PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Stevenson
vs
Richards

176 cm
23
164 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

181 cm
23
158 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricky Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gary Richards!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Sano and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson is looking to clinch but Richards is avoiding it.
Stevenson wants to clinch.
Ricky Stevenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Richards paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.
Stevenson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Richards shoots for a double leg takedown but Stevenson sprawls well. He's pushed Richards's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Stevenson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Richards is having none of it.
Stevenson moves in looking to clinch but Richards pushes him off.
Stevenson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Richards misses with a takedown attempt - Stevenson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Richards tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stevenson swivels and escapes.
Ricky Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Richards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Richards decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Stevenson wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards trying to control the action but Stevenson is working from the bottom.

Richards is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

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 wants to control but Stevenson is keeping him busy.
Richards is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stevenson tries to clinch up but Richards circles away and keeps his distance.
Ricky Stevenson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stevenson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Richards misses with a wild body shot.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch but Richards swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Richards fails with the takedown.
Richards looks gassed!
Stevenson wants to clinch.
Richards circles away from the clinch attempt.
Richards throws a series of punches but Stevenson avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Richards misses with a takedown attempt - Stevenson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stevenson lands a damaging elbow.
Stevenson throws an elbow that misses.
Richards takes an elbow to the forehead.
With the fighters up against the cage, Stevenson throws an elbow but misses.

Richards manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Stevenson stands up from Richards's guard - Stevenson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Stevenson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch but Richards swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Richards is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gary Richards will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Stevenson is looking to clinch.
Richards circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stevenson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Richards swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Richards moves out of range.
Richards throws a lazy right hand but Stevenson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Richards has a takedown stuffed.
Richards avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevenson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stevenson defending well as Richards loads up on a big left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Richards moves out of range.
Stevenson tries to clinch up.
Stevenson tries to clinch up but Richards circles away and keeps his distance.
Stevenson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stevenson tries to clinch up but Richards circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Richards.
Richards is breathing heavily.
Stevenson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Richards.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Richards goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Stevenson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Richards's guard! Nice work there by Stevenson!

Stevenson gets to his feet. Richards looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ricky Stevenson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevenson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stevenson wants to clinch up but Richards keeps it at a distance.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stevenson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevenson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Richards swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Richards looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.
Stevenson tries to clinch up but Richards circles away and keeps his distance.
Stevenson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Richards swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stevenson is looking to clinch but Richards is avoiding it.
Stevenson doesn't manage to clinch there - Richards circles away.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch but Richards swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stevenson wants to clinch up but Richards keeps it at a distance.
Richards misses with a wild combination.
Richards circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stevenson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stevenson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Richards shoots in for a takedown but Stevenson shows good takedown defense.
Ricky Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Richards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Stevenson clinches up with Richards and pushes him back against the cage.
Richards takes an elbow to the temple.
Stevenson misses with a knee strike.
Stevenson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Stevenson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Richards's defenses.
Stevenson lands an elbow that stopped Richards in his tracks for a moment.
Stevenson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stevenson landing knees to the head.
Richards fails to pull guard.
Richards on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Stevenson missing with knees to the body.
Stevenson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Stevenson tries to land knees in the clinch but Richards avoids the damage to the body.
Richards tries to pull guard but Stevenson holds him up against the cage and eventually Richards drops back down to his feet.
Stevenson missing with knees to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Richards tries to pull guard but Stevenson holds him up against the cage and eventually Richards drops back down to his feet.
Richards tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Stevenson.
Stevenson throws an elbow but it misses.
Richards tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stevenson just stands there and leans against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Stevenson dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Richards throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Richards paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Richards fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Stevenson stuffs the takedown.
Stevenson moves in looking to clinch but Richards pushes him off.
Stevenson is looking to clinch but Richards is avoiding it.

Stevenson drives through and clinches with Richards against the cage.
Stevenson unloads a knee to the mid-section. Richards lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Stevenson lands a nice elbow.
Stevenson unloads a knee to the mid-section. Richards lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Stevenson landing knees to the body.
Stevenson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Stevenson lands an elbow that stopped Richards in his tracks for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stevenson lands a knee to the body.
Stevenson connects with a knee to the head.
Richards tries to pull guard but Stevenson holds him up against the cage and eventually Richards drops back down to his feet.
Ricky Stevenson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Richards.
Stevenson pushes off an throws an elbow but Richards leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Richards blocks it with crossed arms.
Richards has Stevenson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stevenson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Stevenson landing knees to the body.
Stevenson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Richards tries to pull guard but Stevenson holds him up against the cage and eventually Richards drops back down to his feet.
Richards blocks an elbow strike from Stevenson.
Stevenson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Richards on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Richards avoiding damage as Stevenson throws knees to the body.
Richards has Stevenson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stevenson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Richards looking for a takedown.
Stevenson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Stevenson looking to throw knees to the head but Richards is blocking nicely.
Richards has Stevenson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Stevenson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Richards tries to pull guard but Stevenson won't allow it.
Stevenson with a knee to the head.
Stevenson gets underhooks to prevent Richards's takedown attempt.
Richards blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Richards avoiding damage as Stevenson throws knees to the body.
Stevenson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Stevenson throws an elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stevenson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Richards has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Richards managing to block the knees to the body from Stevenson.
Stevenson trying to land knees to the body.
Stevenson crunches a lovely knee into Richards's ribcage.
Stevenson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Richards.
Stevenson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Richards manages to pull guard.
Richards is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Richards looking for subs off his back but Stevenson has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson prevents Richards from standing back up.
Richards is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Richards looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Richards looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Stevenson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stevenson 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Stevenson!