PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brett Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Blue (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.

Richards
vs
Blue

176 cm
22
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Brett Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Blue!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Blue stuffs the takedown attempt from Richards. Richards gets slowly back to his feet.
Blue wants to clinch up but Richards keeps it at a distance.

Blue shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Blue showed some decent athleticism there.
Richards is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Blue's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Blue's back!
Blue tries to roll but Richards sticks to his back.
Blue is trying to get back to his feet but Richards has full control of the position and if anything, Blue has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Blue looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Blue is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
What can Blue do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Blue is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Richards gets his way!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blue is really stuck here.
Blue wants to get back to his feet.
Blue prevents Richards from getting a body triangle.
Blue holding both Richards 's hands and preventing any damage.
Blue controlling his opponent's hands, preventing the submission attempt.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Richards.
Richards is looking to control Blue but Blue is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's two 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.
Blue trying to control the hands but Richards breaks the grip.
Richards trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Richards is not going to allow Blue to sit and survive in this position.
Blue looks gassed!
Richards throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Blue breaks Richards's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Blue must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Richards pushes Blue off and gets back to his feet.
Richards looks to clinch

and Blue decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Richards's guard.
Richards looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Richards is working hard here to advance position.
Blue pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Richards is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards has a closed guard, preventing Blue from standing up.

Blue postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Richards is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Blue, into his guard.
Blue looking to hit a scissor sweep but Richards is one step ahead there.
Blue lands an upkick as Richards stands over him.
Blue is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Blue pushes Richards off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Blue moves into range and clinches up with Richards.

Blue breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Blue with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Blue looks to land a combination. Richards sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Richards is rocked!
Richards misses with a takedown
and Blue counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Richards thinking.
Oh Richards is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Blue is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Richards throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Blue.
Richards throws a lazy body kick

and Blue counters by clinching up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Blue breaks from the clinch.

Blue fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Richards, pushing him back against the cage.
Richards tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Richards seems to have got his legs back now.
Blue has had enough of the clinch but Richards keeps him there for the moment.
Blue can't break the clinch.
Blue tries for a takedown but Richards manages to get underhooks.
Blue wants to get back to striking at distance but Richards won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Blue dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Richards doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Blue connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Richards gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Blue counters with a left to the body.
Richards clinches but Blue breaks the clinch

and Blue counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Richards's guard now.
Richards controls Blue momentarily but Blue frees himself.
Blue trying to control but Richards is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Richards is on top in guard.
Blue is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Blue not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Richards stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Blue swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards forces his way into half guard.
Richards frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Richards prevents Blue from getting the reversal.
Richards thowing shots but they're missing.
Blue keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Richards working the ground and pound effectively.
Blue is in all sorts of trouble here.
The referee warns Blue that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Blue is looking to improve his position but Richards isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Blue is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Blue manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Blue is looking to improve his position.
John Blue has got the better of the ground game so far.
Blue tries to kick Richards off but Richards keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Richards drops an elbow to the side of Blue's head.
Blue is looking to escape.
Richards tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Blue.
Blue tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Richards has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Richards unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards looking to control but Blue is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Blue is trying to stand up.
Richards controlling the position easily from mount.
Richards with good strikes from the mount here!
Richards thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Richards punishing his opponent with strikes.
Blue avoids a series of strikes thrown by Richards.
Richards trying to control but Blue is having none of it.
Richards avoids the attempt from Blue to control.

That's four 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.
Richards controlling from the full mount.
Blue tries to improve his position but instead Richards has taken his back!
Blue holding both Richards 's hands and preventing any damage.
Blue tries to escape but Richards has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Blue covers up after that shot from Richards.
Blue wants to get back to his feet.
Blue manages to reverse the position and now he's in Richards's guard. Nice work there by Blue.
Blue working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Richards not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Blue will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Richards misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Blue counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Blue circles away from the clinch attempt
and Blue counters with a nice leg kick.

Blue has managed to clinch.
Blue is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Blue breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Richards falls off balance throwing a combination

and Blue counters with a single leg into guard. Richards didn't expect that.
Richards has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Blue decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Blue has taken the fight to the clinch.

Blue breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Blue looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Blue looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blue working over Richards with some ground and pound. Richards looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Blue performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Blue passes to full mount!
Richards is looking to improve his position but Blue isn't that keen on the idea.
Richards trying desperately to get to his feet.
Blue prevents Richards from getting the reversal.
Richards slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Richards makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Richards.
Richards is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Richards uses his free foot to push down on Blue's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Blue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blue is squirming around, avoiding Richards's attempts to control the action.
Richards looking to ground and pound but Blue is blocking nicely.
Blue regains half guard.
Blue preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Blue works his way to full guard. Good work.
Blue trying to control the position here.
Blue throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Blue wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards looking to sit in guard and control but Blue gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Richards not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Blue stands up and waves to Richards to follow him.
Richards closes this distance looking for a takedown but Blue circles away.

Blue decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Richards trying to hold on to Blue's head to control him but Blue postures up.
Blue throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Richards avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Blue.
Richards is trying to control but can't.
Richards keeping hold of Blue's head, controlling as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards is trying to control but can't.
Richards is looking to get back to full guard here but Blue has managed to pass to side control instead.
Blue tries to control but Richards wriggling away.
Richards tries to reverse the position but Blue maintains control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blue lands with some strikes.
Richards keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Brett Richards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blue with the ground and pound from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Blue comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Blue 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Blue!