PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between CJ Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and CJ Wilkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richards comes into the arena with Three Six Mafia - It's a fight blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Richards
vs
Wilkins

183 cm
27
185 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

175 cm
27
181 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, CJ Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, CJ Wilkins!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards checks the leg kick nicely there.
Richards takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Richards fails with the takedown
and Wilkins counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Wilkins fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Richards is out of range.

Richards closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Wilkins did well to prevent Richards getting side control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Wilkins moves into full guard.
Wilkins has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Richards trying to control but Wilkins is working from the bottom.
Richards not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Wilkins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Richards is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Richards gets a double leg takedown into Wilkins's guard.
Wilkins wants to sweep but no luck.
Richards slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Wilkins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Richards passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Wilkins manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Wilkins wants to improve his position but Richards is controlling well.
Wilkins wants to control but Richards is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards is trying to control. Wilkins wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Wilkins controlling the position well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wilkins trying to hold on to Richards's head to control him but Richards postures up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. CJ Wilkins wasn't active enough on the ground.

Richards drives through with a takedown into Wilkins's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Wilkins is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Wilkins wants to improve his position but instead Richards has moved into half guard.
Wilkins is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins is not content to let Richards control the position.
Wilkins gets full guard.
Wilkins is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Wilkins keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
Richards won't allow Wilkins to sweep him here.
Richards working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Richards controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Richards won't allow Wilkins to sweep him here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Richards distracts Wilkins with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Wilkins is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Richards is controlling him.
Richards wants to control from the top but Wilkins keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins is looking to sweep but instead, Richards has passed into half guard.
Richards tries to pass to full mount but Wilkins defends it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Wilkins manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Richards wants to control from the top but Wilkins keeps moving.
Wilkins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Richards throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richards looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Wilkins working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Richards.
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 CJ Richards will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Wilkins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Richards.
Wilkins leaves Richards with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Wilkins fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Richards checks it well.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Wilkins, right into the meat.
Wilkins moves in looking to clinch but Richards pushes him off.

Richards dives in and scores a takedown into Wilkins's guard.

Wilkins had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Richards defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Wilkins is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Richards defends well.
Wilkins working a defensive guard but Richards manages to pass into side control anyway.
Richards is working Wilkins over with some ground and pound from side control.
Wilkins tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Richards presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards avoids the attempt from Wilkins to control.
Wilkins is working to get back to half guard.
Richards punishing his opponent with strikes.
Richards scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Richards can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wilkins is looking to escape.
Wilkins keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Wilkins is in a horrible position here. Richards smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Richards postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Wilkins looks a forlorn figure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richards lands a nice shot to the head.
Richards working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Richards connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Richards lands a nice shot to the head.
Wilkins can't escape the position.
BOOM! Richards connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Wilkins is rocked!
Richards unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Wilkins wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Richards celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). CJ Richards!
A relieved looking CJ Richards thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.