|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raleigh Richard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Islam Balov (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.
 |
|
 |
| 168 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0 |
|
177 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily |
|
BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Raleigh Richard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Islam Balov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Richard as he jumps to the side.
It looked like Richard wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Balov has a takedown stuffed.
Balov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Richard.
Balov manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Richard pulls his leg out and moves away.
Raleigh Richard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Islam Balov.
Balov moves to clinch but Richard breaks away
and Richard decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Balov's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are working up against the cage. Balov manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Balov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Balov misses with an uppercut
and Richard counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Richard gets to his feet - Balov follows without any prompting.
Balov shoots in and drives through. Richard sprawls well.
Balov looks winded!
Richard stuffs the takedown.
Balov looks to land a body kick but Richard moved away.
Richard has taken the fight to the clinch.
Richard will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Balov up against the cage.
Balov jumps into guard, dragging Richard to the mat.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Richard makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Richard gets to his feet - Balov follows without any prompting.
Balov takes one on the button.
Balov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Balov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Richard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Balov somewhat.
Richard is looking to counter the offense by Balov and move into the clinch.
Balov doesn't manage to clinch there - Richard circles away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richard clinches up against the cage.
Richard stalling.
Richard tries to throw a body punch but Balov avoids it by throwing Richard back against the cage.
Balov pulls Richard into guard.
Richard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Balov wants to control but Richard passes easily into half guard.
Richard drops an elbow to the side of Balov's head.
Richard stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Richard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Richard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Balov tries a head kick but it misses.
Richard clinches up against the cage.
Richard tries to stall but Balov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Richard lands a body punch in the clinch.
Richard taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Richard landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Richard is stalling here.
Richard working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Raleigh Richard dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
Richard cracks Balov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Balov throws a sloppy head kick and Richard moves out of range easily.
A clash of legs there as Balov blocks the low kick.
Balov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Richard defends well and Balov ends up having to push Richard into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
As Balov tries to get set, Richard tries to push him back and clinch up but Balov manages to avoid the attempt.
Balov has closed the distance and engaged Richard in a clinch.
Balov is trying to pull guard but Richard turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Richard with an attempt at a knee that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richard taking a breather.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Balov is breathing heavily.
Balov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Richard backwards.
Richard stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Richard lands with a right to the head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Richard slowing the pace effectively.
Richard has a couple of punches blocked by Balov.
Balov throws an elbow but it misses.
Raleigh Richard has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Richard prevents a takedown attempt there.
Raleigh Richard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Islam Balov.
Richard lands with a light punch inside.
Richard effectively controlling the action here.
Richard missing with knees to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Richard - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Richard misses with a knee to the head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balov successfully pulls guard.
Richard working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Richard passes into half guard.
Balov is trying to control but can't.
Richard wants to stand up but Balov has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Richard thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Balov's head.
Richard prevents Balov from improving his position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richard sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Balov defending well though.
Richard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Balov can do to turn this around?
Richard is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Richard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Balov is trying to control but Richard passes into side control!
Balov takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Richard in side control, throwing shots but Balov defends.
Richard postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Balov is looking for a sweep.
Balov is trying to control Richard's posture but Richard avoids it.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Richard keeps the fight on the outside.
Richard tries to counter with a takedown but Balov is quick to defend against it.
Balov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Richard's waist but Richard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Balov off to one side.
Richard tries to clinch up but Balov circles away and keeps his distance.
Richard connects with the punch.
Raleigh Richard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Richard looks to land a right hand but Balov moved out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Richard takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Richard lands a jab to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Raleigh Richard dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Richard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Balov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Richard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Balov sprawls and moves away.
Balov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Richard circles away quickly and effectively.
A low kick from Balov misses
letting Richard counter with a right hand.
Richard moves out of range as Balov throws a body kick.
Balov shoots for a takedown but Richard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Richard swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Balov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Raleigh Richard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Islam Balov.
Balov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Richard tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
It seemed like Balov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Balov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Richard avoids the head kick by Balov.
Richard feinted with a counter takedown.
Richard closes the distance and clinches.
Balov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Richard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right from Richard.
Richard misses with a punch on the inside.
Balov blocks an elbow strike.
Balov letting Richard take a breather here.
Come on Richard - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Balov.
Richard tries to stall but Balov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Richard pressing his opponent against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Raleigh Richard.
Balov throws a right hand that Richard ducks under and follows up with a left that Richard also avoids with ease.
Balov tries to clinch but Richard moves out of range.
Balov tries to close the distance and clinch but Richard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick misses from Richard.
Balov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richard clinches with his opponent.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Richard looking to stall.
Richard is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Balov pulls guard effortlessly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balov working for a triangle but Richard defends it easily.
Richard would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Balov's head.
Balov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Balov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balov has momentary wrist control but Richard slips an elbow through the middle.
Islam Balov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raleigh Richard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Balov has a closed guard, preventing Richard from standing up.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that's the end of the fight!
Raleigh Richard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Richard 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raleigh Richard!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
32% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
