PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kraig Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorge Cardozo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jorge Cardozo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Richards
vs
Cardozo

200 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 4 - 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, Jorge Cardozo!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cardozo throws the kick towards the body but Richards avoids it.
Cardozo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cardozo fails in his attempt to clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Richards enables Cardozo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Richards manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Richards controlling Cardozo's posture.
Richards keeping moving, preventing Cardozo from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cardozo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cardozo distracts Richards with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cardozo wanted to stand there but Richards had control of the position.
Cardozo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cardozo sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Cardozo misses with a shot to the body

and Richards counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Cardozo has Richards pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Cardozo pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Richards tumbling to the mat - Cardozo dives into Richards's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards is controlling Cardozo's posture.
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.
Cardozo wants to control from the top but Richards keeps moving.
Richards will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cardozo being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo trying to control the position from guard on top but Richards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richards working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Cardozo.
Cardozo being controlled here momentarily.
Cardozo stands and throws Richards's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richards can't do much from the bottom here.

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.
Richards is not content to let Cardozo control the position.
Cardozo tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Richards gets back to half guard.
Richards wants to control but Cardozo is keeping busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Richards won't allow Cardozo to pass to mount.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorge Cardozo dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Richards gets the takedown into side control.
Richards tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Richards lands an elbow.
Richards is looking to take a break and control but Cardozo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Richards decides to stand up, so the ref orders Cardozo to his feet.
Cardozo throws a chopping leg kick but Richards manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardozo is looking to clinch but Richards is avoiding it.
Richards looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cardozo is fending him off so far but Richards persists. Nope, Cardozo circles away and we're back to standing.
Richards shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Richards shoots in and drives through. Cardozo sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kraig Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardozo throws a sloppy body shot

and Richards counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Richards.
Richards throws a big right hand that misses.
Richards stopping the sweep attempt from Cardozo.
Cardozo controls Richards momentarily but Richards frees himself.
Richards wanted to stand there but Cardozo had control of the position.
Richards showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cardozo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cardozo working for a triangle but Richards defends it easily.
Cardozo trying to keep a closed guard but Richards is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Richards gets caught napping as Cardozo dives in and scores a takedown. Richards manages to retain guard.
Cardozo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cardozo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Richards pulls Cardozo in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardozo wants to pass the guard but Richards is keeping the position.
Richards keeping moving, preventing Cardozo from controlling successfully.
Richards has control of Cardozo's left arm, preventing Cardozo from doing any damage.
Richards tries to strike from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Richards tries to clinch but Cardozo moves away
and Cardozo counters with a two punch combo.
Jorge Cardozo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Richards moves into the clinch successfully.
Richards has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cardozo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Richards looking for a takedown.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
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 drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cardozo gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Cardozo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Cardozo is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cardozo being controlled here momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jorge Cardozo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cardozo stuffs the takedown attempt from Richards. Richards gets slowly back to his feet.
Cardozo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Richards.
Jorge Cardozo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cardozo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Richards is trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards regains half guard there - taking advantage of Cardozo's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardozo 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.
Cardozo is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Richards is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are battling for position here. Richards manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Cardozo wants to control from the top but Richards keeps moving.
Cardozo preventing the sweep.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

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.
Cardozo trying to control but Richards is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Cardozo gets a takedown into half guard.
Richards preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Richards is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards wants to control but Cardozo is keeping busy.
Cardozo wants to control but Richards is keeping him busy.
Richards trying to control here.

Cardozo seems to be working for a kimura but Richards defends the submission attempt.
Cardozo stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Richards closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cardozo circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kraig Richards. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Richards closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cardozo quickly recovers to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cardozo punching from the bottom.
Richards is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cardozo trying to control from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jorge Cardozo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cardozo 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jorge Cardozo!