PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reed Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Almeida is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Rock You Like a Hurricane. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Richards
vs
Almeida

180 cm
29
170 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

176 cm
24
182 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Reed Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrigo Almeida!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards goes for a double leg but Almeida avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Almeida continues to drive forward.
Richards has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Almeida after a bit of a struggle.
Richards drops down looking for an ankle pick but Almeida pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reed Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Almeida manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Richards on his heels. He'll look to pass Richards's guard now, I'm sure.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Richards looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Almeida throws a big elbow that misses.
Richards manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Almeida manages to get himself to full guard.
Richards wants to control from the top but Almeida keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Almeida wants to stand but Richards is controlling the position.

Richards is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Almeida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Richards won't allow Almeida to get back to his feet.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.

Richards drops back looking for a leg! Almeida is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Almeida manages to kick Richards off! Richards jumps back into Almeida's guard.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.

Reed Richards has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Almeida lands a jab.

Almeida fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Richards sprawls well initially but Almeida persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Almeida lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Almeida is working Richards over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Almeida won't allow Richards to sweep him here.
Almeida throwing strikes but missing.
Almeida postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Almeida throwing strikes from guard but Richards blocks nicely.
Richards seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Richards wants to sweep here but Almeida controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Almeida connects with a couple of short punches.
Almeida with a flurry of punches that miss.
Almeida postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida postures up in Richards's guard and throws a big left but Richards blocks it.
Almeida postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Richards is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Almeida defends well.

Richards working for a triangle but Almeida defends it easily.
Almeida with a nice head shot there.

Richards looking for a guillotine here but Almeida defends easily.
Almeida scoring with punches to the head and body.
Richards looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richards escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Almeida gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Richards trying to keep a closed guard but Almeida is proving a slippery customer.
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!

Richards has his foot on Almeida's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Almeida works his way back into a safe position though.
Almeida advances to half guard.
Almeida lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Almeida seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Almeida takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Richards is rocked!
Almeida landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Oh Richards is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Almeida lands a big elbow - Richards is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Almeida!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rodrigo Almeida!
During a confident post fight interview, Rodrigo Almeida thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.