PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brian Backscratcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luke Richards has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Backscratcher
vs
Richards

190 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry
Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Brian Backscratcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Luke Richards!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Backscratcher lands a jab.
Richards takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Backscratcher thows a left - swing and a miss!
Richards swats away the attempt to clinch by Backscratcher.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Backscratcher swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Backscratcher avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Backscratcher tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Backscratcher throws a right and a left that Richards avoids nicely.
Luke Richards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Richards has closed the distance and engaged Backscratcher in a clinch.
Richards tries a knee to the head but Backscratcher blocks it.
Richards keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Backscratcher's efforts to push away.
Richards creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Backscratcher's defenses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Backscratcher has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Backscratcher is trying to break the clinch but Richards is controlling him.
Richards tries a knee to the head but Backscratcher blocks it.
Richards tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A knee to the head by Richards.
Richards tries a knee to the head but Backscratcher blocks it.
Richards scores with a knee to the head.
Richards misses with a knee strike.
Richards tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Richards throws a knee to the head but misses.
Richards should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Backscratcher lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Richards backwards.
Backscratcher throws an elbow but it misses.
Richards looking to throw knees to the head but Backscratcher is blocking nicely.
Richards looks gassed!
Backscratcher is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Richards pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Backscratcher can't break the clinch.
Richards prevents the takedown attempt.
Richards with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Backscratcher taking a breather.
Richards lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Richards misses with a knee to the head.
Backscratcher wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Backscratcher has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Backscratcher lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Backscratcher tries to break free but Richards pushes him back against the ropes.
Backscratcher working hard to break the clinch.
Richards prevents Backscratcher from breaking the clinch.
Richards gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Richards using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Backscratcher has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Richards with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Backscratcher scores with a nice hook to the head.
Backscratcher wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Richards has him pressed against the ropes.

Backscratcher manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Richards wants to control from the top but Backscratcher keeps moving.
Richards stopping the sweep attempt from Backscratcher.
Richards looking to sit in guard and control but Backscratcher gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backscratcher trying to control the position from guard on top but Richards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Brian Backscratcher just wasn't active enough.
Backscratcher keeps the fight on the outside.
A combination from Backscratcher does no damage.
Richards tries to clinch but Backscratcher moves out of range.
Richards tries to clinch up.

That's four 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.
Backscratcher avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Richards tries to clinch up but Backscratcher circles away and keeps his distance.
Richards tries to clinch there but Backscratcher circles away.
Richards looks to clinch
letting Backscratcher counter with a right hand.
Backscratcher lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Backscratcher misses with a series of wild punches.
Backscratcher tries to close the distance and clinch up but Richards swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Richards fails in his attempt to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Backscratcher paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch but Backscratcher swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Luke Richards will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A punch lands to the side of Richards 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Backscratcher tries to clinch up.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Richards in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

Richards moves into the clinch.
Backscratcher tries to pull guard but Richards won't allow it.

Backscratcher has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Richards is trying to keep an underhook but Backscratcher manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Backscratcher tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Richards.
Richards tries to kick Backscratcher off but Backscratcher keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Backscratcher controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Brian Backscratcher wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Richards tries to clinch
and Backscratcher connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Backscratcher lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Richards is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Richards is looking to clinch.
Backscratcher wants to land a leg kick but Richards is out of range.
Richards fails with an attempt to clinch.
Richards tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Richards tries to clinch up.
Backscratcher changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Richards moves in looking to clinch but Backscratcher pushes him off.
Richards moves in looking to clinch but Backscratcher pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards tries to clinch there but Backscratcher circles away.
Richards wants to clinch.
Backscratcher swats away the attempt to clinch by Richards.
Backscratcher avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Richards tries to clinch but Backscratcher moves out of range.
Richards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Backscratcher lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards keeps the fight on the outside.
Richards closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Backscratcher circles away from the clinch attempt
and Backscratcher counters with a nice uppercut.
Backscratcher works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Backscratcher paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Richards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Backscratcher swats away the attempt to clinch by Richards.
Backscratcher darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards wants to clinch up but Backscratcher keeps it at a distance.
Richards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Backscratcher paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Backscratcher scores with a jab to the body.
Backscratcher lands a head shot.
Backscratcher feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Richardss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards moves to clinch but Backscratcher breaks away
and Backscratcher counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Backscratcher dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Richards tries to clinch but Backscratcher moves out of range.
Richards fails with an attempt to clinch.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch but Backscratcher swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Richards tries to clinch there but Backscratcher circles away.
Richards tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Backscratcher manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Backscratcher swats away the attempt to clinch by Richards.
Backscratcher cracks Richards with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Backscratcher lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Richards doesn't manage to clinch there - Backscratcher circles away.
Backscratcher is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Richards closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Backscratcher counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backscratcher tries to clinch there but Richards circles away.
Richards tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Backscratcher is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Backscratcher looks to land a combination. Richards sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Backscratcher lands with an overhand left.
Richards shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Richards tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Backscratcher manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Richards darts in and clinches Backscratcher up against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Richards tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Backscratcher is trying to break the clinch but Richards is controlling him.
Richards tries a knee to the head but Backscratcher blocks it.
Richards connects with a knee to the head.
Richards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Backscratcher wants to take the fight to the mat but Richards manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Richards lands an elbow just above Backscratcher 's eye.
Richards landing knees to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Backscratcher tries to break the clinch but Richards is controlling the position.
Richards using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Backscratcher has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Backscratcher is trying to push Richards away but Richards has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Backscratcher can't break the clinch.
Backscratcher avoids the elbow strike from Richards, against the ropes.
A frustrated look appears on Backscratcher's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Backscratcher wants to break the clinch but can't.
Richards has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Richards with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Richards using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Backscratcher has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Backscratcher manages to break the clinch.
Backscratcher throws a combination. Richards tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Backscratcher forces Richards back against the ropes and clinches.
Richards with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Richards prevents Backscratcher from breaking the clinch.

Backscratcher jumps into guard, dragging Richards to the mat.
Backscratcher pulls Richards in close to his closed guard and prevents Richards from doing any damage or advancing position.
Backscratcher looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Backscratcher is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Richards looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Richards wants to pass the guard but Backscratcher is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Brian Backscratcher has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Backscratcher throws a leg kick but Richards sees it coming and moves out of range.
Richards tries to clinch
and Backscratcher counters with a two punch combo.

Richards clinches up with Backscratcher and pushes him back against the ropes.
Richards keeps control of Backscratcher as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards tries to land a knee to the head but Backscratcher blocks with his arms.
Luke Richards seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Backscratcher tries for a takedown but Richards manages to get underhooks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Backscratcher lands a hook that snaps the head of Richards backwards.
Richards lands an elbow inside.
Backscratcher is trying to push Richards away but Richards has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Brian Backscratcher.
I think Backscratcher has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Backscratcher!