PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sebastian Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Armstrong has chosen Mudvayne as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Richards
vs
Armstrong

177 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
175 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Gold Standard Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sebastian Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards circles away from the clinch attempt.
Armstrong throws a head kick that misses.
Armstrong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Richards swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Michael Armstrong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Richards takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Sebastian Richards has been cut.

Armstrong pushes Richards up against the cage in a clinch.
Richards tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Armstrong just stands there and leans against the cage.
Armstrong lands an elbow inside.
Richards changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Armstrong fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Richards is breathing heavily.
Armstrong wants to clinch up but Richards keeps it at a distance.
Armstrong tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Armstrong connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Armstrong fails in his attempt to clinch.
Richards tries to clinch up.

Armstrong has taken the fight to the clinch.
Richards takes a knee right on the jaw!
Armstrong lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Richards tries to pull guard but Armstrong holds him up against the cage and eventually Richards drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sebastian Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Richards is looking to break free of the clinch but Armstrong has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong lands a knee to the head.
Armstrong with a knee to the head.
Armstrong scores with a knee to the head.
Armstrong with a knee to the head.
Armstrong lands an elbow just above Richards 's eye.
Armstrong lands a knee to the head.
Armstrong looking to throw knees to the head but Richards is blocking nicely.
Armstrong lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Sebastian Richards's cut is getting worse.
Armstrong gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Armstrong with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A knee to the head by Armstrong.
Armstrong connects with a knee to the head.
Armstrong lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Armstrong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Richards blocks it with crossed arms.
A knee to the head by Armstrong.
Richards looking to slow down the pace here.
Armstrong landing knees to the head.
Richards tries to pull guard but Armstrong won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong lands an elbow inside.
Armstrong with a knee to the head.
Armstrong with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Armstrong gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Richards.
Armstrong connects with a nasty looking knee right to Richards's face.
Armstrong throws a knee to the head but misses.
Armstrong lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Armstrong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Richards has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Richards trying to land knees to the body.
Armstrong misses with a knee strike.
Armstrong managing to block the knees to the body from Richards.
Richards trying to stall but Armstrong improves his position.
Armstrong gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Armstrong lands a nice elbow.
Armstrong lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Richards takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards wants a takedown but no success here.
Armstrong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Richards has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Richards has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Armstrong avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Armstrong tries to land a knee to the head but Richards blocks with his arms.
Armstrong throws a knee to the head but misses.
Armstrong connects with a nasty looking knee right to Richards's face.
Armstrong tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Armstrong misses with a knee to the head.
Armstrong connects with a nasty looking knee right to Richards's face.
Armstrong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Richards blocks it with crossed arms.
Richards goes for a takedown attempt but Armstrong pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Armstrong pushes Richards up against the cage in a clinch.
Armstrong lands a knee to the head.
Richards goes for a takedown in the clinch but Armstrong prevents it.
Armstrong lands a damaging elbow.

That's four 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.
A knee to the head by Armstrong.
Armstrong with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Armstrong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Armstrong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Richards has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Richards has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Armstrong is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Armstrong throws a knee to the head but misses.
Armstrong with a knee to the head.
Armstrong misses with a knee to the head.
Armstrong throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Richards tries for a takedown. No joy.
Armstrong lands an elbow that stopped Richards in his tracks for a moment.
Armstrong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Richards blocks it with crossed arms.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice elbow from Armstrong.
Armstrong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Richards has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Richards is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Armstrong gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Richards is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Armstrong dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sebastian Richards's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Armstrong gets a clinch.
Armstrong tries a knee to the head but Richards blocks it.
Armstrong looking to throw knees to the head but Richards is blocking nicely.
Armstrong lands an elbow just above Richards 's eye.
Armstrong lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Armstrong lands a damaging elbow.
Richards is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Armstrong pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Armstrong tries to land a knee to the head but Richards blocks with his arms.
Armstrong looking to throw knees to the head but Richards is blocking nicely.

Richards gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Armstrong regains guard.
Armstrong is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Richards is controlling him.
Armstrong keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Armstrong manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Armstrong forces Richards back against the cage and clinches.
Armstrong scores with a knee to the head.
Armstrong with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong misses with a knee to the head.
Armstrong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Richards blocks it with crossed arms.

Richards pulls guard successfully.
Armstrong is looking to stand up but Richards won't let him.

Richards is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Armstrong is aware though and is defending well.
Armstrong would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Richards looking to control.
Armstrong has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Richards is proving hard to escape from.
Richards trying to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Armstrong moves into range and clinches up with Richards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Armstrong gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Richards.
Armstrong misses with a knee strike.
Richards takes an elbow to the temple.
Armstrong lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Armstrong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Richards goes for a takedown attempt but Armstrong pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sebastian Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Armstrong closes the distance and clinches.
Armstrong connects with a knee to the head.
Armstrong creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Armstrong looking to throw knees to the head but Richards is blocking nicely.
Armstrong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four 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.
Armstrong misses with a knee to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Armstrong throws an elbow but misses.
Armstrong throws a knee to the head but misses.
Armstrong keeps control of Richards as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Richards takes a knee right on the jaw!
Richards wants a takedown.
Armstrong connects with a nasty looking knee right to Richards's face.
Armstrong with a knee to the head.
Armstrong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Richards has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Armstrong landing knees to the head.

Richards has hold of one of Armstrong's legs. Armstrong is fighting the takedown attempt but Richards gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Richards wants to control from the top but Armstrong keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Armstrong will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sebastian Richards's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Armstrong closes the distance and clinches.
Armstrong connects with a nasty looking knee right to Richards's face.
Richards jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Armstrong walks away with a smile on his face. Richards gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Armstrong tries to clinch but Richards is having none of it.
Armstrong plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Armstrong tries to clinch there but Richards circles away.

Armstrong instigates a clinch.
Armstrong misses with a knee to the head.
Armstrong lands a knee to the head.
Armstrong tries to land a knee to the head but Richards blocks with his arms.
Armstrong scores with a knee to the head.
Richards has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Armstrong is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Armstrong lands a damaging elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richards wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sebastian Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A knee to the head by Armstrong.
Armstrong looking to throw knees to the head but Richards is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong with a knee to the head.
Armstrong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Richards has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Armstrong misses with a knee strike.
Michael Armstrong seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Armstrong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Richards has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Armstrong misses with a knee strike.
Armstrong misses with an elbow over the top.
Richards jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Armstrong walks away with a smile on his face. Richards gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Armstrong wants to clinch up but Richards keeps it at a distance.
Richards moves in looking to clinch but Armstrong pushes him off.
Armstrong throws a head kick but Richards moves out of range.

Richards shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Richards looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Richards is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Richards wants to take a breather but Armstrong is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong is trying to stand up here but Richards is controlling him well.
Richards trying to control from Armstrong's half guard. Armstrong has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Armstrong wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Richards manages to pass to side control.

That's four 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.
Richards controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Armstrong comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Armstrong 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Armstrong!