PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Richardson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ajax van Frankrijk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). van Frankrijk is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: the rockhollywood theme. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Richardson
vs
van Frankrijk

200 cm
20
290 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

197 cm
25
290 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ricardo Richardson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ajax van Frankrijk!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paul Aken and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richardson connects with a right hand. van Frankrijk shakes it off.

It looks like Ajax van Frankrijk has been cut.

van Frankrijk gets the takedown into side control.

van Frankrijk looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

van Frankrijk is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Richardson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

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

van Frankrijk tries for a kimura but Richardson is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

van Frankrijk decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A slapping leg kick lands for Richardson.
Richardson throws a chopping leg kick but van Frankrijk manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Richardson lets loose with a powerful body kick. van Frankrijk will feel that in the morning.
van Frankrijk looks gassed!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Richardson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Richardson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. van Frankrijk checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Richardson takes a swing at van Frankrijk's ribcage but misses.
van Frankrijk tries for a takedown but Richardson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Richardson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from van Frankrijk.
Richardson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Good leg kick by Richardson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A head kick misses from Richardson.
Richardson misses with a body kick.
A head kick misses from Richardson.
Richardson throws a sloppy head kick

and van Frankrijk counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by van Frankrijk.
Richardson tries to break free but van Frankrijk pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van Frankrijk tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Richardson wants to break the clinch but can't.

van Frankrijk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Richardson misses with a kick to the body

and van Frankrijk counters with a shoot takedown. Richardson fights it but they end up in guard.
van Frankrijk is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

van Frankrijk drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Richardson dives on top into guard.
Richardson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for van Frankrijk on the ground.
van Frankrijk looking to control.

Richardson drops back, looking for a kneebar! van Frankrijk looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. van Frankrijk looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from van Frankrijk!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
van Frankrijk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Richardson keeps working.

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

van Frankrijk thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

van Frankrijk working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Richardson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ajax van Frankrijk's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Richardson tries a head kick but it misses.
Richardson gets off balance looking for a body kick

and van Frankrijk decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Richardson's guard.

van Frankrijk postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Richardson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of van Frankrijk, into his guard.
Richardson preventing the sweep.

Richardson has gone for a leg lock! van Frankrijk slips out almost immediately though and dives into Richardson's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van Frankrijk tries to free his leg and advance position but Richardson is retaining full guard.

van Frankrijk drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Richardson dives on top into guard.
van Frankrijk controls Richardson momentarily but Richardson frees himself.

van Frankrijk had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Richardson defends it easily.
Richardson wants to control from the top but van Frankrijk keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
van Frankrijk is trying to keep Richardson in close.
Richardson wants to control from the top but van Frankrijk keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

van Frankrijk looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Richardson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van Frankrijk wants to sweep but no luck.

van Frankrijk is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Richardson connects with a couple of short punches.
Richardson's corner is telling him to maintain position.

van Frankrijk throws his legs up looking for a submission but Richardson uses it to pass to side control.
van Frankrijk is breathing heavily.
Richardson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
van Frankrijk is looking to reverse the position.
van Frankrijk gets back to half guard.
van Frankrijk tries to roll over but Richardson keeps him under control.
Richardson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

van Frankrijk actively working from the bottom here.

van Frankrijk looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ajax van Frankrijk will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ajax van Frankrijk's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

van Frankrijk checks a leg kick.
van Frankrijk shoots in but Richardson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

van Frankrijk shoots in and gets a takedown into Richardson's guard.
Ajax van Frankrijk has got the better of the ground game so far.
van Frankrijk sitting in guard here, content to control.

van Frankrijk has gone for a leg lock! Richardson slips out almost immediately though and dives into van Frankrijk's guard.

van Frankrijk is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Richardson is aware though and is defending well.
van Frankrijk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van Frankrijk looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Richardson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

van Frankrijk isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Richardson stacks van Frankrijk on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Richardson!
Richardson cracks van Frankrijk with a big elbow.

Richardson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
van Frankrijk tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Richardson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richardson trying to control the action but van Frankrijk is working from the bottom.
van Frankrijk tries to bench press Richardson off him but Richardson keeps the position.
van Frankrijk can't do much from the bottom here.
Richardson in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Richardson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by van Frankrijk, who protects the arm well.
Richardson scores with a couple of short elbows.
van Frankrijk wants to control but Richardson postures up.
An elbow from Richardson crashes against the mat.
The strikes coming from Richardson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
van Frankrijk tries to buck Richardson off but Richardson is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
van Frankrijk wants to control but Richardson postures up.
Richardson trying to control the action but van Frankrijk is working from the bottom.
van Frankrijk struggling a bit here.
Richardson taking a breather here.
You can see the frustration on van Frankrijk's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Richardson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Richardson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Richardson!