PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mamoru Takamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Richards
vs
Takamura

177 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
179 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 New York, Jerome Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mamoru Takamura!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Alyssa Summers and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards shoots in but no luck this time.
Takamura keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Takamura closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Richards wants to get back to his feet but Takamura drags him back down.
Takamura throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takamura throws an elbow but Richards slips to the side and avoids it well.
Richards defending against the ground and pound.
Richards prevents Takamura from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takamura trying to control the action but Richards is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takamura in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Takamura prevents Richards from escaping the position.

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.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mamoru Takamura wasn't active enough on the ground.
Richards misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Takamura looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Richards is fending him off so far but Takamura persists. Nope, Richards circles away and we're back to standing.
Richards shoots in for a takedown but Takamura shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Richards throws a combination. Takamura tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Takamura scores a takedown into full mount!
Takamura throwing strikes here but Richards is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Richards is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takamura thowing shots but they're missing.
Takamura tries to control but Richards wriggling away.
Takamura tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four 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.
Takamura dominating with strikes here.
Takamura won't let Richards get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Richards blocking the ground and pound.
Takamura unloads with some shots from mount but Richards bucks and avoids them well.
Takamura landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamoru Takamura dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Takamura stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Takamura wants it to stay on the feet.
Takamura dives in and grabs Richards's left leg, looking for a takedown. Richards pushes down on Takamura's head and hops out.
Richards misses with a wild combination.
Richards misses with a jab, cross combination.
Richards misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Takamura shoots in looking for a takedown but Richards manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Takamura's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Richards stuffs the takedown attempt from Takamura. Takamura gets slowly back to his feet.
Jerome Richards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mamoru Takamura.
Richards closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Takamura looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Richards is fending him off so far but Takamura persists. Nope, Richards circles away and we're back to standing.
Richards misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Takamura.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Richards.

Takamura shoots in and bounces Richards off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Richards avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Richards on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Richards tries to get out of the position.
Takamura is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takamura with a flurry of punches that miss.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Takamura shoots in looking for a takedown. Richards tries to sprawl out of it but Takamura 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.
Takamura shoots in for a takedown but Richards shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Richards keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Richards defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Takamura.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takamura dives in and grabs Richards's left leg, looking for a takedown. Richards pushes down on Takamura's head and hops out.
Richards falls off balance throwing a combination

and Takamura counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Richards's guard now.
Takamura is looking to work some ground and pound but Richards has wrist control.
Richards wants to stand up but Takamura is controlling him.
Takamura not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jerome Richards.
Takamura tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takamura fails with a takedown attempt.
Takamura will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Takamura closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Richards to the mat! Richards manages to get full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Takamura throws a strike but Richards rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Richards throwing strikes from guard but Takamura blocks nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takamura keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamoru Takamura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Richards throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Richards fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Richards slaps away a takedown attempt from Takamura, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jerome Richards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Takamura fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Richards throws a nice looking combination but Takamura bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Takamura shoots in for a takedown but Richards shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jerome Richards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mamoru Takamura.
Richards looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jerome Richards is winning the standup battle so far.
Richards shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Takamura pinned against the cage. Takamura gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Takamura tries to clinch there but Richards circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takamura ducks under a wild hook from Richards.

Richards shoots in and gets a takedown into Takamura's guard.
Takamura trying to control the position.

Takamura manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Takamura throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Richards shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Takamura but Takamura pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Takamura shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Takamura was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Takamura unloading with bombs!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Poor strikes thrown by Takamura there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Takamura controlling from mount.
Takamura is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Richards can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Takamura sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Takamura sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Takamura breaks from Richards's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takamura fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Takamura looking to ground and pound but Richards is blocking nicely.
Takamura controlling from the full mount.
Takamura tries to control but Richards wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mamoru Takamura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Takamura winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mamoru Takamura!