PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johan Moneymaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Rich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Moneymaker
vs
Rich

183 cm
24
177 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

177 cm
22
180 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Johan Moneymaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rick Rich!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moneymaker misses with a jab, cross combination.
Moneymaker fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Moneymaker closes the distance and clinches.

Rich escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Johan Moneymaker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rich fails to land the takedown.
Rich showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Moneymaker.

Moneymaker clinches up against the ropes.
Moneymaker tries to throw a body punch but Rich avoids it by throwing Moneymaker back against the ropes.
Moneymaker tries to circle away but Rich has him pinned against the ropes.

Rich has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Moneymaker is trying to keep an underhook but Rich manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Rich trying to mount his opponent but Moneymaker defends it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rich stands up out of the half guard.
Moneymaker throws a right and a left that Rich avoids nicely.
Moneymaker pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Rich shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Moneymaker manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rich controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Rich has gone for a leg lock! Moneymaker slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rich's guard.

Rich working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Moneymaker doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Moneymaker manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moneymaker is looking to stand up but Rich won't let him.
Moneymaker trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rich looking to hit a scissor sweep but Moneymaker is one step ahead there.
Moneymaker knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rich on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Moneymaker wants to stand and escape but instead Rich has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Rich prevents Moneymaker from getting back to his feet.

Rich stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Moneymaker throws a nice looking combination but Rich bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Rich gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Moneymaker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Moneymaker tries to break the clinch but Rich is controlling the position.
Moneymaker tries to break free but Rich pushes him back against the ropes.

Moneymaker breaks from the clinch.
Johan Moneymaker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Moneymaker swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rich counters with a nice double leg into side control. Moneymaker won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rich controls the position.

Rich stands up.

Rich moves into the clinch.
Rich stops a takedown attempt from Moneymaker.
Moneymaker has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Rich drags the fight down to the ground.
Rich is controlling Moneymaker's posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Moneymaker wants to stand and escape but instead Rich has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Rich won't allow Moneymaker to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Rich 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.

Rich closes the distance and pushes Moneymaker back into the ropes.
Moneymaker has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rich avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Moneymaker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Moneymaker dips to his left and cracks Rich with an uppercut!
Moneymaker stuffs the takedown attempt from Rich. Rich gets slowly back to his feet.
Rich is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Moneymaker moves in looking to clinch but Rich pushes him off.
Rich takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Moneymaker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Moneymaker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johan Moneymaker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rich drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Moneymaker wants to stand up but Rich is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rich gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Rich misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rich fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Moneymaker avoids it really well and circles away.
Moneymaker looks to clinch

and Rich counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A frustrated look appears on Moneymaker's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rich goes for a takedown attempt but Moneymaker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Johan Moneymaker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Rich.
Moneymaker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Rich paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Moneymaker misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rich dodges the punch combination from Moneymaker.
Moneymaker throws a leg kick but Rich moved away.
Rich throws a sloppy head kick and Moneymaker moves out of range easily.

Moneymaker gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rich keeps control of Moneymaker as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Moneymaker wants to get back to striking at distance but Rich won't allow it.
Moneymaker tries to circle away but Rich has him pinned against the ropes.
Rich prevents Moneymaker from breaking the clinch.
Moneymaker has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Rich escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Moneymaker throws a jab when Rich was well out of range.
Rich tries to score a power double leg takedown but Moneymaker sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rich somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Rich or perhaps it was just good defense by Moneymaker which made him look bad.
Moneymaker tries to clinch up.
Rich dodges the punch combination from Moneymaker.
Moneymaker looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rich fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rich fails with the takedown
and Moneymaker counters with a two punch combo.
Moneymaker tries to bum rush Rich with a series of wild strikes but Rich uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rich clinches up against the ropes.
Moneymaker is trying to force a seperation but Rich has the dominant position.
Moneymaker is trying to drag Rich to the mat but Rich just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Moneymaker tries to work over Rich's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Moneymaker wants a takedown but no success here.
Moneymaker is trying to push Rich away but Rich has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

Moneymaker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Moneymaker scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Moneymaker throws a series of punches but Rich avoids them all with ease.
Rich circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rich shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Moneymaker pinned against the ropes. Moneymaker gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rich dodges the punch combination from Moneymaker.
Rich circles away from the clinch attempt.
Some wild striking there from Moneymaker.
Rich doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Moneymaker counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Moneymaker throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Moneymaker clinches with his opponent.
Moneymaker tries to work over Rich's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rich keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Moneymaker's efforts to push away.

Moneymaker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moneymaker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Moneymaker tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rich counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rich wants to lay and pray for a moment but Moneymaker keeps working.
Rich prevents Moneymaker from standing back up.

Moneymaker is defending against the submission attempts here by Rich.
Moneymaker tries to kick Rich off but Rich keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rich is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Moneymaker is just riding it out for now. Rich eventually gives up the hold.
Moneymaker is looking to escape.
Rich performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moneymaker is trying to stand back up but Rich is controlling him

Rich is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Moneymaker defends it well.
Moneymaker pushes Rich off looking to stand but Rich dives back in and keeps control.

Rich seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rich is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rich is stalling here. Moneymaker is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Rich seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Moneymaker has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
You can see the frustration on Rich's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Moneymaker tries to stand but Rich is controlling his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rick Rich.
I think Rich 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Rich!