PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gerald Richardson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Taylor

185 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Firebird Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gerald Richardson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nick Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Richardson as Taylor shoots in.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Richardson shows good takedown defense.
Taylor takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gerald Richardson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Taylor.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Richardson is looking to stand up but Taylor isn't so interested in that idea.
Richardson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Richardson is looking for a triangle but Taylor pushes his legs off easily.
Taylor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Richardson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Richardson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Taylor has passed into half guard!
Taylor prevents Richardson from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taylor is looking for a kimura here.
Richardson is trying to maintain the position but Taylor is very close to passing his half guard.
Richardson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Taylor pushes down on Richardson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Richardson is trying to maintain the position but Taylor is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Richardson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Richardson looking to control.
Taylor tries to free his leg and advance position but Richardson is retaining full guard.
Richardson working a defensive guard here.
Taylor wants to stand but Richardson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Taylor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor 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 Taylor, into his guard.
Taylor looks gassed!
Richardson slips nicely into half guard.
Taylor is trying to stand back up but Richardson is controlling him
Taylor is trying to get back to full guard.

Taylor is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Richardson pulls his head out easily.
Richardson is trying to control the action in half guard but Taylor is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.
Richardson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Taylor wants to sweep but Richardson has passed to side control!

Richardson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Richardson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Richardson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Taylor tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Richardson's elbow.

Richardson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taylor will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Richardson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Richardson is looking to break free of the clinch but Taylor has double underhooks.
Taylor is trying to break the clinch but Richardson has him pressed against the cage.
Taylor missing with knees to the body.
Richardson is pressed up against the cage. Taylor has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Richardson down to the mat. Richardson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Richardson moves into the clinch.
Richardson avoiding damage as Taylor throws knees to the body.
Richardson blocks an elbow strike from Taylor.
Taylor tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Richardson smiles and moves away.
Taylor walks forward, straight into a front kick from Richardson.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gerald Richardson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Taylor.
Richardson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Richardson wants to clinch up but Taylor keeps it at a distance.
Taylor has a takedown stuffed.
Danga de danga de dang - Richardson scores with a four punch combination!
Taylor takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gerald Richardson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Taylor misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Taylor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Richardson tries to avoid it but Taylor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Richardson to the ground. Richardson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richardson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Taylor, pushing him back against the cage.
Richardson tries to pull guard but Taylor won't allow it.

Richardson pulls guard effortlessly.
Richardson looking to control.
Taylor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Richardson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from Richardson.
Taylor stands and throws Richardson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Richardson is trying to control Taylor's posture but Taylor avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taylor looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Taylor is breathing heavily.
Richardson manages to get back to half guard.

Taylor is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Richardson wants to control but Taylor is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Richardson tries to get to full guard but Taylor has control of the leg.
Richardson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Taylor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson wants to improve his position but Taylor is controlling well.
Taylor wants to pass to mount but Richardson is defending the position.
Richardson gets back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Richardson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Taylor shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Richardson pinned against the cage. Richardson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Richardson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's four 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 scores with a jab to the body.
Taylor fails to land the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Richardson. No joy for Taylor on that attempt.
Taylor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Richardson lands a two punch combo.
Richardson thuds a left hand into Taylor's body.
Richardson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Taylor keeps the fight on the outside.
Taylor wants to clinch

and Richardson counters with a shoot takedown. Taylor fights it but they end up in guard.

Taylor looking for a guillotine here but Richardson defends easily.
Richardson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Taylor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gerald Richardson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Richardson lands a jab-cross combination.
Taylor throws a left and a right that both miss

and Richardson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Taylor lands a nice shot to the body.
Taylor misses with an elbow over the top.
Richardson landing knees to the head.

Richardson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Richardson has Taylor up against the cage in a clinch.
Richardson lands a nice knee to the body.
Taylor misses with a knee strike.
Taylor keeps control of Richardson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Richardson scores with a knee to the head.
Taylor tries to pull guard but Richardson won't allow it.
Richardson misses with a knee to the head.
Richardson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Richardson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Taylor is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Richardson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Taylor keeps control of Richardson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Richardson managing to block the knees to the body from Taylor.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Richardson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Richardson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Taylor.
Gerald Richardson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Taylor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor missing with knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Taylor breaks from the clinch.
Taylor shoots and misses

and Richardson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Taylor has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Richardson escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Richardson!
Richardson wants to control for a moment but Taylor uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Taylor works his foot free and advances to mount.
Taylor is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor lands a heavy elbow.
Taylor manages to capitalize on a mistake by Richardson to take his back!
Taylor cracks Richardson with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Richardson from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Richardson trying to control the position but Taylor manages to sink in the hooks.

Taylor patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taylor not allowing Richardson to control his hands.

Richardson defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Taylor's arms.
Richardson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Richardson's face.
Richardson has given up his back here. Will Taylor look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Taylor is working for a rear naked choke. Richardson is not defending it well and Taylor has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Richardson refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Richardson's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Nick Taylor!