PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tate Baker Wright (ranked 3219 p4p, 3496 weight class) and Jacob Richards (ranked 421 p4p, 460 weight class). Richards comes into a darkened arena with his song building. 300 Violin Orchestra kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Jacob Richards acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Baker Wright
vs
Richards

186 cm
25
194
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
192
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tate Baker Wright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jacob Richards!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Viktor Lagutenko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Richards fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Baker Wright to the ground. Richards is now in Baker Wright's guard.

Baker Wright has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Richards is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Baker Wright definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Richards gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Baker Wright is trying to stand.
Baker Wright blocking the ground and pound attempt from Richards.
Baker Wright desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Richards is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Baker Wright defends it well.
Baker Wright wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baker Wright wants to get back to full guard.
Baker Wright is controlling Richards's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Baker Wright wants to get back to his feet.
Baker Wright manages to get to full guard.
Baker Wright pulls Richards in close to prevent any damage.
Richards loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two 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.
Baker Wright seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Richards won't allow Baker Wright to sweep him here.
Baker Wright is working hard here to advance position.
Richards works over Baker Wright with some ground and pound from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richards lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Richards stops Baker Wright from standing up.

Baker Wright looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Baker Wright is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Richards is aware though and is defending well.
Baker Wright wants to get back to his feet but Richards is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Baker Wright's head.
Baker Wright controlling Richards's posture.
Baker Wright wants to stand and escape but Richards is having none of it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

A jab-cross combination lands for Richards and sends Baker Wright crashing to the mat! Richards follows him down to the mat - Baker Wright regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

It looks like Tate Baker Wright has been cut.
Baker Wright tries to get to full guard but Richards has control of the leg.
Baker Wright trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards working Baker Wright over with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Baker Wright is rocked!
Baker Wright taking some punishment here, with Richards in his half guard.
Oh Baker Wright is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Richards lands a big elbow - Baker Wright is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Richards!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jacob Richards!
A less than humble Jacob Richards misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.