PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Akira Senbude (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Senbude
vs
Richards

176 cm
18
163 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

181 cm
22
158 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Senbude!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gary Richards!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Richards changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Senbude looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Richards looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Senbude is trying to improve his position.
Richards advances nicely into full mount.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Senbude working to try and regain half guard.
Richards trying to control but Senbude is having none of it.

Richards working for a submission but Senbude is keeping him at bay.
Senbude is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richards is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Senbude can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Senbude keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Richards controlling from the full mount.
Senbude keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Richards content just to control the position here.
Senbude is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Richards has taken his back!

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.
Senbude looking very determined here, making life difficult for Richards.
Senbude tries to break free.
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.
Senbude breaks Richards's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Senbude is breathing heavily.
Senbude postures up in Richards's guard and throws a big left but Richards blocks it.

Senbude avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Richards looking to control.

Senbude is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Richards is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Richards has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Richards throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Senbude misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Richards prevents Senbude from improving his position.

Richards is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Senbude flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Senbude moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Senbude wants to stand and escape but Richards is having none of it.

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.
Senbude can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Richards controls the pace.

Senbude working for a triangle but Richards defends it easily.
Richards forces his way into half guard.
Senbude tries to roll over but Richards keeps him under control.
Richards seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Richards is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Senbude looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Richards dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Senbude closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Richards to the mat! Richards manages to get full guard.
Senbude wants to stand but Richards has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Richards trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Richards working for a triangle but Senbude defends it easily.
Senbude won't allow Richards to sweep him here.

Richards working for a triangle but Senbude defends it easily.
Senbude advances to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards tries to get to full guard but Senbude has control of the leg.
Senbude is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Senbude trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Senbude thows a big elbow that misses.

Richards is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Senbude trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Senbude looking to pass the guard.

Richards escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Senbude gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Senbude wants to stand and escape but instead Richards has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Gary Richards has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards stays in close to Senbude's body and controls the position.

Senbude has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Richards 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 Senbude.

Richards looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Richards throws a strike aimed at the side of Senbude's head but Senbude avoids it well.
Senbude is not content to let Richards control the position.
Senbude is looking to regain half guard here but Richards keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Senbude prevents Richards from improving position.
Senbude sneaks back into half guard.
Senbude wants to get back to full guard but Richards has passed into side control.
Richards avoids the attempt from Senbude to control.
Senbude is wriggling around trying to escape.
Richards fails to take his opponent's back.
Richards tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Richards prevents Senbude from getting the reversal.

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.

Richards working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Senbude is squirming around, avoiding Richards's attempts to control the action.
Senbude is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Richards throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Senbude is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Senbude tries to buck Richards off but Richards takes his back!
Senbude is trying to break free.
Senbude rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary 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! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Senbude fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Richards sprawls well initially but Senbude persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Senbude sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Richards defending well though.

Senbude seems to be looking for submissions.
Richards tries to get to full guard but Senbude has control of the leg.
Richards keeping control of the position.

Senbude is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Senbude throws a strike but Richards avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Richards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Richards keeping full guard, as Senbude tries to pass.
Senbude is looking to stand up but Richards won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Senbude passes Richards's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Senbude is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Richards!

Senbude stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Richards misses with a takedown

and Senbude counters with a shoot takedown. Richards fights it but they end up in guard.
Senbude wants to control from the top but Richards keeps moving.

Senbude is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Richards has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Senbude is looking to defend but Richards has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Senbude! Richards pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Senbude taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Gary Richards!