PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Remero Riggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Umberto Eco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Umberto Eco was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Riggs
vs
Eco

179 cm
21
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

182 cm
21
195 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Remero Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Umberto Eco!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggs takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Remero Riggs has been cut.
Umberto Eco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Eco looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Riggs keeping moving, preventing Eco from controlling successfully.
Eco being controlled here momentarily.
Riggs looking to control.
Eco wants to control from the top but Riggs keeps moving.

Eco decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Riggs tries for a takedown but Eco sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eco misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Riggs takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Eco misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Riggs.
Eco changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Riggs tries to avoid it but Eco manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Riggs to the ground. Riggs escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Eco has Riggs up against the cage in a clinch.

Eco gets control of Riggs's arms and successfully pulls guard. Eco will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Riggs wants to control from the top but Eco keeps moving.
Riggs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Eco is keeping the position for now.
Riggs trying to control but Eco is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eco working a defensive guard here.
Riggs looking to sit in guard and control but Eco gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Riggs wants to sweep here but Eco controlling him for the moment.
Riggs avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Riggs trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Riggs.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Remero Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riggs fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Eco avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eco thuds his shin into the meat of Riggs's side.
Riggs is breathing heavily.
Eco lands a high kick!

Eco closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Eco wants to free his trapped foot but Riggs is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Riggs keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Eco thows a huge punch but Riggs dodges it nicely.
Riggs wants to improve his position but Eco is controlling well.
Eco passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eco working the ground and pound effectively.
Riggs is in all sorts of trouble here.
Riggs tries to hold on but Eco postures up.
Eco unloads with some shots from mount but Riggs bucks and avoids them well.
Eco tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Eco trying to control but Riggs is having none of it.
Riggs on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Riggs tries to get out of the position.
Riggs is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Umberto Eco dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Remero Riggs's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Eco stuffs the takedown attempt from Riggs. Riggs gets slowly back to his feet.

Eco moves into the clinch.
Eco content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Eco.

Eco decides to pull guard.
Riggs in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Riggs drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Eco manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Riggs has Eco in his guard.
Eco stands up over Riggs, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Eco is looking to work some ground and pound but Riggs has wrist control.

Riggs is looking for a triangle but Eco pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Riggs is keeping the position for now.
Eco loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Riggs is trying to control the position but Eco postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Eco distracts Riggs with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Eco trying to control but Riggs is working from the bottom.
Eco forces his way into half guard.

That's two 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.
Riggs won't allow Eco to pass to mount.
Eco is just content to waste time from the top position. Riggs takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Eco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Riggs is keeping the position for now.
Riggs trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Riggs avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Eco is looking to work some ground and pound but Riggs has wrist control.
Eco wants to stand but Riggs has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Riggs bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Eco's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs postures up in Eco's guard and throws a big left but Eco blocks it.
Riggs pushing down on Eco's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Eco wants to get back to full guard.
Eco trying to control here.
Riggs wants to take a breather but Eco is having none of it.
Riggs missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Riggs throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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

Riggs scores with a takedown into Eco's guard.

Eco looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Eco is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs wants to control from the top but Eco keeps moving.
Riggs forces his way into half guard.
Riggs is keen to just control but Eco is a slippery customer.
Eco tries to get to full guard but Riggs has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Umberto Eco will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Remero Riggs's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Riggs wants to clinch
and Eco counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Umberto Eco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Eco fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Riggs shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Eco connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Eco gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Riggs wants to break free but Eco has control.
Stalling in the clinch from Eco.
Riggs wants a takedown.

Eco escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Eco stuffs the takedown attempt from Riggs. Riggs gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Remero Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riggs circles away from the clinch attempt.
Riggs circles away from the clinch attempt.
Riggs tries for a takedown but Eco circles away easily
and Eco counters with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Eco lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Eco has managed to clinch.
Riggs can't break the clinch.
Eco prevents a takedown attempt there.
Eco lands a shoulder strike.
Eco landing knees to the head.
Riggs tries to circle away but Eco has him pinned against the cage.

Eco has hold of one of Riggs's legs. Riggs is fighting the takedown attempt but Eco gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Eco trying to stand up but can't free himself from Riggs's guard.
Eco trying to control but Riggs is working from the bottom.
Eco loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Eco postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Riggs bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Eco's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Eco is on top in guard.
Riggs controlling Eco's posture.

Eco gets to his feet. Riggs looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Eco fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Riggs, pushing him back against the cage.
Eco lands a nice elbow.
Riggs wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Eco keeps control of Riggs as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Eco's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Riggs scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Eco is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Riggs grinds an elbow into Eco's temple.
Riggs lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Riggs wants to control but Eco is keeping him busy.
Riggs in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Check out the look on Riggs's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Riggs working the ground and pound but Eco is defending the strikes.
Riggs trying to control the action but Eco is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Riggs trying to control the action but Eco is working from the bottom.
Riggs landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Umberto Eco is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Eco is looking for a sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Eco holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Riggs working the ground and pound.
Remero Riggs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Eco gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Umberto Eco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Eco has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Umberto Eco!