PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lorenzo Naoi (ranked 4168 p4p, 2797 weight class) and Billy Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Naoi
vs
Richards

176 cm
18
158
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
155
4 - 0 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Northern Zombie

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 Tokyo, Lorenzo Naoi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Richards!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Richards manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Naoi on his heels. He'll look to pass Naoi's guard now, I'm sure.
Naoi wants to get back to his feet but Richards passes into half guard.

Richards keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Let's hope that Richards has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Richards has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Richards looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Richards controlling his opponent.
Naoi is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Richards controlling from the full mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Richards.

Richards looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naoi has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Naoi wants to get back to his feet.
Richards biding his time, looking for the opening.
Naoi is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Richards is riding his opponent, not letting Naoi buck him off.
Naoi trying to get back to his feet but Richards is in full control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Naoi trying to get back to his feet but Richards is in full control for now.
Richards has good solid back control here.
Naoi trying to get back to his feet but Richards is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Naoi is trying to stand back up.
Richards just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Naoi wants to get back to his feet.
Richards controls the position.
Naoi wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Richards really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Naoi.
Yet more stalling tactics from Richards.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Naoi is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Richards 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.

Naoi connects with a single shot there.
Naoi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Richards.
Naoi lands the left hand.

Richards is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Naoi's half guard.
Richards content to control rather than advance.
Richards is continuing to stall.
Richards works his way into side control.
Naoi is pushing Richards's head away, looking to escape. Richards manages to hold on to the position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Naoi pushes Richards away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Richards gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Richards controls the position from side control.
Naoi is trying to get back to his feet.
Richards is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Naoi will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The adventures of Richards the control monster continue. Boring.
Billy Richards has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.
Naoi is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

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

Richards gets a takedown into half guard.
Naoi scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Richards manages to mount him!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Naoi is trying to stand.
Richards controlling his opponent.
Naoi wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naoi has given up his back. Will we see Richards going for some submissions?
Richards has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Richards trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Naoi doesn't escape.
Naoi is trying to stand back up.
Naoi is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Richards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naoi is trying to stand back up.
Richards trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Naoi doesn't escape.
Naoi wants to get back to his feet.
Good control from Richards.
Naoi is trying to stand back up.
Richards trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Naoi doesn't escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Naoi wants to get back to his feet.
What can Naoi do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Richards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Richards changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Naoi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Naoi is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Richards has just dragged him back down to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naoi is trying to escape the position but Richards is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

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.
Naoi pushes Richards away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Richards gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Naoi trying to remain calm as Richards controls from the top position.
More stalling from Richards.
Naoi is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Richards doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Naoi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Naoi lands a nice shot that snaps Richards's head back.
Lorenzo Naoi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Naoi gets caught napping as Richards dives in and scores a takedown. Naoi manages to retain guard.
Naoi is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Richards dives into side control.

Naoi is trying to buck Richards off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards slows the pace down.
Naoi is trying to get back to his feet.
The referee asks Richards politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Richards prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Naoi pushes Richards away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Richards gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Richards comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Richards winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Richards!