PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcio Simas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Richards
vs
Simas

169 cm
20
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jacob Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marcio Simas!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Simas with a poor takedown
and Richards counters with a nice body kick.

Richards shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Simas is trying to defend but Richards finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Richards looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
It looks like Richards is going to stand back up.
Simas wants to control but Richards is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Richards will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Richards seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Simas is in trouble now - Richards has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards content just to control the position here.

Richards working for a guillotine from mount but Simas is in no mood to give up.

Richards looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Richards controlling from the full mount.

Richards has hold of Simas's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Simas manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Richards is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Simas is surviving well by controlling Richards's body position as best he can.
Simas is looking to improve his position but Richards isn't that keen on the idea.
Richards landing punches.

Richards is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Simas is surviving well by controlling Richards's body position as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Richards has control of Simas's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Simas regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Richards with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simas wants to hold on but Richards pushes him away.
Richards controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simas keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Richards sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Simas is trying to escape the mount.

Richards is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Simas can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Richards controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Richards dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Richards fails with an attempt to clinch.
Simas misses the jab.
Simas shoots in for a takedown but Richards shows good takedown defense.
A head kick misses from Simas.
Richards drops his hands momentarily and Simas takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Simas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Richards.
Simas fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Richards has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Richards wants to clinch but Simas slips to the side

and Simas counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Richards's guard now.
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.
Richards striking off his back but it's not causing Simas any problems.
Simas wants to control from the top but Richards keeps moving.
Richards controlling Simas's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simas stops Richards from standing up.
Simas wants to control from the top but Richards keeps moving.
Simas makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Richards looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Simas is breathing heavily.
Simas lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Richards tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Simas is fighting to break Richards's control of his arms but Richards is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Richards is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards is nestled in close to Simas, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Richards seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Simas is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Richards scores with a couple of nice shots.
Richards stalling.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simas wants to improve his position but Richards is controlling well.
Richards lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Richards is working for a submission of some sort.
Richards is looking to advance position but Simas won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Richards looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Richards perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

We're going to have a standup here because Jacob Richards wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Richards feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Richards decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Richards scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Richards dominated that second 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Richards pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Simas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Richards throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Simas keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Richards tries to clinch up.
Richards tries to clinch up but Simas circles away and keeps his distance.
Simas looks for the body kick but Richards saw that one coming.
Simas takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Simas throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Simas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Simas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Richards.

Richards drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Richards decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simas takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Simas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Richards closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Simas quickly recovers to half guard.
Richards is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Richards controlling the pace for now.

Richards looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards looking to finish Simas with some ground and pound. This is bad for Simas!
Richards is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Simas can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Richards looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Richards wants to finish this one by submission but Simas is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Richards.
Richards sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards scoring with strikes but Simas is staying in there.

Richards is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Simas to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Simas shrugs it off.
Richards looking to control and managing it successfully.
Simas slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards controlling the action here.
Richards looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Richards slips a nice elbow through Simas's hands, connecting with Simas's forehead.
Richards is taking a breather. Simas says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Marcio Simas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jacob Richards is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Richards blocks the strikes from Simas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacob Richards showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Richards has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Jacob Richards!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Jacob Richards!
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Jacob Richards!

Jacob Richards wins by unanimous decision!