount!
Tabares blocks Richmond's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Richmond holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Tabares tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Richmond is arching his back trying to strike from the bottom but Tabares turns him over and now has his back.
Richmond wants to get back to his feet.
Richmond is really stuck here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tabares has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Richmond.
Richmond tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Tabares has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
A nice elbow there by Tabares.
Richmond throwing hammer fists to the chest of Tabares. What's that going to do exactly?
Tabares tries to control but Richmond wriggling away.
Richmond working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tabares can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Richmond is looking to escape.
Tabares lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Tabares prevents Richmond from getting the reversal.
Tabares working Richmond over with strikes here.
Richmond gives up his back whilst trying to strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tabares keeps control of the position as Richmond tries to break free.
Richmond covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
You can see the frustration on Richmond's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Tabares throwing sloppy strikes.
Tabares lands strikes to the head.
Richmond tries to escape the position.
Richmond is working hard here to advance position.
Tabares wants to control but Richmond is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good control from Tabares.
Tabares looks gassed!
Richmond is trying to break free.
Tabares missing with strikes.
Richmond tries to roll but Tabares sticks to his back.
Richmond trying to get back to his feet but Tabares is in full control for now.
Tabares trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Tabares looking for the choke but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richmond tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathaniel Tabares dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Richard Richmond's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

No joy there for Tabares, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Richmond fails with the takedown
and Tabares counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Tabares shoots in for a takedown but Richmond shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Richmond really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Richmond scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Tabares is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Tabares is looking to improve his position.
Richmond landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Richmond slips a nice elbow through Tabares's hands, connecting with Tabares's forehead.
Nathaniel Tabares has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ground and pound from Richmond.
Richmond slips a nice elbow through Tabares's hands, connecting with Tabares's forehead.
Richmond lands strikes from half guard.
Richmond winds up and cracks Tabares with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Tabares is breathing heavily.
Richmond winds up and cracks Tabares with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ground and pound from Richmond.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richmond looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tabares with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Richmond lands strikes from half guard.
Richmond lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Richmond drops an elbow to the side of Tabares's head.
Richmond winds up and cracks Tabares with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Richmond landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Richmond working Tabares over with strikes.
Ground and pound from Richmond.
Tabares trying to control but Richmond postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richmond lands strikes from half guard.
Tabares on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richmond lands strikes from half guard.
Tabares is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Richmond lands strikes from half guard.
Richmond takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Richmond looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tabares with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Richmond seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Richmond drops an elbow to the side of Tabares's head.
Richmond lands with a punch from half guard.
Tabares trying to hold on to Richmond's head to control him but Richmond postures up.
Tabares on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Richmond working over Tabares with some ground and pound. Tabares looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richmond winds up and cracks Tabares with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Richmond working the head and body with strikes.
Richmond working over Tabares with some ground and pound. Tabares looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Richmond looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tabares with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Richmond connects with a nice short shot to Tabares's temple.
Richmond is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Richmond lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tabares on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Richmond scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Tabares won't allow Richmond to pass to mount.
Richmond looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tabares with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Richmond is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Richmond is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richmond looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tabares with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Richmond seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tabares has hold of Richmond's hands but Richmond slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Richmond trying to pass the guard but Tabares defending well.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Richmond connects with a nice short shot to Tabares's temple.
Tabares has hold of Richmond's hands but Richmond slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Richmond winds up and cracks Tabares with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Richmond lands a nice short elbow.
Richmond looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tabares with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Tabares taking some punishment here, with Richmond in his half guard.
Tabares is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Richmond scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Richmond dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Richard Richmond's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Richmond shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tabares as he avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Richmond.
Richmond gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Tabares counters with a shoot takedown. Richmond fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Richmond. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Richmond striking from his own guard.
Richmond is striking from the bottom but Tabares uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Richmond is in trouble now - Tabares has advanced to mount!
Tabares working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Richmond looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Richmond is trying to stand back up.
I really don't envy Richmond right now.
Tabares takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Tabares's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Tabares is hanging on to Richmond's back as he tries to escape.
Richmond looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Richmond wants to escape the position.
A lull in the action here.
Richmond is in bad spot here.
Richmond is trying to get back to his feet but Tabares has full control of the position and if anything, Richmond has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Richmond tries to escape but Tabares has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Richmond looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Richmond rolls, trying to escape but Tabares keeps control of the position.
Richmond turns into Tabares and is now in his guard.
Richmond has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Richmond connects with a couple of short punches.
Richmond scoring with some ground and pound.
Tabares looking to hit a scissor sweep but Richmond is one step ahead there.
Richmond scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tabares has momentary wrist control but Richmond slips an elbow through the middle.
Richmond postures up and lands a big shot to Tabares's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richmond postures up and lands a big shot to Tabares's brow.
Richmond lands a couple of elbows.
Richmond chips away with some ground and pound.
Tabares is trying to keep Richmond in close.
Richmond looking to pass the guard.
Richmond postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Richmond cracks Tabares with a solid left hand.
Richmond landing some decent shots from guard.
Richmond chips away with some ground and pound.
Richmond works over Tabares with some ground and pound from guard.
Richmond looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tabares is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Richmond is controlling him.
Richmond is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Richmond lands a couple of elbows.
Richmond lands a couple of elbows.
Tabares wants to stand up but Richmond is controlling him.
Richmond chips away with some ground and pound.
Tabares looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Richmond is in close to Tabares's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Richmond lands a couple of digs.
Richmond trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathaniel Tabares comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tabares has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathaniel Tabares!