PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Josh Levan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Richie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richie has chosen I Am as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Levan
vs
Richie

180 cm
25
170 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

190 cm
26
172 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Arcticus

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 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Josh Levan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, James Richie!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richie fails with a takedown attempt.
Levan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Richie circles away.

Richie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Levan pushes Richie off looking to stand but Richie dives back in and keeps control.
Richie seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Richie tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Levan.
Levan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Levan pushes Richie off looking to stand but Richie dives back in and keeps control.
Richie slows the pace down in half guard.
Levan tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Richie manages to move to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levan wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Richie is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Levan can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Levan tries to buck Richie off but he can't manage it.
Levan is wriggling around trying to escape.
Richie content just to control the position here.
Richie tries to control but Levan wriggling away.
Levan is desperately trying to improve his position but Richie has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richie has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Levan's face.
Levan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Richie on the ground.
Richie connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Richie trying to control but Levan is having none of it.
Richie controlling the position easily from mount.
Richie landing strikes from the mount.
A nice elbow there by Richie.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Richie controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Richie 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.
Levan wants to hold on but Richie pushes him away.
Levan working to try and regain half guard.
Levan is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Richie landing strikes from the mount and Levan is in trouble!
Levan is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Richie postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Levan looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Richie postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Levan looks a forlorn figure.
Levan is looking to get to half guard.
Richie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Richie landing punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richie lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Richie landing shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Richie 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.

Levan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Richie throws a jab but it's blocked by Levan.
Levan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Richie counters with a single leg into guard. Levan didn't expect that.
Richie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Levan wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Richie is now in half guard.
Still in half guard, Richie seems content to control.
James Richie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Richie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Levan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Levan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Still in half guard, Richie seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levan wants to get back to his feet.
Richie passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Levan!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Richie raining down hammerfists from mount.
Richie sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Levan tries to hold on but Richie pushes him away.
Levan is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richie with shots to the head and body - Levan looks very uncomfortable down there.
Levan is looking to improve his position but Richie isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richie controlling his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Richie looking to finish Levan with some ground and pound. This is bad for Levan!
Richie looking to control and managing it successfully.
Levan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levan tries to hold on but Richie pushes him away.
Richie lands a big elbow.
Levan wants to try and get back to his feet.
Richie controlling his opponent.
Levan wants to hold on but Richie pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Levan is in all sorts of trouble here.
Richie controlling from the full mount.
Richie landing strikes from the mount and Levan is in trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levan tries to hold on but Richie pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Richie cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
A nice elbow there by Richie.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Richie controlling the position easily from mount.
Richie cracks Levan with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Richie controlling the pace for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Levan squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Levan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Richie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Richie. Those never looked like landing.
Levan tries to close the distance and clinch but Richie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Levan rushes Richie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Richie pressing his opponent against the cage.

Levan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Levan shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Richie manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Levan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Richie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Levan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Richie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Levan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Richie is proving hard to escape from.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levan stopping the sweep attempt from Richie.
Richie working a defensive guard here.
Richie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Richie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Richie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Richie keeping full guard, as Levan tries to pass.

Richie is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levan is fighting to break Richie's control of his arms but Richie is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Richie trying to keep a closed guard but Levan is proving a slippery customer.

Richie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Levan trying to control the position from guard on top but Richie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Levan advances to half guard.
Levan wants to stand up but Richie has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Richie manages to get to full guard.
Richie pulls Levan in to control the position.
Richie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Levan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Richie's head.
Levan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Richie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Richie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Richie is looking to stand up but Levan isn't so interested in that idea.
Levan wants to control from the top but Richie keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Richie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Richie keeping moving, preventing Levan from controlling successfully.
Richie trying to keep a closed guard but Levan is proving a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Richie moves out of range of the body kick.
Richie is looking to clinch but Levan is avoiding it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Levan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Levan moves into the clinch.
Josh Levan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Richie is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Levan wants to break free but Richie has control.

Richie pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James Richie.
I've got Richie 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Richie!
A victorious James Richie thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.