PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Wallace (ranked 340 p4p, 40 weight class) and Farboleous Ricard (ranked 443 p4p, 50 weight class). Ricard comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Vibe Killer kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Wallace
vs
Ricard

176 cm
27
146 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

172 cm
26
146 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing

Urban Fighter
Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nathan Wallace!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Farboleous Ricard!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wallace is looking to land body kicks.
Ricard changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ricard looks to score with a jab to the body but Wallace is just out of range.
Wallace lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Wallace - that will leave a mark!
Ricard looks to score with a jab to the body but Wallace is just out of range.
Ricard tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ricard looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Wallace lunges at Ricard with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ricard's hand.
Wallace closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ricard throws an overhand right that lands on Wallace's shoulder, as Wallace tries to avoid the shot.
Wallace throws a head kick but Ricard moves out of range.
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!
Ricard gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Wallace.
Wallace lands a body shot.
Ricard takes a kick to the side of the head.
Wallace tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ricard was well out of range. Poor timing from Wallace.
Wallace walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ricard checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wallace. Ricard does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nathan Wallace is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ricard scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Ricard punishes Wallace's body with a nice straight punch.
Wallace has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Gym Beam in the buildup to the fight.
A low kick from Wallace misses
and Wallace takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ricard looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
A swing and a miss from Ricard.
Wallace ducks right into an uppercut from Ricard.
Wallace takes one to the side of the head.
Wallace takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ricard looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ricard throws a looping overhand right but Wallace ducks down to avoid it.
Ricard fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nathan Wallace seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ricard thuds his right hand into Wallace's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
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!
A solid leg kick lands there for Wallace.
Ricard thows a leg kick but Wallace checks it
and Wallace counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wallace scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ricard fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wallace looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wallace sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ricard throws a chopping leg kick but Wallace manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Wallace fires out a quick counter leg kick but Ricard just manages to avoid it.
Wallace misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ricard misses with a wild body shot.
Wallace thinks about countering with a body kick.
Ricard smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Wallace drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ricard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ricard throws a jab but it's blocked by Wallace.
Ricard throws the left hand but Wallace avoids the punch easily.
Ricard misses with a low kick.
Wallace throws a quick counter kick to the body but Ricard avoids it.
Wallace thows a body kick. Ricard tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Ricard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ricard throws a right hand that misses
and Wallace counters with a good low kick that Ricard was not able to check.

Wallace closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wallace prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wallace working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ricard looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Wallace lands with a short head shot on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ricard.
Ricard blocking some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Wallace.
Ricard misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ricard.

Wallace breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wallace misses with a jab to the body
and Ricard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wallace is looking to clinch but Ricard is avoiding it.
Ricard is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Ricard drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Wallace pushes Ricard off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wallace fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Wallace stuffs the takedown.
Wallace wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wallace moves out of range of the body kick.
Wallace scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ricard checks a leg kick.
Ricard loads up on a big right hand but Wallace slips the punch.
Ricard is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Wallace had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

Ricard forces Wallace back against the cage and clinches.

Ricard breaks the clinch.
Ricard throws a looping overhand right but Wallace ducks down to avoid it.
Ricard moves out of range of the body kick.
Wallace will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ricard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wallace cracks Ricard with a good jab.
Wallace scores with a nice body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ricard. That's going to slow Wallace down.
Ricard wants to slow Wallace down by chopping away at his legs.
Wallace was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ricard throws a body punch but Wallace moves out of range.
Wallace paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
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 Nathan Wallace 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.

A low kick from Wallace misses

and Ricard counters with a nice double leg into side control. Wallace won't be happy with that.
Ricard moves into full mount!
Wallace is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ricard controlling from the full mount.
Wallace blocking the ground and pound.
Wallace is desperately trying to improve his position but Ricard has a good base and remains in mount.
Wallace prevents Ricard from taking his back.
Ricard looking to control and managing it successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wallace is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Ricard throwing strikes here but Wallace is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Ricard goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Wallace is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wallace tries to stand but Ricard is controlling from the bottom.
Ricard is controlling Wallace's posture.
Wallace has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ricard is proving hard to escape from.
Ricard is trying to keep Wallace in close.
Wallace is looking to stand up but Ricard won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wallace postures up.
Ricard has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

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.
Ricard might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Wallace haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Wallace has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ricard is proving hard to escape from.
Ricard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Wallace just misses with a punch to the body.
Ricard moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wallace wants to clinch up but Ricard keeps it at a distance.
Wallace takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ricard scores with a sloppy right hand. Wallace should have avoided that one.
Wallace throws a low kick but Ricard moves out of range easily.
Farboleous Ricard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wallace misses with a kick to the body.
Wallace ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wallace throws a right hand that misses
and Ricard makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Wallace checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ricard.
Wallace lands a right hook to the body.
Wallace looks to land a combination but Ricard avoids it well.
Ricard keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ricard digs a good body shot into Wallace's ribs.
Wallace avoids the body shot from Ricard.
Wallace looks to score with a jab to the body but Ricard is just out of range.
Wallace tries a low kick but Ricard avoids it.
Ricard misses with a low kick.
Wallace is looking to wear down Ricard with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ricard takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nathan Wallace is winning the standup battle so far.
Ricard stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Wallace.
Ricard misses with a body shot.
Wallace fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wallace tries to clinch up.
Wallace scores with a nice head shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice jab there from Wallace.
Wallace misses with a kick to the body.
Wallace throws a leg kick but Ricard moved away.
Wallace staying out of range there.
Wallace takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Wallace fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ricard is out of range.
Ricard throws a lazy right hand but Wallace sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wallace swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ricard with the counter takedown but Wallace avoids it easily.
Ricard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wallace moves away.
Ricard fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ricard pivots, looking for a leg kick but Wallace is out of range and Ricard settles back down.
Wallace pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ricard is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ricard scores with a shot to the body.
Wallace moves out of range of the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Farboleous Ricard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Wallace's corner calls for a 1-2. Wallace obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wallace. Ricard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wallace looks to throw a body kick

and Ricard decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Wallace's guard.
Ricard forces his way into half guard.
Ricard trying to control from half guard but Wallace is working away.
Wallace tries to kick Ricard off but Ricard keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ricard wants to free his trapped foot but Wallace is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Wallace is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wallace is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Wallace is refusing to be controlled, as Ricard sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricard keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Ricard is trying to work for a kimura but Wallace is defending well.
Ricard moves nicely into side control.
Wallace holds on to Ricard's head and controls the position momentarily.
Wallace can't do much from the bottom here.
Wallace is trying to escape the position but Ricard is controlling the position.
Ricard tries to move to mount but Wallace blocks the move with his legs.
Wallace is trying to control Ricard's posture but Ricard avoids it.

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.
Ricard trying to control the action but Wallace is working from the bottom.

Ricard tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ricard is staying tight to Wallace's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Ricard trying to control the action but Wallace is working from the bottom.
Wallace tries to escape but Ricard is in control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricard trying to control the position but Wallace is working away.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ricard moves out of range of the body kick from Wallace.
Ricard is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ricard swings widly with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ricard paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Wallace throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ricard moves forwards but Wallace connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ricard takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Wallace throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ricard lands a really nice looking cross but Wallace seems unphased.
Wallace throws a leg kick that is checked
and Ricard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A bone on bone clash there as Ricard blocks the leg kick.
Wallace cracks Ricard with an open hand slap.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ricard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Wallace.
Ricard keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricard displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Wallace throws out the jab.
Ricard just misses with a punch to the body.
Ricard throws a looping overhand right but Wallace ducks down to avoid it.
Ricard connects with a leg kick. Wallace looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Ricard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Wallace fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ricard fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Wallace has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Wallace misses with a body shot.
Ricard misses with a looping right.
Ricard connects with a body shot.
Ricard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wallace.
Ricard's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ricard throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Both fighters circling a little - Wallace finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Ricard avoids the body shot from Wallace.
Ricard throws a looping overhand right but Wallace ducks down to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Farboleous Ricard.
I think Ricard has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Farboleous Ricard!
After winning the bout, Farboleous Ricard thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.