PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Derek Riggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Furio Falcone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Falcone has chosen Hatebreed - Live for this as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Riggs
vs
Falcone

177 cm
23
168 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

178 cm
28
156 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

{R.W} Four Aces Nutrition

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Derek Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Furio Falcone!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggs thows a body shot but no joy.
Falcone walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A swing and a miss from Falcone.
Falcone misses with a wild body shot.

Falcone moves into the clinch successfully.
Riggs dodges an elbow strike from Falcone.
Riggs dodges an elbow strike from Falcone.
Stalling in the clinch from Riggs.
Falcone throws an elbow that misses.
Falcone leaning his opponent against the cage.
Falcone swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Riggs controlling the action here for a moment.
Falcone tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Riggs lands a nice shot to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Riggs.

Riggs breaks from the clinch.
Falcone tries to close the distance and clinch up but Riggs swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick misses from Falcone.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falcone jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Good standup being displayed there by Riggs as he connects with a hook.
Good shot there by Riggs.

Riggs moves into the clinch successfully.
Riggs lands a left hand that snaps the head of Falcone backwards.
Falcone throws an elbow that misses.
Falcone looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Riggs pushes Falcone back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Riggs taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Falcone trying to control the position but instead, Riggs has worked for underhooks and has pushed Falcone into the cage.
Falcone gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Riggs.
Falcone throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Falcone looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Riggs lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Falcone.
Riggs slowing the pace effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Riggs for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Falcone.
Riggs has Falcone pushed against the cage.
Riggs blocks an elbow strike.
Falcone pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Falcone misses with an elbow over the top.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Falcone just misses with a elbow thrown towards Riggs's brow.
Riggs wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Falcone has him pressed against the cage.
Falcone misses with the head strike.
Riggs avoids a wild elbow strike from Falcone.
Falcone misses with a knee strike.
Stalling in the clinch from Riggs.
Riggs lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Riggs lands with a short shot to the head.
Riggs wants to break free but Falcone has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riggs breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A slapping body kick lands there for Falcone.
Falcone doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Riggs scores with the left hand. Falcone knows he should have avoided that one.
Falcone tries to clinch but Riggs moves out of range.
Falcone wants to clinch.
Falcone is looking to chop away at Riggs's legs.
Falcone closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Riggs to counter with a crisp jab.
Riggs thows a body shot but no joy.

Riggs has taken the fight to the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Riggs.
Riggs avoids a wild elbow strike from Falcone.
Riggs working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
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 blocks an elbow strike from Falcone.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Riggs.
Riggs dodges an elbow strike from Falcone.
Falcone pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Riggs wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Falcone has him pressed against the cage.
Falcone lands a left hand that snaps the head of Riggs backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Riggs.
Riggs is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Falcone is keeping busy.
Falcone is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Riggs is keeping busy.
Falcone lands a knee to the head.
Riggs lands a nice shot to the body.
Falcone misses with a punch on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Falcone throws an elbow but misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Falcone creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Falcone is looking to control Riggs's arms but Riggs gets an underhook and turns him. Now Falcone has his back to the cage.
Riggs wants to break the clinch but can't.
Falcone lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Riggs backwards.
A shot in the inside from Riggs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Riggs dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Riggs tests Falcone's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Riggs swats away the attempt to clinch by Falcone.
Riggs lands a really nice looking cross but Falcone seems unphased.
Falcone misses with a wild body shot.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Falcone thows a body shot but no joy.
Riggs scores with a hook to the body. Falcone takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Riggs swinging wildly here.
Falcone takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Falcone doesn't manage to clinch there - Riggs circles away.
Falcone tries to clinch but Riggs is having none of it.
A clash of legs there as Riggs blocks the low kick.
Falcone throws a low kick but Riggs avoids it.
Falcone slips under a jab.
Falcone moves in looking to clinch but Riggs pushes him off.

Riggs moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Falcone working aggressively here.
Falcone throws an elbow but it misses.
Riggs avoids the elbow strike from Falcone, against the cage.
Riggs lands a right hand that snaps the head of Falcone backwards.
Falcone tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Riggs blocks an elbow strike.
Riggs lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Falcone pushes off an throws an elbow but Riggs leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Falcone prevents a takedown attempt there.
Falcone lands an elbow inside.
The referee calls for Riggs to work.
Falcone throws an elbow but it misses.
Riggs lands with a right to the head.
Falcone is trying to maintain a safe position but Riggs gets an underhook and turns Falcone into the cage.
Falcone throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Falcone tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falcone using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Riggs has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Riggs breaks the clinch.
Falcone scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Falcone uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Riggs.

Falcone gets a clinch.
Nice body punch from Riggs.
Falcone creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Riggs creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Riggs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Falcone throws a leg kick but Riggs sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A low kick from Falcone is predictable there
and Riggs counters with a straight right hand.
Riggs keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Falcone is looking to clinch.
Riggs lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Falcone is looking to clinch but Riggs is avoiding it.
Falcone throws a nice inside leg kick.
Falcone moves in looking to clinch but Riggs pushes him off.
Falcone shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs shoots for a double leg takedown but Falcone sprawls well. He's pushed Riggs's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Falcone misses with a head kick.
Riggs connects with a single shot there.
Riggs lands a jab to the nose.
Falcone throws a big shot that misses.
Riggs lands a head shot.

Riggs gets a clinch.
Riggs lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Falcone backwards.
Falcone scores with a nice hook to the head.
Riggs blocks an elbow strike.
Falcone throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Riggs working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Riggs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Riggs looks to land a right hand but Falcone moved out of range.
Falcone throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Falcone throws a nice inside leg kick.
Riggs misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Falcone misses.
Riggs misses with an uppercut.
Falcone avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Riggs lands the left hand.
Derek Riggs is winning the standup battle so far.
Falcone avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Riggs shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Falcone eats them both and turns towards Riggs to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Riggs takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Riggs circles away from the clinch attempt.
Furio Falcone is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Falcone fails in his attempt to clinch.
Riggs feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Falcones jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The fight stays on the outside here - Falcone looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Riggs fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Derek Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Riggs takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Falcone tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Riggs counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Riggs 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Falcone just misses with a punch to the body.

Riggs drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Falcone avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Riggs.
Riggs trying to control the action but Falcone is working from the bottom.
Falcone takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Riggs wants to control but Falcone is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falcone dodges the ground and pound from Riggs.
Falcone being controlled for a moment.
Riggs throws an elbow but Falcone slips to the side and avoids it well.
Riggs staying calm.
Riggs misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Riggs moves into full mount!
Derek Riggs is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Riggs takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Furio Falcone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riggs has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Derek Riggs.
Riggs looks to land a right hand but Falcone moved out of range.

Riggs looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Riggs in particular looking to stall.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Riggs showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Riggs 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek Riggs!
Derek Riggs tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.