PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Gage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viv Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gage comes to the cage accompanied by Panama. Joe Gage had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Gage
vs
Richards

185 cm
33
210 lbs
31 - 10 - 1

186 cm
38
206 lbs
21 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Hellbent

Sydney Fight Gear
MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Gage!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Viv Richards!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gage with a nice cross.
Richards misses with a left hand
letting Gage counter with a right hand.
We've been told by Gage's head coaches at Globo Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Gage looks to score with a jab to the body but Richards is just out of range.
Gage throws a hook but Richards avoids it easily.
Richards follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Gage connects with a looping right hand.
Richards looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gage will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Gage.
A jab from Gage misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Richards! But no joy.
Richards lands a slapping body shot.
Richards defending well as Gage loads up on a big left hand.
Richards scores with a punch to the head.
Gage moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richards throws a body punch but Gage moves out of range.
Gage swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gage takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Richards lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gage looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gage misses with a kick to the body.
Richards looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Gage throws a lazy right hand but Richards sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gage throws a push kick but Richards slaps the foot to one side.
Gage swings for the body but Richards moves out of range.
Richards replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Gage blocks it well.
Gage takes one to the side of the head.
Richards throws a sloppy head kick and Gage moves out of range easily.
Gage stuns Richards with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Gage wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gage.
Richards tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Gage throws a hook to the side of Richards's head but Richards sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Richards looks to score with a jab to the body but Gage is just out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Richards.
And Gage counters with a quick kick to the body but Richards blocks it.
Gage ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Richards moves away.
Richards throws a lazy uppercut
and Gage counters with a low kick, right behind Richards 's knee.
Richards slips under a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gage tries a head kick but it misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A looping hook to the body misses from Gage. Richards does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gage getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Richards misses with a body shot.
Richards misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gage looks to land a left hand but Richards moved out of range nicely.
Richards looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Gage misses with a hook.
Gage looks to throw the jab but Richards is out of range.
Gage with a hook.
Gage lands a jab.
Gage throws a looping overhand right but Richards ducks down to avoid it.
Richards thinks about the counter body kick.
Gage works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Gage lands a front kick.
Richards lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gage circles away quickly and effectively.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gage.
Gage connects with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gage misses with a straight right.
Richards lands with a straight right. Gage didn't see that one coming.
Richards scores with a nice body kick.
Richards misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Richards tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Richards misses with a kick to the body
and Gage counters with a thumping low kick.
Gage connects with a nice looking jab.
A big left from Gage misses.
Richards on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gage turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Richards throws a series of punches but Gage moves out of range.
Richards defending well as Gage loads up on a big left hand.
Richards tries to land a front kick but Gage steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gage lands an overhand right.
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 throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gage is looking to land body kicks.
A left and a right from Gage both land. Nice combination.
Gage swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Richards misses with a wild body shot.
Richards misses with a hook.
Gage throws a hook but Richards avoids it easily.
Gage is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Richards keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Gage ducks under a wild hook from Richards.
A big right from Gage misses.
A lazy body kick from Richards
and Gage counters with a straight right hand.
A jab from Richards does it's job there.
Richards throws a sloppy head kick and Gage moves out of range easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Richards scores with a jab. Gage acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Gage blocks a head kick by Richards.
A nice inside leg kick there by Gage. That's going to slow Richards down.
Richards on the wrong end of a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Gage dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Richards gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gage.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gage darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Gage looks to throw the jab but Richards is out of range.
Richards throws out a counter right but Gage avoids it with no problem.
Richards moves out of range as Gage strikes.
Gage ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Richards moves away.
Joe Gage is winning the standup battle so far.
Richards throws a jab when Gage was well out of range.
Richards misses with a body shot.
Gage pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gage throws a nice outside leg kick.
A slow jab from Gage misses its intended target.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Richards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gage throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gage has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gage there as he acknowledges the shot.
Richards moves out of range as Gage throws a body kick.
Richards connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Nice defenses there by Richards.
Gage is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Richards can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gage takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Richards's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Richards misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gage rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Richards makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gage throws a jab when Richards was well out of range.
Richards thuds his right hand into Gage's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Richards explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Richards throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
An attempted straight right counter from Gage misses the target.
Richards gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gage is looking to slow Richards down with leg kicks.
A leg kick checked by Richards.
Richards throws a hook to the side of Gage's head but Gage sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Richards throws an overhand right that lands on Gage's shoulder, as Gage tries to avoid the shot.
Richards lands with a right hand.
Gage throws a big shot that misses.
Gage thuds his shin into the meat of Richards's side.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gage lands with an overhand left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gage catches Richards with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A swing and a miss from Gage.
Gage avoids the head kick by Richards.
Gage looks to land a right hand but Richards moved out of range.
Richards takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Gage jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Richards lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Richards lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A looping hook to the body misses from Richards. Gage does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gage scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Richards thows a body kick. Gage tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Richards throws a head kick that misses
and Gage counters with a straight right hand.
Gage fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Richards on the side of the head.
Richards misses with an uppercut
and Gage counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Richards throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gage misses with a hook. Richards ducked under it nicely.
Gage misses with a looping right.
Gage misses with a shot to the body
and Richards cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Richards uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gage.
Richards moves away from the strike by Gage.
Richards steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gage.
Richards misses with an uppercut.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Richards might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Gage has got the better of the exchanges.
Richards avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Gage keeps Richards at a distance using the push kick.
Gage looks to land a left hand but Richards moved out of range nicely.
Richards jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Richards throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gage misses with a straight right.
Richards takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gage misses with a wild body shot.
Richards walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice body punch from Richards.
Gage fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Richards manages to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Richards lands a jab to the nose.
Richards misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gage jabs Richards right on the nose. Richards blinks but takes it well.
Gage avoids the body shot from Richards.
Gage lands with a kick to the temple. Richards shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Richards avoids the head kick by Gage.
Gage misses with a straight right.
Both fighters circling a little - Richards finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Gage thows a leg kick but Richards checks it
and Richards counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Gage is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Richards slips a straight right by Gage.
Richards connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gage. Gage circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joe Gage will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Both fighters circling a little - Richards finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Gage looks to land a left hand but Richards moved out of range nicely.
Richards stalks Gage and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gage's face. Gage staggers backwards, shaken.
Gage misses with a straight right.
Nice straight punches there by Richards. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Richards.
Gage misses with a low kick.
A little jabbing left from Richards on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gage keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Richards wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Richards sizes up Gage with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Gage takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Gage scores with a jab to the body.
Richards has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Richards steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gage.
Gage gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Richards.
Richards with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Gage punishes Richards's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gage on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Richards throws a jab when Gage was well out of range.
Good shot there by Richards.
Richards misses with a jab to the body
and Gage counters with a slapping leg kick.
Richards looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Decent striking displayed by Gage there.
Richards misses with a body shot.
Gage misses with a few strikes there.
Gage moves away from the strike by Richards.
Richards moves out of range of the body kick.
Gage throws out a leg kick but Richards moves out of range and Gage only half commits.
Gage misses with a hook. Richards ducked under it nicely.
A low kick from Gage misses
and Richards counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gage swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Richards is trying to counter with his kicks.
Gage connects with a body shot that sends Richards's belly button to the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gage scores with a hook.
Richards misses with an attempted mid kick.
Richards ducks under a wild hook from Gage.
Richards digs a good hook to Gage's body.
Richards lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gage circles away quickly and effectively.
Gage looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Gage connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Gage shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Richards misses with a hook. Gage ducked under it nicely.
Richards avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gage is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Richards.
Gage throws a poor cross that misses
and Richards makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Gage really felt that one!
Gage lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards keeps Gage at a distance using the push kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gage misses with a hook
and Richards counters with a nice uppercut.
A swing and a miss from Gage.
Richards waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gage.
Gage appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Gage looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Richards throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Richards throws a push kick but Gage slaps the foot to one side.
Richards looks to land a left hand but Gage moved out of range nicely.
Gage lands with a straight right. Richards didn't see that one coming.
Gage misses with a low kick.
Richards moves away from the strike by Gage.
Richards lands the left hand.
Richards throws an overhand right that lands on Gage's shoulder, as Gage tries to avoid the shot.
Gage misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Richards misses.
The fighters circling - Richards throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gage tried to counter with a leg kick but Richards avoided it.
Richards looks to land a left hand but Gage moved out of range nicely.
Richards takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Richards throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gage sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gage, as that shot connected.
Richards pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gage pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gage works the jab nicely.
Richards lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A solid body kick from Richards.
Gage looks to land a combination but Richards avoids it well.
Gage throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Richards throws a counter combo.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Richards swings for the body but Gage moves out of range.
Richards staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viv Richards really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice shot lands for Gage.
Gage thumps Richards with a low kick.
Richards has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gage.
Richards takes one to the chin there.
Gage swings for the body but Richards moves out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gage.
Gage walks into a straight right hand from Richards.
Gage will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Good leg kick by Gage there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Gage throws a hook but Richards blocks it.
Gage lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Gage looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Richards throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A jab from Richards misses.
Gage fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gage blocks the body kick.
It looked like Gage wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards moves out of range of the body kick.
Richards misses with an uppercut. Gage saw that one coming.
Gage steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Richards.
Richards misses with a body kick.
Gage jabs at Richards's body.
Richards throws a half hearted mid kick.
Richards goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gage throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Richards counters with a slapping leg kick.
Richards misses the shot to the body.
Gage scores with a jab to the head.
Gage slips a straight right by Richards.
Gage just misses with a punch to the body.
Richards throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Richards looks to land a body kick but Gage moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gage feints and then cracks Richards's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Richards down.
Good exchange - Gage coming out on top.
Gage lands with a good body shot.
Nice uppercut there from Gage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gage throws a leg kick that is checked
and Richards counters with a straight right hand.
Gage looks to throw the jab but Richards is out of range.
Richards takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Richards lands a nice shot to the body.
A slow jab from Gage misses its intended target.
A punch combination from Richards misses.
Gage cracks Richards with a good jab.
Richards thuds his right hand into Gage's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Richards defending well as Gage loads up on a big left hand.
Richards steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards takes a swing at Gage's ribcage but misses.
Gage punishes Richards's body with a nice straight punch.
Gage connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Richards momentarily.
Richards misses the shot to the body.
A slow jab from Gage misses its intended target.
Richards rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gage counters with a nice leg kick.
Gage slips a jab and a cross from Richards.
Gage digs a good body shot into Richards's ribs.
Gage loads up on a big right hand but Richards slips the punch.
Nice straight punches there by Richards. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Richards.
Richards uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gage.
Gage slips under a jab from Richards.
Gage fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Gage waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Richards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards slips a straight right by Gage.
Richards moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gage misses with an uppercut. Richards saw that one coming.
Richards misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gage throwing a counter right hand but Richards manages to avoid it.
Gage cracks the inside of Richards's front leg.
Richards throws a hook but Gage avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Gage throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Richards checks a low kick from Gage.
Richards lands a head shot.
Gage connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Richards momentarily.
Gage walks into a straight right hand from Richards.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gage.
Richards looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Gage avoids a kick to the body.
Richards lands with a slapping head kick.
Richards misses with a jab to the body
and Gage connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Gage had his way with Viv Richards in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Richards goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nice body punch from Richards.
Richards throws a jab when Gage was well out of range.
Gage misses with a left hand
and Richards counters with a big head kick but Gage shrugs it off.
Richards takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gage misses with a hook
and Richards counters with a good, hard body kick but Gage shrugs it off.
Richards moves out of range as Gage strikes.
Gage loads up on a big right hand but Richards slips the punch.
Gage misses with a leg kick
and Richards counters with a body kick that stops Gage in his tracks momentarily.
Gage steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Richards.
Gage was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards jabs Gage to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Richards misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gage.
A punch combination from Richards misses.
Richards throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Richards lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gage keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Richards throws the kick towards the body but Gage avoids it.
Gage lands a jab to the head.
Richards slips a straight right by Gage.
Gage lands a nice looking body shot.
Richards misses with a body shot.
Richards misses with a hook.
Nice jab there from Gage.
Gage takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Richards looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Richards lands a body shot.
Gage throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gage throws the kick towards the body but Richards avoids it.
Gage fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Viv Richards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gage throws a shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gage tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Richards was well out of range. Poor timing from Gage.
Gage takes a jab right on the kisser.
Gage lands a jab.
Richards throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gage.
Gage scores with a body shot.
Gage throws a looping overhand right but Richards ducks down to avoid it.
Gage wants to land a leg kick but Richards is out of range.
Richards lands with a kick to the ribs.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Gage throws a leg kick but Richards sees it coming and moves out of range.
Richards lands a head kick. Gage smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Richards misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gage swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gage throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Richards scores with a nice right hand.
Richards misses with a head kick.
A little feinted left hand from Gage on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Richards throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Richards throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Gage to counter with a crisp jab.
Richards lands a jab to the nose.
Richards slips a straight right by Gage.
Richards throws a right hand that misses
and Gage counters with a low kick, right behind Richards 's knee.
Gage scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A jab lands there for Gage.
Gage connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Richards momentarily.
The fighters circling - Richards throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gage throws a body shot but no joy.
Gage backing away here, and Richards unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Richards rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Gage counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Richards walks into a stiff left hand from Gage.
Gage throws a low kick but Richards moves out of range easily.
Gage feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Richards's calf.
Richards misses with a looping left.
Gage fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Gage stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gage lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Richards cracks Gage with an open hand slap.
A lazy body kick from Richards
and Gage counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gage moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Joe Gage 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.
Gage misses with a looping left.
Richards replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Gage blocks it well.
Richards throws a sloppy head kick and Gage moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joe Gage.
Well Gage 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 49:46
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 47:48
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Joe Gage!
Joe Gage retains his light heavyweight title!
A very excited looking Joe Gage rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.