PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikola Veljanovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richards's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Kevin Rudolf - In the City. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Richards
vs
Veljanovski

180 cm
30
229 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

182 cm
24
234 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikola Veljanovski!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Veljanovski instigates a clinch.

Richards manages to pull guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Richards wants to stand but Veljanovski is controlling the position.
Veljanovski wants to get up but he can't break Richards's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Veljanovski wants to stand and escape but instead Richards has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Veljanovski avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski has a closed guard, preventing Richards from standing up.
Veljanovski is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Veljanovski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Richards. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Richards keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Veljanovski's head.
Richards not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Veljanovski wants to get back to his feet but Richards passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Richards in particular looking to stall.
Richards not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ben Richards just wasn't active enough.
Veljanovski moves to clinch but Richards breaks away

and Richards counters with a single leg into guard. Veljanovski didn't expect that.
Richards passes into half guard.
Richards slows the pace down in half guard.

Richards is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards trying to control the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Richards lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Richards dominated that 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.

Richards closes the distance and clinches.
Veljanovski is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Richards is keeping busy.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Richards.
Veljanovski wants to stall.
Veljanovski swings wildly with an uppercut but Richards uses good head movement to avoid it.

Richards pulls Veljanovski into guard.
Richards is looking to stand up but Veljanovski isn't so interested in that idea.

Richards uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Richards lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards swats away the attempt to clinch by Veljanovski.

Richards looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Veljanovski taking some punishment here, with Richards in his half guard.
Richards not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Richards thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Richards has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Richards content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ben Richards overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Richards stops Veljanovski from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards passes to full mount!
Richards landing strikes, looking to finish!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Richards misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Richards lands a big elbow.
Richards controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards thowing shots but they're missing.
Richards throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Veljanovski because Richards loaded up on that one.
Richards looking to finish with strikes here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Veljanovski is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Richards has taken his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Richards dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Veljanovski throws a leg kick
and Richards counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Veljanovski moves in looking to clinch but Richards pushes him off.
Veljanovski tries to clinch but Richards moves out of range.
Veljanovski misses with a hook
and Richards cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Richards gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Veljanovski is looking to control Richards's arms but Richards gets an underhook and turns him. Now Veljanovski has his back to the cage.
Richards has Veljanovski pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Veljanovski manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Richards goes for a takedown in the clinch but Veljanovski prevents it.
Veljanovski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Veljanovski wants to get back to striking at distance but Richards won't allow it.

Richards turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Veljanovski is not content to let Richards control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Veljanovski pushes Richards away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Richards gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Richards is trying to get an arm triangle but Veljanovski is defending well.
Richards working the ground and pound but Veljanovski is defending the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Richards landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Richards cracks Veljanovski with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Richards working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Richards thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Richards thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Veljanovski avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Richards.
Richards throws an elbow but Veljanovski slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Veljanovski wants to get back to his feet but Richards drags him back down.
Veljanovski seems a little lost for a moment, as Richards dominates the positioning.

Richards tries for a kimura but Veljanovski is defending well.
Richards fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Nikola Veljanovski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ben Richards is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Richards showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Richards, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Richards!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Ben Richards made sure he mentioned HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158, along with how happy he was to win his fight.