PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jeremiah Riggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Messier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Messier has chosen Not Afraid as his entrance music. Tim Messier has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Riggs
vs
Messier

182 cm
25
197 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

186 cm
24
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jeremiah Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tim Messier!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jonathan Paton and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggs is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Riggs shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Messier is looking to control Riggs's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Messier avoid being mounted?
Riggs is taking a breather. Messier says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Messier is staying active underneath Riggs, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Messier wants to improve his position but Riggs is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Riggs is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Messier has managed to free his arm - good work.
Riggs wants to advance to full mount but Messier doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs sitting in guard here, content to control.
Messier looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Messier is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Riggs is pushing down on Messier's leg trying to pass to half guard. Messier is fighting to maintain full guard but Riggs has managed to sneak the leg through.
Riggs is controlling the pace.
Messier is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Riggs stops Messier from getting back to his feet.
Riggs tries to pass the half guard into mount. Messier knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Riggs is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Messier is trying to stand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Messier dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Messier scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Riggs is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Messier's half guard.
Riggs is thwarting Messier's attempts to control the position.
Messier is looking for a sweep. Riggs is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riggs seems to be working for a kimura but Messier defends the submission attempt.
Riggs knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Messier on the ground.
Messier tries to roll over but Riggs keeps him under control.
Messier trying to control here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Riggs in particular looking to stall.
Messier is staying active underneath Riggs, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Messier is looking for a sweep. Riggs is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Riggs sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four 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.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Jeremiah Riggs wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Messier pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Riggs back to the cage. Messier follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Riggs has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Messier throws a nice looking combination but Riggs bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Riggs shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Riggs has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Riggs is breathing heavily.
Messier looking to control.
Riggs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Messier not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Riggs wants to control from the top but Messier keeps moving.
Messier working a defensive guard here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tim Messier wasn't active enough on the ground.
Messier throws a right and a left that Riggs avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremiah Riggs dominated that 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.

Messier slips a jab and a cross from Riggs.
Riggs avoids a punch combination nicely.
Messier digs a good hook to Riggs's body.
Messier lands a slapping body shot.

Riggs scores a takedown into full mount!
Messier is in all sorts of trouble here.
Riggs avoids the attempt from Messier to control.
Messier working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messier is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Messier is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Riggs works his way to his opponent's back.
Messier is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Messier is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Riggs gets his way!
Riggs tries to keep control of the position but Messier is staying busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Riggs doesn't have the hooks in and Messier manages to turn into his guard.
Messier throws and elbow that misses. Riggs uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Messier's guard. Nice move by Riggs!
Messier keeping full guard, as Riggs tries to pass.
Messier controls Riggs momentarily but Riggs frees himself.
Messier can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Riggs controls the pace.
Riggs won't allow Messier to sweep him here.
Messier is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Riggs stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Messier swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tim Messier was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Riggs swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tim Messier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Messier scores with a jab.
Messier rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Riggs moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Messier stuffs the takedown.
Messier throws a right hand that Riggs ducks under and follows up with a left that Riggs also avoids with ease.
Riggs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Messier misses with the combination.
Messier looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Messier throws a series of punches but Riggs avoids them all with ease.
Riggs throws a series of punches but Messier moves out of range.

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.
Riggs falls off balance throwing a combination
and Messier counters with a three punch combo that has Riggs backing up. Riggs nods at Messier to acknowledge the strikes.
Messier punishes Riggs's body with a nice straight punch.
Jab by Messier.
Messier throws a series of strikes that have Riggs backpedaling.
Nice body punch from Messier.
Messier swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Riggs counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Messier working a defensive guard here.
Riggs wants to control from the top but Messier keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Riggs preventing the sweep.
Messier is trying to control the position but Riggs postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tim Messier will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Messier throws a right hand that Riggs ducks under and follows up with a left that Riggs also avoids with ease.
Tim Messier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Messier swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Riggs shoots in and gets a takedown into Messier's guard.
Messier trying to control the position.
Jeremiah Riggs overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Messier might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Riggs kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tim Messier was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Riggs scores a takedown into full mount!
Messier wants to hold on but Riggs pushes him away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messier is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Riggs goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Messier turns into him and now he's in Riggs's guard.
Messier missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Messier scoring with punches to the head and body.
Messier thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Messier throws a strike but Riggs rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Riggs trying to control but Messier is working from the bottom.
Messier wants to sweep but no luck.
Messier trying to keep a closed guard but Riggs is proving a slippery customer.
Messier looking for a sweep. Not yet Messier, not yet.
Messier not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Riggs pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Messier is keeping the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tim Messier.
Messier fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Messier, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Messier moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Messier is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Riggs rather than just go for the knockout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Riggs is defended easily by Messier.
Messier scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Messier swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Riggs tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Messier swivels and escapes.
Messier dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
No joy there for Messier, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Messier punishes Riggs's body with a nice straight punch.
Messier throws a right hand that Riggs ducks under and follows up with a left that Riggs also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Messier thuds a left hand into Riggs's body.
Messier misses with a jab, cross combination.
Left hook, right uppercut from Messier.
Riggs avoids a punch combination nicely.
Riggs shoots for a double leg takedown but Messier sprawls well. He's pushed Riggs's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeremiah Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Messier misses with a wild combination.
Messier rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Riggs moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Messier throws a series of punches but Riggs avoids them all with ease.
A looping hook to the body misses from Messier. Riggs does a little dance to reset his feet.
Messier keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Riggs throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Messier counters with a left and a right that stings Riggs.
Messier closes the distance and lands a one-two.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Messier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Messier has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tim Messier!