PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rick Rich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Calzaghe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Calzaghe has chosen The Pride of Wales as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rich
vs
Calzaghe

177 cm
26
180 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

182 cm
30
173 lbs
23 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

LOD: Affordable Quality

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 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rick Rich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Joe Calzaghe!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rich shoots for a takedown but Calzaghe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Calzaghe misses with a straight left.
Calzaghe lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Rick Rich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Calzaghe cracks Rich with an open hand slap.
Calzaghe fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rich looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rich shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Calzaghe as he jumps to the side.
Calzaghe misses with a wild body shot.
Calzaghe throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rich uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Calzaghe.
Calzaghe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rich misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Calzaghe cracks Rich with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Some wild striking there from Rich.
Calzaghe lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Calzaghe pinned against the cage. Calzaghe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rich lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Calzaghe circles away quickly and effectively.
Rich tries to clinch up
and Calzaghe counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rich tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Calzaghe swivels and escapes.
Calzaghe swinging wildly here.
Calzaghe scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rich is trying hard to land a takedown here. Calzaghe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Calzaghe stuns Rich with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Calzaghe tries to bum rush Rich with a series of wild strikes but Rich uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rich fails to land the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Calzaghe as Rich shoots in.
Rich misses with a body kick.
Calzaghe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rich was well out of range. Poor timing from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe scores with a sloppy right hand. Rich should have avoided that one.

Rich gets a clinch.
Rich wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Calzaghe is looking to break free of the clinch but Rich has double underhooks.
Calzaghe tries to circle away but Rich has him pinned against the cage.
Rich has had enough of the clinch but Calzaghe keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rich blocks a body shot from Calzaghe.
Calzaghe tries to stall but Rich uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Rich breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rich tries to clinch there but Calzaghe circles away.

Rich takes the fight into the clinch.
Rich being controlled against the cage.
Calzaghe continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Calzaghe lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rich or not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rich blocks an uppercut.

Calzaghe breaks from the clinch.
Rich shoots for a takedown but Calzaghe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Rich gets a double leg takedown into Calzaghe's guard.
Calzaghe looking to control.
Calzaghe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Calzaghe is looking to stand up but Rich isn't so interested in that idea.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rich trying to control the position from guard on top but Calzaghe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Calzaghe controls Rich momentarily but Rich frees himself.
Rich won't allow Calzaghe to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Calzaghe dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Calzaghe feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Richs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Calzaghe lands with a hook. Rich tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Rich feints and then cracks Calzaghe's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Calzaghe down.
Calzaghe punishes Rich's body with a nice straight punch.
Calzaghe connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Nice straight punches there by Calzaghe. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Calzaghe.
Rich tries to score a power double leg takedown but Calzaghe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rich somewhat.
Rich shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Calzaghe as he jumps to the side.
Rich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rich fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Calzaghe takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghe tries to bum rush Rich with a series of wild strikes but Rich uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rich thuds his right hand into Calzaghe's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Calzaghe misses with a wild body shot.

Rich shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Calzaghe napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rich grinds an elbow into Calzaghe's temple.
Calzaghe prevents Rich from moving into mount.
Rich wants to lay and pray for a moment but Calzaghe keeps working.
Calzaghe is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Calzaghe's face as Rich controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe is trying to improve his position.
Calzaghe is trying to control Rich's posture but Rich avoids it.
Calzaghe manages to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Well, if Rich 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.
Calzaghe is trying to stand up here but Rich is controlling him well.
Calzaghe is looking to control Rich's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Calzaghe avoid being mounted?

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rich shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Calzaghe to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rich looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Calzaghe misses with the combination.
Rich tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rich uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Calzaghe.
Calzaghe cracks Rich with an open hand slap.
Rich shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Calzaghe but Calzaghe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Calzaghe ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Calzaghe connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rich's hands.
Rich shoots in but Calzaghe avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghe wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Calzaghe lands a jab-cross combination.
Rich takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rich shoots in for a takedown but Calzaghe shows good takedown defense.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Calzaghe scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Calzaghe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Calzaghe connects with a nice looking jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Calzaghe tries to break the clinch but Rich is controlling the position.
Calzaghe is looking to break free of the clinch but Rich has double underhooks.
Calzaghe working hard to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Calzaghe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rich keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A nice combination there by Calzaghe.
Calzaghe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rich lands a nice hook to Calzaghe's body. Calzaghe takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rich closes this distance looking for a takedown but Calzaghe circles away.
Rich moves forwards but Calzaghe connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Calzaghe throws a right hand that Rich ducks under and follows up with a left that Rich also avoids with ease.
Rich shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Calzaghe pinned against the cage. Calzaghe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Calzaghe scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rich misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Joe Calzaghe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Calzaghe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rich.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rich gets the takedown into side control.
Calzaghe is looking for a sweep.
Rich working away.
Calzaghe is trying to improve his position.
Rich tries to move into full mount but can't pass Calzaghe's legs.
Calzaghe is trying to get back to half guard.
Calzaghe can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rich trying to control the position but Calzaghe is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Calzaghe connects with the punch.
Rich takes a shot right to the bread basket.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rich looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rich shoots in but Calzaghe avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rick Rich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rich takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Calzaghe.
Joe Calzaghe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rich uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Calzaghe.
Rich shoots in looking for a takedown but Calzaghe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rich's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rich will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Calzaghe blocks the body kick.
Rich tries to clinch there but Calzaghe circles away.
Calzaghe stalks Rich and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rich's face. Rich staggers backwards, shaken.
Calzaghe getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rich is looking to clinch but Calzaghe is avoiding it.
No luck for Rich with that takedown attempt.
Rich takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rich on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Calzaghe.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Calzaghe looks to land a combination. Rich sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rich gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Rich is rocked!
Rich takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Oh Rich is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rich moves forwards but Calzaghe connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rich gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rich looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rich shoots in looking for a takedown but Calzaghe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rich's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rich has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rich there as he acknowledges the shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rich.
Rick Rich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A jab lands there for Calzaghe.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Calzaghe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Calzaghe 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Calzaghe!
Joe Calzaghe really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that LOD: Affordable Quality logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.