PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Richard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek Craven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Derrick Richard has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Richard
vs
Craven

202 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
198 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Derrick Richard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Derek Craven!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Craven.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Craven.
Craven misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Richard is looking for a sweep.
Craven lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Richard down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richard is trying to get back to half guard.
Richard can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven tries to move to mount but Richard blocks the move with his legs.
Richard trying to control but Craven flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richard is trying to break free.
Richard is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Craven misses with punches from the back.
Richard breaks Craven's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Craven has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Richard has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craven is trying to get back to half guard.
Craven can't do much from the bottom here.

Richard working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Richard throws a strike aimed at the side of Craven's head but Craven avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Craven is trying to control Richard's posture but Richard avoids it.
Craven tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Richard easily slips into full mount!
Craven is looking to get to half guard.
Craven wants to hold on but Richard pushes him away.

Richard working for a guillotine from mount but Craven is in no mood to give up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Richard cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craven can't escape the position.
Craven wants to control but Richard is having none of it.
Craven throwing hammer fists to the chest of Richard. What's that going to do exactly?
Craven tries to hold on but Richard postures up.

Richard is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Craven looks winded!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Richard leaves Craven with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Richard is looking to counter the offense by Craven and move into the clinch.
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 Derrick Richard will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Craven is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Richard half committed to a counter leg kick.
Craven misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Craven is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Craven wants to clinch.
As Craven backs away, Richard returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Craven moves in looking to clinch but Richard pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Craven. No joy for Richard on that attempt.
Craven throws a body kick that misses.

Craven has closed the distance and engaged Richard in a clinch.
Richard lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Richard drags the fight down to the ground.
Craven wants to control from the top but Richard keeps moving.
Craven tries to stand but Richard is controlling from the bottom.
Richard is trying to control the position but Craven postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richard throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Richard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Craven is aware though and is defending well.
Craven is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Craven is continuing to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Richard. No joy for Craven on that attempt.
Richard feinted with a counter takedown.
Craven is breathing heavily.
Richard shoots in looking for a takedown but Craven manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Richard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Craven darts in trying to clinch
and Richard counters with a big head kick but Craven shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Craven shoots in and bounces Richard off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Richard doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Richard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Craven's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Richard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Richard throws a big right hand that misses.
Derrick Richard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craven is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Craven is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Craven working a defensive guard but Richard passes into half guard.

Richard is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Craven defends it well.
Richard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Craven keeps control of the position for the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Richard dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Craven digs a good hook to Richard's body.
Craven is trying hard to land a takedown here. Richard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Richard shoots in and drives through. Craven sprawls well.
Craven drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Richard defends it well.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Craven's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Craven tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Richard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Craven misses with the body kick
and Richard counters with a low kick, right behind Craven 's knee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craven misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Craven takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Craven clobbers Richard with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Craven misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Richard counters with a right hand to the body.
Craven displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Richard.
Craven tries to close the distance and clinch but Richard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Craven takes the fight into the clinch.
Richard tries to break free but Craven pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richard holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Richard lands a damaging elbow.
Richard just leaning against Craven, taking a breather.
Craven is trying to pull guard but Richard turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Craven has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Richard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Derrick Richard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek Craven.
Richard goes for a takedown in the clinch but Craven prevents it.

Richard jumps into guard, dragging Craven to the mat.
Craven trying to control the position from guard on top but Richard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Craven pushing down on Richard's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Richard looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Craven seems to be working for a kimura but Richard defends the submission attempt.

Craven decides to stand up.

Craven looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Richard!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Craven is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Richard has escaped the position, nice work there.
Richard is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Richard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Craven is working Richard over with some ground and pound from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Craven comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Richard 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Derrick Richard!