PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lisandro Licha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Ricard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Licha comes to the cage accompanied by In Bloom. Ricard has chosen Frank The Tank as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Licha
vs
Ricard

181 cm
28
255 lbs
18 - 21 - 0

191 cm
33
267 lbs
15 - 18 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lisandro Licha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Frank Ricard!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ricard displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Licha throws out the jab.
Ricard looks to score with a jab to the body but Licha is just out of range.
Ricard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Licha moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ricard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ricard wants to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Ricard. Those never looked like landing.

Ricard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Licha, pushing him back against the cage.

Ricard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ricard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ricard drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

It looks like Frank Ricard has been cut.
Ricard misses with a hook.
Licha fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ricard misses with a double jab
and Licha counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Licha gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ricard to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Licha is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Licha not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ricard is looking to work some ground and pound but Licha has wrist control.
Licha utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Licha looking for a sweep. Not yet Licha, not yet.
Ricard throws a big right hand that misses.
Licha is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Ricard decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Licha, up you get!
Ricard tries to bum rush Licha with a series of wild strikes but Licha uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Ricard is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Licha's half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Licha trying to hold on to Ricard's head to control him but Ricard postures up.
Licha pushes Ricard off looking to stand but Ricard dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Licha manages to get to full guard.
Licha is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Ricard stands up and waves to Licha to follow him.
Ricard throws a big shot that misses.
No joy there for Ricard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Licha tries to clinch there but Ricard circles away.
Ricard throws a right and a left that both miss.

Ricard shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ricard showed some decent athleticism there.
Ricard wants to stand up but Licha is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Licha tries to kick Ricard off but Ricard keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ricard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Licha manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Licha not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Ricard stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Ricard throws a leg kick
enabling Licha to counter with a crisp jab.

Licha moves into range and throws a big uppercut. OH! Ricard goes down! Can Licha finish him!?

Ricard is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Licha drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ricard looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ricard looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ricard!
Ricard is still in real trouble! Can Licha finish him?
Ricard in side control, throwing shots but Licha defends.
Licha can't do much from the bottom here.
Licha manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ricard's best efforts.
Ricard seems to have recovered his senses.
Ricard working the head and body with strikes.
Ricard trying to control the pace.
Ricard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricard takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Licha is looking for a sweep. Ricard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ricard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ricard is looking to advance position but Licha won't allow it.
Licha tries to roll over but Ricard keeps him under control.
Licha blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ricard.
Licha is trying to maintain the position but Ricard is very close to passing his half guard.
Ricard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ricard takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ricard throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Ricard stands up and beckons Licha to join him on the feet.
Licha is looking to slow Ricard down with leg kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lisandro Licha will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Frank Ricard's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ricard walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Licha gets caught flat footed, as Ricard shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ricard wanted to stand there but Licha had control of the position.
Licha working a defensive guard here.
Licha is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ricard tries to kick Licha off but Licha keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Licha 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.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Licha seems to be working for a kimura but Ricard defends the submission attempt.
Frank Ricard has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ricard is defending against the submission attempts here by Licha.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricard wants to get back to his feet.

Licha is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ricard sees it coming and defends easily.
Ricard is trying to stand back up but Licha is controlling him

Ricard kicks off Licha and gets to his feet.
Licha shoots in for a takedown but Ricard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A punch combination from Ricard misses.

Ricard has taken the fight to the clinch.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Licha here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Ricard has Licha pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Ricard pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Licha tumbling to the mat - Ricard dives into Licha's guard.
Licha is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Licha is on top in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Licha drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ricard manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Licha has Ricard in his guard.
Licha utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Licha is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ricard postures up in Licha's guard and throws a big left but Licha blocks it.
Ricard wants to stand but Licha is controlling his posture from full guard.

Licha looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Licha wants to stand and escape but Ricard is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ricard gets to his feet. Licha looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ricard misses with a double jab.
Licha ducks under a wild hook from Ricard.

Ricard closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Licha's guard.
Licha working a defensive guard here.
Licha utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Licha wants to get back to his feet but Ricard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Licha looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ricard is one step ahead there.
Licha trying to keep a closed guard but Ricard is proving a slippery customer.
Ricard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Licha looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ricard is one step ahead there.

Ricard stands up from guard. Let's bang!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Licha slips under a jab.
Licha wants to clinch up but Ricard keeps it at a distance.
Ricard tries to clinch but Licha is having none of it.

Ricard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Licha is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Ricard lands a big elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Licha is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Ricard scoring with strikes but Licha is staying in there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ricard wants to control the pace but Licha is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Ricard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Frank Ricard's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ricard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Licha.

Ricard pushes Licha up against the cage in a clinch.
Ricard lands with a short shot to the head.
Licha has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ricard after a bit of a struggle.

Ricard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Licha lands with a cross.
Ricard shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ricard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Licha counters with a stiff right hand.

Ricard gets a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ricard breaks the clinch.
Ricard throws a right hand that misses
and Licha counters with a straight right hand.
Licha fails with a takedown attempt.

A big head kick from Ricard and Licha is sent sprawling to the canvas!
Ricard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Licha wants to sweep here but Ricard controlling him for the moment.
Licha working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ricard.
Licha has momentary wrist control but Ricard slips an elbow through the middle.

Licha wriggles free and stands up.
Frank Ricard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ricard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ricard wants to pass the guard but Licha is keeping the position.
Ricard cracks Licha with a solid left hand.
Licha looking for a sweep. Not yet Licha, not yet.
Ricard throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ricard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ricard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Licha is working an open guard so Ricard takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ricard misses with a right hand
and Licha counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Licha fakes a right and follows up with a big left that drops Ricard to one knee - oooooh, he's wobbly! Ricard looks to clinch but Licha throws him off and pummels him into the canvas! Ricard taps out under the strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Lisandro Licha!
After the fight, Lisandro Licha was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.