PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Keven Rich (ranked 5458 p4p, 0 weight class) and DJ Tillashaw (ranked 5966 p4p, 0 weight class). DJ Tillashaw has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rich
vs
Tillashaw

199 cm
24
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Keven Rich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, DJ Tillashaw!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tillashaw misses with a low kick.
Tillashaw goes for a double leg but Rich avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rich continues to drive forward.
Rich feinted with a counter takedown.

Rich clinches up against the cage.
Tillashaw tries for a takedown but Rich manages to get underhooks.
Tillashaw is looking to break free of the clinch but Rich has double underhooks.
Tillashaw goes for a takedown attempt but Rich pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Keven Rich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of DJ Tillashaw.

Tillashaw gets tackled into the cage by Rich. Rich maintains the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tillashaw wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rich is looking to take this one to the mat.
Tillashaw tries to circle away but Rich has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tillashaw tries to break the clinch but Rich is controlling the position.
Rich wants a takedown but no success here.
Tillashaw jumps guard but Rich turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tillashaw wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rich has him pressed against the cage.
Tillashaw is trying to maintain a safe position but Rich gets an underhook and turns Tillashaw into the cage.
Rich stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Tillashaw tries to pull guard but Rich won't allow it.

Rich gets control of Tillashaw's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rich will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rich looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Tillashaw controlling from the top position.

Rich looking for a guillotine here but Tillashaw defends easily.
Rich not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rich is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tillashaw is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Rich throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rich bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tillashaw's guard.

Tillashaw throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rich escapes and throws Tillashaw's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rich working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Tillashaw is looking to reverse the position.
Tillashaw can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tillashaw is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Rich is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tillashaw has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tillashaw looking for a sweep but Rich has passed into full mount! Oh no!

Rich working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Rich will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tillashaw tries to control Rich's body but Rich pushes him off. Tillashaw squirms to his side and now Rich has his back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
I really don't envy Tillashaw right now.

Rich has got one arm under Tillashaw's chin. This could be trouble... Tillashaw trying to control the other hand but Rich gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Tillashaw has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Keven Rich!