PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexey Turshatov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Turshatov has chosen War And Peace as his entrance music. Alexey Turshatov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Richards
vs
Turshatov

180 cm
27
216 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
37
220 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Turshatov!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Richards shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Richards showed some decent athleticism there.
Richards seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Turshatov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Turshatov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richards makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Richards scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards throws a big elbow that misses.
Turshatov pulls Richards in close to his closed guard and prevents Richards from doing any damage or advancing position.
Turshatov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards scoring with some ground and pound.
Richards throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Turshatov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Turshatov keeping full guard, as Richards tries to pass.
Richards is fighting to break Turshatov's control of his arms but Turshatov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Richards lands a couple of digs.
Turshatov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Richards sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Turshatov's guard.
Turshatov trying to control here.
Turshatov won't allow Richards to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Turshatov is trying to maintain the position but Richards is very close to passing his half guard.
Richards trying to control from Turshatov's half guard. Turshatov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Richards tries to free his leg and advance position but Turshatov is retaining full guard.
Turshatov controls Richards momentarily but Richards frees himself.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Turshatov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Turshatov is keeping the position for now.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Richards is working hard here to advance position.
Turshatov has Richards pulled in close to control his posture.

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

Turshatov moves into the clinch.
We've been informed that Turshatov has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Turshatov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Turshatov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Richards, pushing him back against the cage.

Turshatov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Turshatov.

Turshatov has closed the distance and engaged Richards in a clinch.

Turshatov manages to break the clinch.
Richards uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Turshatov.
Turshatov misses with a looping right.

Richards scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Richards scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Richards is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Turshatov sees it coming and defends easily.
Turshatov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Richards trying to control the action but Turshatov is working from the bottom.
Richards looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Turshatov is holding on to half guard well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Richards dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Turshatov has managed to clinch.

Richards is trying to trip Turshatov. He has hold of a leg but Turshatov is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Richards persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Turshatov pulls Richards in close to his closed guard and prevents Richards from doing any damage or advancing position.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Turshatov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Turshatov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Richards is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Turshatov can do to turn this around?
Turshatov controls Richards momentarily but Richards frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turshatov keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
Richards is really struggling to control Turshatov but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Richards tries to free his leg and advance position but Turshatov is retaining full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The fighters circling - Turshatov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Turshatov moves into range and clinches up with Richards.

Turshatov breaks the clinch.

Turshatov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Turshatov manages to break the clinch.

Richards changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Turshatov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Turshatov managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Richards.
Turshatov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Richards's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Turshatov is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turshatov moves into full guard.
Richards postures up.
Richards lands a couple of elbows.
Turshatov trying to control the position.
Richards postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Richards throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richards looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Richards trying to control but Turshatov is working from the bottom.
Turshatov can't keep his opponent in guard - Richards advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Turshatov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Richards is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Turshatov tries to get to full guard but Richards has control of the leg.
Richards trying to mount his opponent but Turshatov defends it.
Richards throwing shots but Turshatov is blocking nicely.
Richards wants to pass to mount but Turshatov is defending the position.
Turshatov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Richards.
Turshatov trying to control from the bottom.
Turshatov controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Turshatov closes the distance and pushes Richards back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Richards dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Turshatov lands with a hook. Richards tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Richards uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Turshatov.
Turshatov misses with a straight right.
Richards appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Turshatov moves in looking to clinch but Richards pushes him off.

Turshatov pushes Richards up against the cage in a clinch.

Richards gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Richards is looking to take a break and control but Turshatov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Richards is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Richards wants to pass to mount but Turshatov is defending the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richards controlling the action here.
Turshatov is trying to maintain the position but Richards is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards is looking to take a break and control but Turshatov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Turshatov holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Turshatov wants to control but Richards passes into side.
Turshatov stops Richards from passing to mount.
Richards works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Turshatov defending against the ground and pound.
Turshatov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Richards works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turshatov regains half guard.
Turshatov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Richards.
Richards takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Richards is thwarting Turshatov's attempts to control the position.
Turshatov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Richards haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Richards not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Richards throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Turshatov holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Turshatov is trying to control but can't.
Richards tries to pass the half guard into mount. Turshatov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Richards is looking for a kimura but Turshatov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Richards to get the leverage.
Turshatov trying to control from the bottom.
Richards is trying to control the action in half guard but Turshatov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Turshatov has hold of Richards's hands but Richards slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Richards throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Turshatov is trying to maintain the position but Richards is very close to passing his half guard.
Richards throwing shots but Turshatov is blocking nicely.
Turshatov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Richards scores with a couple of nice shots.
Turshatov trying to control but Richards postures up.
Richards is looking to pass Turshatov's guard but actually Turshatov recovers to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turshatov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Turshatov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Richards advances to half guard.
Richards throwing shots but Turshatov is blocking nicely.
Richards is thwarting Turshatov's attempts to control the position.
Alexey Turshatov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Richards trying to control from half guard but Turshatov is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Turshatov wants to control but Richards is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Richards showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Richards, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Richards!
Alexey Turshatov spoke after the fight, saying 'Bye!'.