PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Derek Riggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jasper Stride (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Riggs
vs
Stride

177 cm
22
168 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

192 cm
24
162 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Derek Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jasper Stride!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggs defending well as Stride loads up on a big left hand.
Stride throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Stride gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short right from Stride.
Stride prevents a body shot from Riggs.
Stride throws an elbow but it misses.
Riggs slowing the pace effectively.
Stride misses with a punch to the body.
Riggs goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Stride pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stride looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Riggs keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Riggs throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Stride lands with a good body shot.
Riggs wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stride throws a hook to the side of Riggs's head but Riggs sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stride tries to work over Riggs's front leg with a kick but Riggs checks it.
Riggs keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stride.
Riggs uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stride.
Stride misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Stride shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Jasper Stride is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stride connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Riggs's hands.
Stride is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Stride tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Riggs avoids the body shot from Stride.
Stride ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Riggs moves away.
Stride misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Riggs counters with a stiff right hand.
Jasper Stride seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stride avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stride throws a jab but it's blocked by Riggs.
Riggs scores with a jab to the jaw.
Stride misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Riggs counters with a straight right hand.
Stride wants to clinch.
Stride throws out a leg kick but Riggs moves out of range and Stride only half commits.
A slow jab from Stride misses its intended target.
Riggs is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stride misses with an uppercut
and Riggs counters with a nice body shot.
Riggs uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stride.
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!
Stride looks to score with a jab to the body but Riggs is just out of range.
Riggs takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Stride thows a body shot but no joy.
Stride misses with a looping left.
Riggs walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Riggs wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stride is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Riggs scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Riggs lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Riggs getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Stride fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Riggs manages to avoid it.
Stride looks to score with a jab to the body but Riggs is just out of range.
Stride throws an off balance right hand
enabling Riggs to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs throws an overhand right that lands on Stride's shoulder, as Stride tries to avoid the shot.
Stride is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Riggs rather than just go for the knockout.
Stride lands a nice shot to the body.
Stride misses with a hook. Riggs ducked under it nicely.
Riggs swats away the attempt to clinch by Stride.
Riggs is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Stride tries to clinch but Riggs is having none of it.
Riggs walks into a left hand.
Stride throws a shot to the body.
Riggs misses with a looping left.
Nice shot lands for Stride.
Stride lands a nice looking body shot.
Stride throws a hook to the side of Riggs's head but Riggs sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stride throws an overhand right that lands on Riggs's shoulder, as Riggs tries to avoid the shot.

Riggs gets tackled into the cage by Stride. Stride maintains the clinch.
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!
Stride lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Stride manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stride gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Stride.
A nice right hand lands inside from Stride.
Riggs lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Stride avoiding damage.
Riggs is stalling here.

Stride escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Riggs closes the distance and clinches up with Stride, looking for a takedown. Riggs pushes Stride against the cage but Stride circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stride swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Riggs slips under a jab from Stride.
Stride fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Riggs on the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stride throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Riggs throws a right and a left that Stride avoids nicely.
Stride ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Riggs throws a right and a left that Stride avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jasper Stride dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Riggs throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stride's waist but Stride gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Riggs off to one side.
Riggs throws an overhand right that lands on Stride's shoulder, as Stride tries to avoid the shot.
Stride tried to score with a low kick but Riggs checks it.
Riggs avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Stride misses with a wild body shot.
Riggs slips under a jab.
Stride uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Stride looks to land a right hand but Riggs moved out of range.
Riggs misses the shot to the body.
Jasper Stride seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stride swings for the body but Riggs moves out of range.
Stride looks to land a combination but Riggs avoids it well.
Riggs fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fighters circle momentarily. Stride darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Stride fails to land with a series of punches.
Stride looks to score with a jab to the body but Riggs is just out of range.
Riggs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs ducks under a wild hook from Stride.
Riggs misses with an uppercut.
Stride throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Riggs scores with a crisp jab that stopped Stride in his tracks.
Riggs cracks Stride with a good jab.
Stride takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Riggs scores with a jab to the body.
Stride swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Riggs closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Riggs misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stride.

Stride darts in and clinches Riggs up against the cage.
Stride is trying to break free.

Riggs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A swing and a miss from Stride.
The fighters circling - Riggs throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stride misses with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs shoots in looking for a takedown. Stride tries to sprawl out of it but Riggs keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stride manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stride misses the body punch
and Riggs counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
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!
Riggs throws a hook but Stride blocks it.
Riggs keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stride takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Riggs scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Stride doesn't seem bothered though.
Stride dips to his left and cracks Riggs with an uppercut!
A clash of legs there as Riggs blocks the low kick.
Stride is looking to clinch but Riggs is avoiding it.
Riggs checks a leg kick.
Stride tries to clinch up
and Riggs counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Stride thinking.
Riggs keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stride keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs moves out of range as Stride strikes.
Stride is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stride is looking to clinch.

Stride fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Riggs, pushing him back against the cage.
Stride blocks an uppercut.

Riggs breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stride throws a body punch but Riggs moves out of range.
Stride uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Riggs.
Stride tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Riggs manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Riggs throws a body punch but Stride moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Riggs. Stride does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stride throws a jab when Riggs was well out of range.
Stride walks into a left hand.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Stride.
Some bone on bone action there as Riggs checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stride.
Stride throws a jab but it's blocked by Riggs.
Stride scores with a body shot.
Riggs checks the leg kick.
Riggs takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stride shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A jab lands there for Riggs.
Riggs throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stride.
Stride looks to score with a jab to the body but Riggs is just out of range.
Stride just misses with a punch to the body.
Riggs lands a body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stride looks to land a left hand but Riggs moved out of range nicely.
Riggs staying out of range there.
Riggs misses with a body shot.
Riggs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jasper Stride showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Stride misses with a two punch combination.
Stride fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Riggs manages to avoid it.
Riggs works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Stride tries to clinch but Riggs moves out of range.
Stride throws a one two combo.
Stride looks to throw the jab but Riggs is out of range.
Stride swings widly with a right hand
and Riggs connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stride stuns Riggs with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Riggs looks to score with a jab to the body but Stride is just out of range.
Stride throws out a loose jab but Riggs uses good head movement to avoid it.
Riggs throws a series of strikes that have Stride backpedaling.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Riggs throws a body punch but Stride moves out of range.
Stride takes a swing at Riggs's ribcage but misses.
Riggs fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Stride swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stride lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stride tries to close the distance and clinch up but Riggs swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Riggs steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stride.
Riggs misses with a series of wild punches.
Stride connects with a single shot there.
A slow jab from Riggs misses its intended target.
Stride misses with a low kick.
Riggs throws a jab but it's blocked by Stride.
Stride slips under a jab.
Stride throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Riggs stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Stride lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Riggs has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Riggs and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stride. Riggs does a little dance to reset his feet.
Riggs changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Stride keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs moves away from the strike by Stride.
Stride fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stride slips under a jab from Riggs.
Stride wants to slow Riggs down by chopping away at his legs.
Stride cracks Riggs with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Stride wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stride takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Riggs shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stride misses the shot to the body.
Riggs looks to score with a jab to the body but Stride is just out of range.
Stride scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Derek Riggs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stride comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Stride misses with a low kick.
Riggs paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Stride misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stride closes the distance and clinches.
Riggs fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stride makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Stride wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Stride breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stride leaves Riggs with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Riggs misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stride.
Stride keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Stride's corner calls for a 1-2. Stride obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Stride keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Riggs.
Riggs misses with a looping right.
Jasper Stride is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A head punch on the inside from Riggs fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs tries to circle away but Stride has him pinned against the cage.
Nice body punch from Stride.
Riggs is leaning against Stride and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Riggs.

Stride's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stride tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Riggs counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Stride throws a series of strikes that have Riggs backpedaling.
Decent striking displayed by Stride there.
Stride has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Riggs takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Stride digs a good body shot into Riggs's ribs.
Stride misses with a leg kick.
Nice jab there from Stride.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jasper Stride comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stride 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jasper Stride!
A very excited looking Jasper Stride made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.