PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jacques Baptiste (ranked 5009 p4p, 4918 weight class) and Joey Richardson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Baptiste
vs
Richardson

194 cm
18
156
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
24
149
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 Sydney, Jacques Baptiste!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joey Richardson !
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Winston Howard and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richardson has a takedown stuffed.
Baptiste lands a high kick!
Baptiste shoots in for a double leg but Richardson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Richardson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Baptiste.
Richardson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Baptiste defends it nicely.

Richardson pushes Baptiste up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baptiste wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacques Baptiste. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baptiste is looking to take this one to the mat.
Baptiste tries to pull guard but Richardson won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baptiste escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Baptiste pushes Richardson up against the cage in a clinch.
Richardson can't get the takedown.

Richardson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Baptiste has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Richardson .

Richardson clinches.

Baptiste successfully pulls guard.
Baptiste not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richardson advances position into side control!
Richardson lands some shots froms side control.

Richardson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Baptiste to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Baptiste is defended easily by Richardson .
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Baptiste.
Baptiste throws a head kick that misses.
Baptiste is breathing heavily.

Richardson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Baptiste sprawls well initially but Richardson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
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!
Richardson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Richardson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Richardson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Richardson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Baptiste eats them both and turns towards Richardson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Richardson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson lands a body punch.
Baptiste tries to pull guard but Richardson holds him up against the cage and eventually Baptiste drops back down to his feet.
Baptiste trying to land knees to the body.

Richardson jumps guard and drags Baptiste to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Richardson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Baptiste is aware though and is defending well.
Richardson pulls Baptiste in close to prevent any damage.

Richardson looking for a guillotine here but Baptiste defends easily.
Richardson looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richardson wants to stand and escape but Baptiste is having none of it.
Baptiste tries to stand but Richardson is controlling from the bottom.
Richardson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Richardson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Richardson rushes Baptiste and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Richardson dominated that round.
That's time! Baptiste's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Richardson cracks a nice hook into Baptiste's ribs.
Richardson shoots in and drives through. Baptiste sprawls well.
Baptiste with a poor takedown

and Richardson counters by clinching up.
Richardson jumps guard but Baptiste stands there with Richardson around his waist. Richardson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Richardson gets underhooks to prevent Baptiste's takedown attempt.

Richardson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Baptiste really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Richardson .
You can see the frustration on Baptiste's face as Richardson controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Richardson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Baptiste tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Richardson swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacques Baptiste. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baptiste throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Richardson 's waist but Richardson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Baptiste off to one side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Richardson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Baptiste on his heels. He'll look to pass Baptiste's guard now, I'm sure.
Richardson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Baptiste has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Richardson is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Baptiste.
Richardson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Baptiste tries to control but Richardson manages to take his back.
Richardson really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Baptiste.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardson loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Baptiste hold on?
Baptiste rolls, trying to escape but Richardson keeps control of the position.
Baptiste is working hard here to advance position.

Richardson working for a choke but Baptiste is defending well.
Richardson tries to keep control of the position but Baptiste is staying busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Richardson is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Baptiste has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Richardson lands a shot to the head.
Richardson has Baptiste flattened out and is raining down punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Baptiste defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Joey Richardson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Richardson controlling well, preventing Baptiste from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richardson controlling the position well here. Baptiste rolled but Richardson kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Baptiste staying busy and making it hard for Richardson to control.
Richardson controlling from the back.
Baptiste wants to escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Richardson has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Baptiste's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Richardson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Baptiste's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Richardson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Richardson stands up and beckons Baptiste to his feet.
Baptiste is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Baptiste shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Richardson but Richardson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Richardson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Baptiste was covering up waiting for the punch and Richardson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Richardson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baptiste keeping moving, preventing Richardson from controlling successfully.
Baptiste is trying to keep Richardson in close.

Richardson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Baptiste shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Richardson sprawls well. Richardson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Baptiste gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baptiste wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Richardson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Richardson shoots for a takedown but Baptiste saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Richardson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Baptiste looking to control.
Richardson chips away with some ground and pound.
Richardson trying to control the position from guard on top but Baptiste is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richardson throwing strikes from guard but Baptiste blocks nicely.
Baptiste will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Richardson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Richardson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Richardson in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Baptiste is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Baptiste wants to control but Richardson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richardson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Richardson decides to stand back up.

Richardson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Baptiste tries to kick Richardson off in order to stand up. Richardson Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacques Baptiste showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Richardson 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight for Joey Richardson !
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight for Joey Richardson !
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight for Joey Richardson !

Joey Richardson wins by unanimous decision!