PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Maya Richer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richer kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is the duck song 3. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Richer
vs
Rogers

180 cm
21
150 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30)

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Maya Richer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Rogers!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Elvis Blanc and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rogers shoots and misses

and Richer counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rogers's guard now.
Richer passes Rogers's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Richer throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rogers wants to sweep but Richer has passed to side control!
Richer throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Rogers works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Richer missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Richer not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Richer throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rogers trying to control here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Richer wants to control but Rogers is keeping him busy.
Rogers regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Richer has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Richer is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rogers throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Richer stays in close to Rogers's body and controls the position.
Richer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rogers works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rogers keeping moving, preventing Richer from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Maya Richer wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Richer looking to score a takedown here. Rogers is defending well but Richer drives through and ends up in Rogers's guard.
Richer trying to control the position from guard on top but Rogers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Richer stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rogers shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Richer counters with a single leg into guard. Rogers didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rogers tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rogers throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rogers looking to control.
Richer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rogers works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Richer trying to control but Rogers is working from the bottom.
Rogers avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Richer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rogers controls Richer momentarily but Richer frees himself.
Rogers might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Richer kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. James Rogers wasn't active enough on the ground.
Left hook, right uppercut from Richer.
Rogers misses with a takedown
and Richer connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Maya Richer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Rogers.

Richer is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rogers's half guard.
Richer is keen to just control but Rogers is a slippery customer.
Richer throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Richer seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richer works his way into full mount!
Richer controlling from the full mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Richer unloading with bombs!
Richer punching from mount but Rogers doing a good job of avoiding damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Richer tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rogers throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maya Richer dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rogers doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Richer counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Richer gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rogers preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Richer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Richer trying to control but Rogers is working from the bottom.
Richer is pushing down on Rogers's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rogers is fighting to maintain full guard but Richer has managed to sneak the leg through.
Richer winds up and cracks Rogers with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rogers punching from the bottom.
Richer is trying to control. Rogers wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Richer content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers wants to get back to full guard.
Richer with the ground and pound but Rogers uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Richer wants to control from the top but Rogers keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Maya Richer.
Rogers with a poor takedown
and Richer counters with a two punch combo.

It looks like James Rogers has been cut.
Rogers with a lazy takedown attempt

and Richer moves into the clinch.
Maya Richer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Rogers.

Richer gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rogers avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rogers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Richer is stalling in the full guard.
Rogers working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Richer trying to control the position from guard on top but Rogers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rogers fails with the takedown

and Richer counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Richer.
Richer has Rogers pressed against the cage, preventing Rogers from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Richer lands a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rogers swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Maya Richer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Richer trying to control but Rogers is working from the bottom.
Richer looking to pass the guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Richer trying to control the position from guard on top but Rogers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Maya Richer wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rogers doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Richer counters by moving into the clinch.
Rogers is trying to break the clinch but Richer has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richer has picked Rogers up - he's going for a ride! Richer dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Rogers moves into full guard.
Richer slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Richer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rogers trying to keep a closed guard but Richer is proving a slippery customer.
Richer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Richer with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rogers keeping moving, preventing Richer from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maya Richer dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Rogers's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rogers gets tackled into the cage by Richer. Richer maintains the clinch.
Rogers is trying to break the clinch but Richer is controlling him.

Richer wants the takedown. Rogers is fighting it off but Richer persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rogers's guard against the cage.
Richer trying to control but Rogers is working from the bottom.
Richer postures up.
Richer not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rogers is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Richer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Maya Richer just wasn't active enough.

Richer darts in and clinches Rogers up against the cage.

Richer gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rogers trying to control from the bottom.
Richer not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rogers tries to roll over but Richer keeps him under control.
Richer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rogers defending well though.
Richer is thwarting Rogers's attempts to control the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Richer in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richer missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Richer missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rogers wants to control but Richer is keeping busy.
Richer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rogers keeps working.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rogers doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Richer counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rogers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Well, if Richer is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Richer wants to control but Rogers is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richer is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rogers is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Richer is figuring out what he wants to do next.

We're going to have a standup here because Maya Richer wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rogers doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Richer decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rogers's guard.
Richer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rogers works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Richer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rogers is keeping the position for now.
Rogers is trying to keep Richer in close.
Richer's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is trying to keep Richer in close.
Richer tries to free his leg and advance position but Rogers is retaining full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rogers misses with a takedown

and Richer counters by moving into the clinch.
Maya Richer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Rogers.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rogers tries to circle away but Richer has him pinned against the cage.
Rogers 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.

Richer has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Rogers clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Richer has the hooks in. Rogers is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maya Richer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Richer 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maya Richer!
Maya Richer managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30), into his post fight interview.