PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mustafa Wagdy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Farboleous Ricard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mustafa Wagdy has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Wagdy
vs
Ricard

150 cm
28
142 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

172 cm
23
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
KO power

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mustafa Wagdy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Farboleous Ricard!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ricard lands a glancing blow to the side of Wagdy's head.
Good standup being displayed there by Ricard as he connects with a hook.

Wagdy scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Ricard tries to improve position but can't.
Ricard is trying to control Wagdy's posture but Wagdy avoids it.
Ricard has one of Wagdy's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.

Wagdy swings around for an armbar but Ricard sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Wagdy's guard.
Ricard postures up.
Ricard stands and throws Wagdy's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wagdy is trying to control Ricard's posture but Ricard avoids it.
Wagdy on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Wagdy tries to get out of the position.
Wagdy is looking to reverse the position.
Ricard taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Wagdy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Let's hope that Ricard 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.
Wagdy might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Ricard is trying to get an arm triangle but Wagdy is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wagdy tries to buck Ricard off but Ricard is having none of it.
Wagdy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ricard on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricard slows the pace down.
Wagdy is trying to improve his position.

Ricard thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Ricard looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ricard remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ricard tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Wagdy struggling a bit here.
Ricard is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Wagdy's shoulder. That is not cool.
Wagdy tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ricard is trying to get an arm triangle but Wagdy is defending well.

Ricard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Wagdy has escaped the position, nice work there.

Ricard wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Wagdy, who protects the arm well.
A lull in the action here as Ricard stalls from top position.

Ricard tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Farboleous Ricard dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ricard lands with a cross.
Ricard lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ricard goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Wagdy drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ricard is adopting a defensive guard.
Ricard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ricard wants to sweep here but Wagdy controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wagdy pushes down on Ricard's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ricard is not content to let Wagdy control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricard is trying to maintain the position but Wagdy is very close to passing his half guard.
Ricard moves into full guard.
Wagdy looking to pass the guard.
Ricard is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ricard keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Wagdy trying to get back to full guard but Ricard takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Ricard sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wagdy defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Ricard.
Ricard with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Wagdy is looking to improve his position but Ricard isn't that keen on the idea.

Ricard with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wagdy can't escape the position.
Ricard controlling from the full mount.
Ricard moves to the back.
Ricard avoiding Wagdy 's attempts to control his hands.
Ricard has the hooks in. Wagdy is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Ricard biding his time, looking for the opening.

Ricard has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Wagdy is defending well but eventually Ricard manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Wagdy has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Farboleous Ricard!
A victorious Farboleous Ricard thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.