PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eldon Richmond (ranked 5888 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ali Ali (ranked 24566 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Richmond
vs
Ali

166 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
230 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eldon Richmond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ali Ali!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ali drives through and clinches with Richmond against the cage.
Richmond really is a fat lump.
Ali stops a takedown attempt from Richmond.

Ali has clasped his hands together around Richmond's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Richmond throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Ali Ali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ali shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ali showed some decent athleticism there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richmond wants to control but Ali is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Ali seems to be working for a kimura but Richmond defends the submission attempt.

Ali postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Richmond to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richmond shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Richmond was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Richmond looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ali wants to get back to his feet but Richmond drags him back down.
Ali is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Richmond not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ali is looking for a sweep. Richmond is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Richmond is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ali is defending against the submission attempts here by Richmond.

Richmond is trying to work for a kimura but Ali is defending well.
Ali wants to control but Richmond is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Ali has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Richmond is on him like a limpet, forcing Ali back against the cage.
Richmond is working for takedown but Ali is calmly controlling the position for now.
Richmond wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eldon Richmond. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ali wants the takedown. Richmond is fighting it off but Ali persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Richmond's guard against the cage.
Richmond is wriggling around but Ali manages to pass to half guard.
Richmond is breathing heavily.

Ali performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ali seems to be working for a kimura but Richmond defends the submission attempt.
Ali thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ali uses his free foot to push down on Richmond's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Richmond.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Ali dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ali moves into the clinch successfully.

Ali has clasped his hands together around Richmond's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Richmond explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Ali clinches up with Richmond and pushes him back against the cage.
Richmond wants to take the fight to the mat but Ali manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Richmond wants to take the fight to the mat but Ali manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Ali gets control of Richmond's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ali will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
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!
Ali 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.
Ali is pulling down on Richmond's head. It's preventing any offense from Richmond, at least for the moment.
Richmond has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richmond stopping the sweep attempt from Ali.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ali pulls Richmond in close to prevent any damage.
Ali manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Richmond manages to get himself to full guard.

Ali stands and steps away. Richmond gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Ali shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Richmond wants to stand back up but Ali manages to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Richmond taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ali decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Ali looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Richmond pushes Ali off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ali looking to score a takedown here. Richmond is defending well but Ali drives through and ends up in Richmond's guard.
Ali looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali wants to control from the top but Richmond keeps moving.
Ali trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ali throws a big right hand that misses.
Ali passes Richmond's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ali is trying to control the action in half guard but Richmond is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Ali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ali drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Richmond tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Ali is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Richmond has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Ali biding his time, looking for the opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Even with his hooks in, Ali manages to miss with strikes from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richmond is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Ali's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Ali missing with punches from the back.
Ali Ali has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ali slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Ali is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Richmond is defending well though. Ali let's go of the attempt for now.
Ali punches the canvas rather than the man.
Ali just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Ali working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richmond is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Ali.
Ali tries to keep control of the position but Richmond is staying busy.
Ali might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Richmond haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Ali is riding his opponent, not letting Richmond buck him off.
Ali's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four 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.
Richmond wants to control his opponent's hands but Ali gets his hands free.
Richmond is in bad spot here.
I would not like to be Richmond right now.
Ali has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ali misses with a punch to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Richmond showing good submission defense here.
Ali biding his time, looking for the opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ali Ali comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ali has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ali Ali!