PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richard Richardson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Yamazaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Richardson
vs
Yamazaki

191 cm
21
214 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

186 cm
25
215 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Richard Richardson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kazushi Yamazaki!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Sosuke Kotani and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamazaki scores with a hook to the body. Richardson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Yamazaki throws a right hand that Richardson ducks under and follows up with a left that Richardson also avoids with ease.
Richardson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Richardson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Richardson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Yamazaki's calf.
Yamazaki lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Richard Richardson has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yamazaki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Richardson.
Yamazaki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Richardson circles away quickly and effectively.
Yamazaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Richardson tries to clinch but Yamazaki moves out of range.
Richardson lands a lovely overhand right.
Richardson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Richardson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Yamazaki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Yamazaki misses with a combination
and Richardson counters with an outside leg kick.
Yamazaki misses with a few strikes there.
Richardson tries to close the distance and clinch but Yamazaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Richardson fails to land with a series of punches.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Yamazaki throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Richardson.
Yamazaki throws a combination that misses
and Richardson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yamazaki throws a right hand that Richardson ducks under and follows up with a left that Richardson also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamazaki misses with a series of wild punches.
Yamazaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yamazaki looks to land a left hand but Richardson moved out of range nicely.
Yamazaki misses with a double jab.
Yamazaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Richardson cracks a nice hook into Yamazaki's ribs.
Yamazaki looks gassed!
Yamazaki tries to bum rush Richardson with a series of wild strikes but Richardson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A combination from Yamazaki does no damage.

Richardson takes the fight into the clinch.
Richardson can't find room to land a body shot as Yamazaki controls the action.
Yamazaki wants to get back to striking at distance but Richardson won't allow it.
Richardson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yamazaki's elbow.
Richardson trying to stall but Yamazaki improves his position.
A looping hook to the body misses from Richardson. Yamazaki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Richardson tries to close the distance and clinch but Yamazaki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Richardson tries to clinch there but Yamazaki circles away.
Richardson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yamazaki throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Richardson dodges the punch combination from Yamazaki.
Yamazaki throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Yamazaki on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Richardson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Yamazaki's calf.
Richardson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yamazaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Richardson.

Richardson rushes Yamazaki and presses him up against the ropes.
Richardson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Richardson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Yamazaki.
A right hook to the body lands for Richardson.
Richardson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Richardson.
Richardson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Yamazaki is keeping busy.
Richardson leaning his opponent against the ropes.
Richardson lands a hook to the side of the head.
A hook to the body from Richardson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Yamazaki blocking some punches.
Richardson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yamazaki's elbow.
Richardson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Richardson lands a shoulder strike.
Yamazaki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Richardson has Yamazaki pressed against the ropes, preventing Yamazaki from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Yamazaki is trying to break the clinch but Richardson has him pressed against the ropes.

Yamazaki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yamazaki is looking to chop away at Richardson's legs.
Richardson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Richardson!
Richardson tries to clinch up.
Yamazaki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Richardson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Richardson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Richardson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Yamazaki takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Richardson doesn't manage to clinch there - Yamazaki circles away.
Richardson tries to clinch there but Yamazaki circles away.

Richardson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Yamazaki, pushing him back against the ropes.
Richardson lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richardson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Richardson looking to slow down the pace here.
Richardson is working Yamazaki over against the ropes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Richardson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Richardson cracks Yamazaki with a nice body shot.
Richardson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Richardson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Richardson digs a right hand into Yamazaki's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Yamazaki's gas tank.
Richardson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Yamazaki or not.
Richardson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Yamazaki gets underhooks to prevent Richardson's takedown attempt.
Richardson stalling in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Richardson tries a body shot but Yamazaki blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Yamazaki.
Richardson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Yamazaki is trying to force a seperation but Richardson has the dominant position.
Richardson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Richardson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Richardson struggles to land a body shot inside as Yamazaki controls his hands.
Yamazaki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Yamazaki blocks a body shot from Richardson.
Richardson tries a body shot but Yamazaki blocks it.
Yamazaki is trying to break free.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Richardson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Richardson is pushing Yamazaki up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Yamazaki can't break the clinch.
Richardson lands a body punch.
Richardson holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Richardson lands a left hand.
Richardson has a couple of punches blocked by Yamazaki.
Richardson tries for a takedown but Yamazaki manages to get underhooks.
Yamazaki is looking to break free of the clinch but Richardson has double underhooks.

Yamazaki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Yamazaki tries to keep at a distance but Richardson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Richardson looking to stall.
Richardson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Richardson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yamazaki.
Richardson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Yamazaki blocks an uppercut.
Richardson can't find room to land a body shot as Yamazaki controls the action.
Richardson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Richardson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Yamazaki smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Richard Richardson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Richardson wants to clinch up but Yamazaki keeps it at a distance.
Richardson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Yamazaki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Yamazaki keeps the fight on the outside.
A punch combination from Yamazaki misses.
Richardson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Richardson dodges the punch combination from Yamazaki.
Yamazaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Yamazaki keeps the fight on the outside.
Richardson scores with a sloppy right hand. Yamazaki should have avoided that one.

Richardson closes the distance and clinches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Richardson.

Yamazaki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Yamazaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richardson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yamazaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Richardson.
A left and a right from Yamazaki both land. Nice combination.
A combination from Yamazaki does no damage.

Richardson has managed to clinch.

Yamazaki breaks the clinch.
Yamazaki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Richardson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Yamazaki misses with a jab, cross combination.
Richardson is looking to clinch but Yamazaki is avoiding it.
Richardson fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Yamazaki lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Yamazaki misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Richardson is looking to clinch but Yamazaki is avoiding it.
Richardson wants to clinch.
Yamazaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yamazaki fails to land with a series of punches.
Richardson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Richardson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Richardson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Richardson cracks Yamazaki with a nice body shot.
Richardson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Yamazaki's efforts to push away.
Yamazaki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Richardson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Yamazaki's efforts to push away.
Richardson is leaning against Yamazaki and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yamazaki wants to break the clinch but can't.
Yamazaki being controlled against the ropes.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Richardson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Yamazaki is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Richardson misses with a punch to the body.
Richardson has Yamazaki pressed against the ropes, preventing Yamazaki from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Richardson is working Yamazaki over against the ropes.
A short right from Richardson.
Richardson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Yamazaki is keeping busy.
Richardson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Yamazaki or not.
Yamazaki can't break the clinch.
Richardson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Yamazaki is defending well for now.
Richardson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Yamazaki working hard to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richardson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Yamazaki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Richardson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Richard Richardson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Yamazaki falls off balance throwing a combination
and Richardson counters with a three punch combo that has Yamazaki backing up. Yamazaki nods at Richardson to acknowledge the strikes.
Richardson wants to clinch up but Yamazaki keeps it at a distance.
Richardson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yamazaki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Yamazaki fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Richardson tries to clinch up but Yamazaki circles away and keeps his distance.
Richardson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Richardson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yamazaki throws a combination that misses
and Yamazaki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yamazaki misses with a series of wild punches.
Yamazaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamazaki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yamazaki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Yamazaki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Richardson manages to avoid it.
Yamazaki is breathing heavily.
Richardson moves in looking to clinch but Yamazaki pushes him off.
Yamazaki scores with a one two! Richardson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamazaki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Yamazaki throws a right and a left that Richardson avoids nicely.
Richardson tries to clinch up but Yamazaki circles away and keeps his distance.
Yamazaki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Richardson scoring well with a low kick there.

Richardson instigates a clinch.
Richardson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Yamazaki or not.
Richardson digs a right hand underneath Yamazaki's ribcage. Yamazaki let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Richard Richardson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Yamazaki being controlled against the ropes.
Richardson digs a right hand underneath Yamazaki's ribcage. Yamazaki let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A nice right hand lands inside from Richardson.
Yamazaki tries to break free but Richardson pushes him back against the ropes.
Richardson lands a body shot.
A short left from Richardson.
Richardson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Yamazakis head.
Richardson stalling against the ropes.
Yamazaki working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Richardson.
Richardson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Yamazaki up against the ropes.
Yamazaki blocking some punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Richardson. Yamazaki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yamazaki on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Yamazaki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Richardson counters with a left and a right that stings Yamazaki.
Yamazaki throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Richardson darts in and clinches Yamazaki up against the ropes.
Richardson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Richardson gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Richardson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Yamazaki or not.
Richardson lands a hook that snaps the head of Yamazaki backwards.
Richardson misses with a body punch.
Yamazaki blocks a body shot from Richardson.
Richardson misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yamazaki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Yamazaki misses with a body shot
enabling Richardson to counter with a crisp jab.
Richardson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Richardson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Richardson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Richardson is looking to clinch but Yamazaki is avoiding it.
Richardson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Richardson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Yamazaki misses with a head kick.
Yamazaki fails to land with a series of punches.
Yamazaki on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Yamazaki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yamazaki swats away the attempt to clinch by Richardson.
Richardson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Left hook, right uppercut from Yamazaki.
Yamazaki fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Yamazaki throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Richardson counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richardson moves into the clinch.
Richardson misses with a punch on the inside.

Richardson jumps guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Richardson managing to control the position.
Yamazaki looking to sit in guard and control but Richardson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Richardson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Richardson wants to control from the top but Yamazaki keeps moving.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Richardson postures up.
Richardson content to stall in guard here.
Richardson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Yamazaki's guard.
Richardson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Yamazaki knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Yamazaki wants to get back to full guard.
Yamazaki is trying to stand back up but Richardson is controlling him

That's six minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Richardson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Richardson working over Yamazaki with some ground and pound. Yamazaki looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Richardson trying to control the pace.
Yamazaki is trying to get back to full guard.
Richardson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Yamazaki does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Richardson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Richardson moves forwards but Yamazaki connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A swing and a miss from Yamazaki.
Yamazaki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Richardson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Richardson moves into the clinch.
Richardson is trying to stall.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Richardson tries to stall but Yamazaki uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A frustrated look appears on Yamazaki's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Yamazaki looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Nice body punch from Richardson.
Richardson lands with a short shot to the head.
Yamazaki lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Richardson backwards.
Yamazaki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Yamazaki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Richardson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Yamazaki blocks a body shot from Richardson.
Richardson has Yamazaki pushed against the ropes.
Yamazaki wants to break the clinch but can't.
Richardson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Richardson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Yamazaki.
Richardson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yamazaki avoids it.
Richardson tries a body shot but Yamazaki blocks it.
Yamazaki working hard to break the clinch.
Richardson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Yamazaki's elbow.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Richardson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Yamazaki's efforts to push away.
Richardson missing with knees to the body.
Richardson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.

Yamazaki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Yamazaki throws a left and a right that both miss

and Richardson counters by clinching up.
Richardson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Richardson is leaning against Yamazaki and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Richardson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Yamazaki is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Richardson gets through Yamazaki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Richardson cracks Yamazaki with a nice body shot.
Richardson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Richardson cracks Yamazaki with a nice body shot.
Richardson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Richardson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Yamazaki tries to circle away but Richardson has him pinned against the ropes.
Richardson gets through Yamazaki's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Richardson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Richard Richardson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Richardson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Richardson presses Yamazaki against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Richardson presses Yamazaki against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Richardson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Richardson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Yamazaki is trying to break free.
Richardson lands an uppercut.
Richardson tries to stall but Yamazaki uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Yamazaki misses with a punch on the inside.
Kazushi Yamazaki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Richardson is stalling here.
Richardson has Yamazaki pressed against the ropes, preventing Yamazaki from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Richardson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Yamazaki.
Richardson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Richardson is struggling to control the position.
Richardson misses with a punch to the body.
Richardson digs a right hand into Yamazaki's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Yamazaki's gas tank.
A short right from Yamazaki.
Yamazaki prevents a body shot from Richardson.
Richardson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Richardson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Richardson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Richard Richardson!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Richard Richardson!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Richard Richardson!

Richard Richardson wins by unanimous decision!