PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scooter McAuley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richards comes into the arena with Kevin Rudolf - In the City blaring out of the sound system. Scooter McAuley has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Richards
vs
McAuley

180 cm
27
214 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

176 cm
25
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Scooter McAuley!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Emerson Jorge and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards tries to clinch but McAuley is having none of it.
McAuley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice defenses there by Richards.
Richards moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
McAuley closes the distance and clinches up with Richards, looking for a takedown. McAuley pushes Richards against the cage but Richards circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Richards shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McAuley is trying to defend but Richards finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
McAuley manages to get to full guard.
Richards preventing the sweep.
McAuley looking to control but Richards passes into half guard.
Richards wants to pass the guard but McAuley is defending well.
Richards is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McAuley wants to control but Richards is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards prevents McAuley from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. McAuley manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
McAuley seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Richards trying to stand up but can't free himself from McAuley's guard.
Richards connects with a couple of short punches.
McAuley looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Richards puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
McAuley wants to control but Richards is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Richards lands a nice short elbow.
McAuley wants to improve his position but Richards is controlling well.
McAuley is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McAuley is looking to control Richards's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McAuley avoid being mounted?
McAuley is staying active underneath Richards, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
McAuley trying to control but Richards postures up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Richards slips a nice elbow through McAuley's hands, connecting with McAuley's forehead.
Richards content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
McAuley is looking to improve his position.
McAuley wants to control but Richards is keeping busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Richards tries to work over McAuley's front leg with a kick but McAuley checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Richards bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Richards cracks McAuley with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Richards wants to lay and pray for a moment but McAuley keeps working.
Richards controlling from side mount.
Richards working away.
A lull in the action here as Richards stalls from top position.
McAuley is trying to improve his position.
Richards tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
McAuley tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards wants to control but McAuley is keeping him busy.
McAuley regains half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
McAuley tries to get to full guard but Richards has control of the leg.
Richards throwing shots but McAuley is blocking nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McAuley gets full guard.
Richards trying to control but McAuley is working from the bottom.
Richards wants to get up but he can't break McAuley's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
McAuley lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Richards!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards is bucking up trying to escape but McAuley cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McAuley unloads with some shots from mount but Richards bucks and avoids them well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Richards scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Richards is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McAuley sees it coming and defends easily.
Richards is keen to just control but McAuley is a slippery customer.
McAuley gets back to full guard.
McAuley avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McAuley trying to keep a closed guard but Richards is proving a slippery customer.
McAuley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Richards postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McAuley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McAuley keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
McAuley utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McAuley wants to sweep but no luck.
Richards postures up in McAuley's guard and throws a big left but McAuley blocks it.
McAuley looking to control.
Ben Richards overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Richards seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ben Richards just wasn't active enough.
McAuley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Richards tries to close the distance and clinch but McAuley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Richards closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. McAuley did well to prevent Richards getting side control.
Richards prevents McAuley from improving his position.
Richards not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Richards throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McAuley trying to control from the bottom.
Richards thows a huge punch but McAuley dodges it nicely.
McAuley makes his way to full guard. A much better position for McAuley.
Richards passes McAuley's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McAuley is looking for a sweep. Richards is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Richards winds up and cracks McAuley with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
McAuley is trying to get back to full guard.
Richards trying to control from half guard but McAuley is working away.
McAuley wants to control but Richards is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Richards trying to control the action but McAuley is working from the bottom.
McAuley wants to control but Richards is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for McAuley!
Richards lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
McAuley gets back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richards lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
McAuley wants to control but Richards is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Still in half guard, Richards seems content to control.
McAuley gets back to full guard.
Richards works over McAuley with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards content to stall in guard here.
McAuley trying to keep a closed guard but Richards is proving a slippery customer.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but McAuley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richards won't allow McAuley to sweep him here.
Richards lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
McAuley keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
McAuley trying to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Richards dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Richards misses with a jab, cross combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McAuley.

Richards gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Richards breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McAuley swats away the attempt to clinch by Richards.
Richards tries a head kick but it misses.

Richards moves into the clinch.

Richards gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, McAuley regains guard.
Richards throws a big right hand that misses.
McAuley throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Richards preventing the sweep.
Richards lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McAuley wants to sweep but no luck.
McAuley trying to keep a closed guard but Richards is proving a slippery customer.
McAuley manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Richards manages to get himself to full guard.
McAuley postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Richards manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Richards lands with a nice combination. McAuley backs away looking to recover.
Richards tries to clinch up but McAuley circles away and keeps his distance.
Ben Richards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McAuley throws a low kick but Richards moves out of range easily.
McAuley misses with a takedown

and Richards counters by clinching up.
McAuley wants a takedown.
Ben Richards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Scooter McAuley.
McAuley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McAuley is trying to pull guard but Richards turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
McAuley looking for a takedown.

Richards wants the takedown. McAuley is fighting it off but Richards persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in McAuley's guard against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
McAuley keeping moving, preventing Richards from controlling successfully.
McAuley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Richards trying to control the position from guard on top but McAuley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Richards throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McAuley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Richards missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Richards preventing the sweep.
Richards is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ben Richards wasn't doing enough on the ground.
McAuley shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Richards defends it nicely.

Richards bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Richards looking to control but instead McAuley has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Richards throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Richards tries to stand but can't do so whilst McAuley controls his leg.
McAuley trying to hold on to Richards's head to control him but Richards postures up.
McAuley wants to improve his position but Richards is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards working the head and body with strikes.
Scooter McAuley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McAuley is trying to maintain the position but Richards is very close to passing his half guard.
McAuley wants to sweep but Richards has passed to side control!
Richards controlling the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Richards is trying to get an arm triangle but McAuley is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McAuley takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Richards showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Richards 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Richards!
Ben Richards opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.