PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rikki Tavi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Richer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tavi comes into the arena with Judas Priest - You've Got Another Thing Coming blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Tavi
vs
Richer

186 cm
22
205 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

191 cm
20
223 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Determined

[CBK] Smashwear Clothing

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rikki Tavi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jonathan Richer!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richer shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Tavi eats them both and turns towards Richer to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Tavi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Richer throws a series of strikes that have Tavi backpedaling.
Richer lands a jab to the nose.
Richer getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Richer listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Tavi cracks Richer with an open hand slap.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Richer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tavi avoids a punch combination nicely.
A combination from Richer does no damage.

Tavi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Richer looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Tavi remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Richer is trying to buck Tavi off.
Tavi working the ground and pound.
Tavi takes a little break here. Richer wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Richer really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tavi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tavi is looking to take a break and control but Richer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richer throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Richer wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tavi works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Tavi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tavi wants to control for a moment but Richer uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Tavi wants to pass to mount but Richer is defending the position.
Richer trying to control but Tavi postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Richer is looking to improve his position.
Richer wants to control but Tavi is keeping busy.
Tavi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Richer's head.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tavi working over Richer with some ground and pound. Richer looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
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. Tavi connects with a nice short shot to Richer's temple.
Richer is looking for a sweep. Tavi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tavi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tavi is controlling the pace.
Richer taking some punishment here, with Tavi in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richer is trying to stand up here but Tavi is controlling him well.
Richer trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Tavi manages to pass to mount!
Tavi trying to control but Richer is having none of it.
Richer trying desperately to get to his feet.
BOOM! Tavi connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Tavi with a couple of short strikes.
Richer is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Richer can do anything to dispel that myth.
Tavi connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Richer is rocked!
Richer tries to hold on but Tavi postures up.
Richer is still in real trouble! Can Tavi finish him?
Tavi 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavi dominating with strikes here.
Tavi unloading with bombs!
Richer seems to have recovered his senses.
Richer gets back to half guard.
Richer looks gassed!
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!
Tavi trying to control the action but Richer is working from the bottom.
Richer trying to control here.
Tavi keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Richer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tavi is working away from the top position though.
Richer wants to sweep but Tavi has passed to side control!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Richer is trying to improve his position.
Tavi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Richer keeps working.
Richer is looking to reverse the position.
Tavi working the head and body with strikes.
Tavi controls the position from side control.
Richer is looking for a sweep.
Richer is not content to let Tavi control the position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tavi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Check out the look on Tavi's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Tavi lands some shots froms side control.

Tavi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tavi prevents Richer from escaping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A lull in the action here as Tavi stalls from top position.
Richer tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Richer struggling a bit here.
Tavi is staying tight to Richer's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Tavi grinds an elbow into Richer's temple.
Tavi wants to control but Richer is keeping him busy.
Richer manages to get back to half guard.
Richer moves into full guard.
Richer seems keen to control Tavi's posture.
Richer manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tavi manages to get himself to full guard.
Richer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Tavi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Tavi keeping full guard, as Richer tries to pass.
Tavi trying to keep a closed guard but Richer is proving a slippery customer.
Richer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tavi pulls Richer in close to prevent any damage.

We're going to have a standup here because Rikki Tavi wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A combination from Tavi does no damage.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Richer closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Richer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tavi.
Tavi misses with an uppercut
and Richer counters with a stiff right hand.
Tavi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Richer takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Tavi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Richer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Richer is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tavi blocks Richer's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Tavi looking to control but Richer is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tavi lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rikki Tavi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A punch combination from Tavi misses.
Richer defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tavi.
Richer misses with a lunging right hand
and Tavi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jonathan Richer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tavi slips under a jab from Richer.
Tavi moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Richer thows a left - swing and a miss!
Richer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tavi.
Richer stuffs the takedown.
Tavi takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Rikki Tavi has been cut.
Tavi with a nice cross.
Tavi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jonathan Richer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Richer scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Tavi connects with a jab.
Tavi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Richer's hands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tavi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Richer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tavi stalling against the cage.
Tavi has Richer pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Richer manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rikki Tavi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Richer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Richer throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tavi.
Tavi is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavi moves out of range of the strikes.
Richer takes a swing at Tavi's ribcage but misses.
Jonathan Richer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tavi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Richer sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Richer lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Tavi walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tavi.
Richer fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tavi on the side of the head.
Richer jabs Tavi right on the nose. Tavi blinks but takes it well.
Richer misses with the combination.
Richer throws a body punch but Tavi moves out of range.
Tavi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Richer avoids it really well and circles away.
Tavi throws a sloppy body shot
and Richer counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Richer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Richer lands a nice shot to the body.
Tavi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Richer.
Richer fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richer throws a series of strikes that have Tavi backpedaling.
Tavi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tavi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Richer connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tavi scrambles back to his feet.
Tavi moves out of range as Richer strikes.
Richer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tavi.
Tavi misses with a left hand
and Richer counters with a straight right hand.
Richer scores with a shot to the body.
Richer lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tavi at a distance.
Donk. Richer catches Tavi right on the button with a cross.
Richer thuds his right hand into Tavi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tavi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Richer throws a lazy right hand but Tavi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Richer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Richer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Richer misses with a combination
and Tavi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Tavi scores with a body shot.
Richer throws an overhand right that lands on Tavi's shoulder, as Tavi tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavi throws a series of punches but Richer avoids them all with ease.
Tavi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Richer throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tavi swinging wildly here.
A right-left combo lands from Richer.
Tavi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Richer gets tackled into the cage by Tavi. Tavi maintains the clinch.
Tavi blocking some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Tavi.
Richer wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tavi has him pressed against the cage.
Tavi is stalling here.
Richer throws a punch but it's blocked by Tavi.
Richer has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Tavi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Richer wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Richer is looking to break free of the clinch but Tavi has double underhooks.
Tavi is pushing Richer up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Richer is trying to push Tavi away but Tavi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richer can't break the clinch.
Richer being controlled against the cage.
Richer has had enough of the clinch but Tavi keeps him there for the moment.
Tavi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Richer's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Richer gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tavi.
Tavi lands with a short shot to the head.
Tavi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Richer backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tavi.
Richer wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A short body shot lands from Tavi as the two fighters clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tavi.
Tavi scores with a hook to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tavi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Tavi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tavi looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Tavi lands a right hand.
Tavi has Richer pushed against the cage.
Tavi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Richer gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tavi is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Richer wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Richer working hard to break the clinch.
Richer throws a punch but it's blocked by Tavi.
Tavi lands a shoulder strike.
Tavi works on Richer's body with a couple of short punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Tavi.

Tavi has clasped his hands together around Richer's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Tavi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tavi lands a few punches from side control.
Richer wants to control but Tavi postures up.
Tavi is putting a hurting on Richer here, landing some big shots from side control.
Tavi scoring with punches from side control.
Richer gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Tavi 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.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Tavi prevents Richer from improving his position.
Tavi wants to control but Richer is keeping him busy.

Tavi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Richer is trying to maintain the position but Tavi is very close to passing his half guard.
Richer is trying to stand up here but Tavi is controlling him well.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Tavi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tavi trying to control the action but Richer is working from the bottom.
Richer misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Richer tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Richer is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Tavi with a couple of short strikes.
Tavi punishing his opponent with strikes.
Tavi is landing with some decent strikes but Richer is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Tavi unloading with bombs!
Richer working to try and regain half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Tavi raining down hammerfists from mount.
Tavi is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Tavi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rikki Tavi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Richer wants to try and get back to his feet.
Tavi has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Richer's face.
Richer is wriggling around trying to escape.
Tavi lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tavi looking to control but Richer is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tavi looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Richer takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Tavi's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rikki Tavi!