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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Salwa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tyler Richards told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!
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| 184 cm
22
198 lbs
10 - 1 - 0 |
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179 cm
23
203 lbs
14 - 4 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible |
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ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Gabriel Salwa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tyler Richards!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Aafke Stam and Saam Ante.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salwa throws a right and a left that Richards avoids nicely.
Richards throws a low kick but it's checked well by Salwa.
Salwa throws the left hand but Richards avoids the punch easily.
Salwa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Richards counters with a takedown into side control.
Salwa struggling a bit here.
Salwa defending against the ground and pound.
Richards scoring with punches and elbows.
Richards has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Richards happy to just control the position for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Richards trying to control the position but Salwa is working away.
Richards misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Salwa is looking for a sweep.
Richards misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Richards lands an elbow.
Richards tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Richards controls the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Richards.
Richards taking a breather here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richards tries to advance to mount but can't.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Richards throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Salwa works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Salwa tries to get to full guard but Richards has control of the leg.
Richards missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Salwa is trying to get back to full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards is stalling here. Salwa is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Richards seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Salwa has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Richards tries to buck Salwa off but Salwa is having none of it.
Richards struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Richards is looking to control Salwa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Richards avoid being mounted?
Richards won't allow Salwa to pass to mount.
Salwa is working hard here to advance position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards trying to control but Salwa postures up.
Richards regains full guard. Nicely done.
Richards controlling Salwa's posture.
Salwa sitting in guard here, content to control.
Richards trying to control the position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Salwa has passed into half guard!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Tyler Richards dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!
Salwa goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Richards takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Richards tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Salwa feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Richardss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Salwa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A nice leg kick lands there from Salwa.
Salwa thuds a left hand into Richards's body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salwa throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Richards tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Salwa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Salwa rushes Richards and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Salwa avoiding damage as Richards throws knees to the body.
Salwa is pushing Richards up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Richards throws a head punch that misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Salwa throws a punch but it's blocked by Richards.
Salwa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Salwa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Salwa thumps Richards with a low kick.
Salwa closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Salwa controlling from side mount.
Tyler Richards has got the better of the ground game so far.
Richards wants to control but Salwa postures up.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards is trying to get back to half guard.
Salwa working away.
Salwa is looking to take a break and control but Richards is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salwa controls the position.
Richards struggling a bit here.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A big left from Richards misses.
Richards tries to clinch up but Salwa circles away and keeps his distance.
A bone on bone clash there as Richards blocks the leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards throws a leg kick which misses Salwa's front leg but catches the back leg as Salwa tries to avoid it.
Richards stuns Salwa with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Richards.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Richards.
Salwa lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Richards has managed to clinch.
A short right from Salwa.
Richards has Salwa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Salwa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Salwa stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Richards is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Salwa.
Salwa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Salwa misses with a punch to the body.
Richards misses with a hook to the ribs.
Salwa lands a body shot in the clinch.
Richards tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gabriel Salwa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyler Richards.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salwa effectively controlling the action here.
Salwa blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Salwa creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Salwa tries to throw a body punch but Richards avoids it by throwing Salwa back against the cage.
Salwa presses Richards against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Salwa content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Richards is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Salwa pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Richards has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Salwa avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Salwa is trying to maintain a safe position but Richards gets an underhook and turns Salwa into the cage.
Salwa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Salwa tries to clinch up.
Salwa checks the leg kick.
Salwa misses with an attempted mid kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Richards tries to land a body kick
and Salwa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Richards misses with a low kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Richards crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Salwa - the referee stops the clock and Richards gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Salwa. Richards manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Gabriel Salwa dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
Salwa throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Richards misses with a head kick.
Salwa moves away from the strike by Richards.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Salwa.
Richards dodges the punch combination from Salwa.
Gabriel Salwa is winning the standup battle so far.
Richards fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Salwa misses with the combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Richards. Salwa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Salwa checks the leg kick.
Richards throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Salwa tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Richards is in Salwa's guard.
Salwa trying to control the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Salwa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Salwa trying to control the position.
Salwa is pulling down on Richards's head. It's preventing any offense from Richards, at least for the moment.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Gabriel Salwa wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Salwa misses with a wild body shot.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Salwa.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Salwa as he avoids it easily.
Richards throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Salwa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Salwa moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Richards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Richards tries to land a front kick but Salwa steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Richards misses with a head kick.
Salwa scores with a kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Salwa. That one must have hurt.
Salwa scores with a nice head shot.
Salwa ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Salwa lands with a kick to the ribs.
Richards steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Salwa. That one must have hurt.
Salwa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Salwa rushes Richards and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Richards has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Salwa.
Salwa looking to throw knees to the head but Richards is blocking nicely.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Salwa.
Salwa stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Salwa misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Salwa fails to land.
Salwa misses with some punches.
Richards has Salwa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Salwa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Salwa can't break the clinch.
Salwa manages to break the clinch.
Salwa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Richards swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Richards throws an overhand right that lands on Salwa's shoulder, as Salwa tries to avoid the shot.
Richards shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Richards looking to finish with strikes here!
Salwa tries to hold on but Richards pushes him away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salwa sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Salwa is pressing down on Richards's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salwa wants to sweep here but Richards controlling him for the moment.
Richards postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Salwa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Salwa wants to sweep here but Richards controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Gabriel Salwa clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Richards misses with a low kick.
Salwa gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Richards.
Salwa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Richards.
Richards lands a nice shot to the body.
Richards leaves Salwa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Salwa avoids the head kick by Richards.
Salwa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Richards walks forward, straight into a front kick from Salwa.
Richards misses with a kick to the body.
Salwa missing with a left hand there. Richards was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Salwa misses with a takedown attempt - Richards sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Richards connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Richards.
Richards is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Richards falls off balance throwing a combination
and Salwa counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Richards moves to clinch but Salwa breaks away
and Salwa counters with a body kick.
Salwa lands with a right hand.
Salwa avoids a kick to the body.
Richards on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Salwa bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Richards's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Richards shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Salwa as he avoids it easily.
Gabriel Salwa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyler Richards.
Salwa tries a low kick but Richards avoids it.
Richards takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards misses with a body shot.
Salwa moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Salwa thows a body kick. Richards tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Salwa lands a jab to Richards's midsection.
Richards avoids the head kick by Salwa.
Richards misses with a double jab.
Salwa throws a right hand that Richards ducks under and follows up with a left that Richards also avoids with ease.
Salwa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Salwa goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Richards checks a low kick from Salwa.
Richards misses with a kick to the body.
Richards tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Richards gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Salwa.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Salwa dodges an elbow strike from Richards.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Salwa managing to block the knees to the body from Richards.
Salwa tries to throw a body punch but Richards avoids it by throwing Salwa back against the cage.
Salwa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Salwa is pressed up against the cage. Richards has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Salwa down to the mat. Salwa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Richards shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Salwa takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A big right from Richards misses.
Richards tries to score a power double leg takedown but Salwa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Richards somewhat.
An inside leg kick lands from Salwa.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Salwa doesn't seem bothered though.
Richards with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Salwa to score with a decent uppercut.
Salwa chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richards has Salwa up against the cage in a clinch.
Richards tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Salwa's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Richards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Salwa.
Salwa throws a head punch that misses.
Richards fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Salwa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Richards struggles to land a body shot inside as Salwa controls his hands.
Salwa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Richards's elbow.
Richards blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Salwa is trying to break the clinch but Richards has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Gabriel Salwa had his way with Tyler Richards in 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. This is the final round!
Richards bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Salwa's head.
Richards tries to clinch up.
Richards throws a big shot that misses.
Richards swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Salwa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Salwa gets a double leg takedown into Richards's guard.
Salwa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Richards is keeping the position for now.
Salwa postures up.
Richards striking from the bottom here.
Salwa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards looking for a sweep. Not yet Richards, not yet.
Richards had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Salwa defends it easily.
Richards throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Richards is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
That's one minute gone in the round.
Salwa is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Richards keeping moving, preventing Salwa from controlling successfully.
Salwa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Richards swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Richards has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Salwa has passed into side control.
Richards is not content to let Salwa control the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards is trying to improve his position.
Tyler Richards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salwa trying to control the position but Richards is working away.
Salwa is really struggling to control Richards but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Richards regains half guard.
Salwa is thwarting Richards's attempts to control the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards wants to get back to full guard.
Salwa wants to take a breather but Richards is having none of it.
Salwa wants to work for an arm triangle but Richards is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Salwa trying to control from half guard but Richards is working away.
Salwa is thwarting Richards's attempts to control the position.
Richards moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Richards is trying to control the position from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards has his foot on Salwa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Salwa works his way back into a safe position though.
Salwa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Richards has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Salwa has managed to get both his arms back between Richards's legs - danger averted.
Richards looking to hit a scissor sweep but Salwa is one step ahead there.
Salwa is pushing down on Richards's leg trying to pass to half guard. Richards is fighting to maintain full guard but Salwa has managed to sneak the leg through.
Salwa looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
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 Gabriel Salwa.
I think Salwa 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 49:46
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 49:46
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 49:46
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Salwa!
Gabriel Salwa is the new light heavyweight champion!
A relieved looking Gabriel Salwa thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
100% |
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