PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kraig Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ervin Donigan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kraig Richards has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Richards
vs
Donigan

200 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

189 cm
18
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kraig Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ervin Donigan!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards is looking to clinch but Donigan is avoiding it.

Donigan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Richards gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Donigan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Donigan prevents Richards from getting the reversal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donigan throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Donigan is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donigan unloads with some shots from mount but Richards bucks and avoids them well.
Richards wants to hold on but Donigan pushes him away.
Donigan throwing strikes but Richards recovers to half guard. A much better position.

Donigan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donigan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Richards defending well though.
Donigan is trying to control the action in half guard but Richards is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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.
Donigan working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Richards's thigh. Richards counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Richards utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Donigan is looking to pass into half guard but Richards pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Richards is in guard.

Richards wanted to stand there but Donigan had control of the position.
Donigan wants to control but Richards passes easily into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Donigan is trying to maintain the position but Richards is very close to passing his half guard.
Donigan is not content to let Richards control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donigan wants to get back to full guard.
Donigan is not content to let Richards control the position.
Donigan is trying to get back to full guard.
Donigan trying to hold on to Richards's head to control him but Richards postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Richards lands a glancing blow to the side of Donigan's head.
Donigan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards with a nice cross.
Donigan stuffs the takedown.

Donigan closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Richards's guard.
Donigan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards working a defensive guard here.

Richards had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Donigan defends it easily.
Richards is breathing heavily.
Richards working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ervin Donigan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Richards rushes Donigan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Richards really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Richards manages to break the clinch.

Donigan is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Richards's half guard.
Richards is staying active underneath Donigan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Donigan is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Richards doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Donigan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donigan controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards trying to control here.
Richards is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Richards trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Donigan manages to pass to mount!

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.

Donigan looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Richards tries to hold on but Donigan pushes him away.
Richards is working to get back to half guard.
Donigan wants to control the action but instead Richards gets a body lock and reverses into Donigan's guard! Nice work!
Donigan has a closed guard, preventing Richards from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Donigan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Richards stands up from Donigan's guard - Richards perhaps looking for a knockout.
Richards shoots in for a takedown but Donigan shows good takedown defense.
A head kick by Donigan misses

and Richards counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Richards.

Donigan pulls Richards into guard.
Donigan is trying to keep Richards in close.
Richards will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Richards working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donigan is trying to control the position but Richards postures up.
Donigan wants to hit a switch here but Richards passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Donigan there!
Richards looking to control and managing it successfully.
Richards can't control as he wanted to and Donigan manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Richards missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Richards stalling.
Richards's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ervin Donigan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Donigan scores with a takedown into Richards's guard.
Richards is trying to control the position but Donigan postures up.
Donigan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Donigan wanted to stand there but Richards had control of the position.
Richards lands some strikes from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donigan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Donigan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards keeping full guard, as Donigan tries to pass.
Richards preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Donigan moves in looking to clinch but Richards pushes him off.

Donigan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Donigan decides to stand up, so the ref orders Richards to his feet.

Donigan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richards won't allow Donigan to pass to mount.
Donigan is trying to control. Richards wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards is trying to maintain the position but Donigan is very close to passing his half guard.

Donigan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Donigan moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Richards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards struggling a bit here.

Donigan decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Donigan shoots in and gets a takedown into Richards's guard.
Richards keeping moving, preventing Donigan from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Richards has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Donigan trying to control but Richards is working from the bottom.
Kraig Richards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ervin Donigan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Donigan passes Richards's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ervin Donigan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Donigan 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 26:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ervin Donigan!