PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Derek Riggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giorgio Valentino (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 Giorgio Valentino was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Riggs
vs
Valentino

177 cm
30
168 lbs
25 - 17 - 0

190 cm
29
166 lbs
21 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Perkele!

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 25 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Derek Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Giorgio Valentino!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggs throws a poor cross that misses
and Valentino counters with a nice uppercut.
Valentino's coach down at MMA Warrior (1000$ / 15 Elite Coaches) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Valentino's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Valentino throws a jab but it's blocked by Riggs.

Valentino moves into the clinch.
Valentino's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Riggs is trying to drag Valentino to the mat but Valentino just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Riggs creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Riggs blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Valentino.

Riggs is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Valentino can't fight it off and eventually Riggs manages to take the fight to the floor. Valentino looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Valentino keeping moving, preventing Riggs from controlling successfully.
Valentino looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Riggs looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentino is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Riggs stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Valentino swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Riggs throwing strikes but missing.
Riggs preventing the sweep.
Riggs might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Riggs controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Riggs connects with a leg kick. Valentino looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Valentino throws a leg kick but Riggs moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Valentino's waist but Valentino gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Riggs off to one side.
Valentino tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Riggs fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Valentino.
Nice cross by Riggs.
Riggs misses with a straight right.
Valentino is looking to chop away at Riggs's legs.
Riggs swings for the body but Valentino moves out of range.
Riggs swings for the body but Valentino moves out of range.
Riggs connects with a looping right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Valentino, right into the meat.
Valentino uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Riggs.
Valentino keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Riggs.
Riggs throws out a leg kick but Valentino moves out of range and Riggs only half commits.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Valentino as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Derek Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valentino swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A bone on bone clash there as Riggs blocks the leg kick.
Valentino misses with a low kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Valentino.
Valentino wants to slow Riggs down by chopping away at his legs.
A head kick misses from Valentino.
Some bone on bone action there as Riggs checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Riggs tests Valentino's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Riggs clobbers Valentino with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A big left from Valentino misses.
Riggs throws a leg kick that is checked
and Valentino counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Riggs thinking.
Valentino misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentino scores with a decent looking hook.
Riggs throws a body punch but Valentino moves out of range.
Riggs throws a low kick but Valentino avoids it.
Valentino fakes the leg kick and cracks Riggs in the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riggs has a takedown stuffed.
Riggs tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Valentino attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Nice takedown defense from Valentino. No joy for Riggs on that attempt.
Valentino throws a nice looking combination but Riggs bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Valentino lands a glancing blow to the side of Riggs's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valentino is looking to score with low kicks.
Riggs misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Valentino.
Valentino scores with a nice right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Derek Riggs will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Valentino throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Valentino just misses with a punch to the body.
Giorgio Valentino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valentino gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Riggs connects with a high kick.

Valentino is rocked!
Valentino defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Riggs.
Valentino misses with a low kick.
Valentino lands a slapping body shot.
Riggs thows a body shot but no joy.
Valentino stuns Riggs with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Riggs shoots in for a takedown but Valentino shows good takedown defense.
Valentino scores with a crisp jab that stopped Riggs in his tracks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valentino fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Riggs has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Valentino on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
It looks like Riggs has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Riggs misses with a left hand
and Valentino counters with a nice low kick that buckles Riggs's knee momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Derek Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valentino blocks a jab.
Valentino throws a head kick but Riggs moves out of range.
Riggs scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Valentino uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Riggs.
Riggs avoids a punch combination nicely.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Riggs connects with the punch.
Riggs closes the distance and clinches up with Valentino, looking for a takedown. Riggs pushes Valentino against the cage but Valentino circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Riggs throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Riggs keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Valentino cracks Riggs with a right hand to the side of the head.
Valentino lands with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valentino misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Riggs.
Valentino pulls out of a head kick attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valentino swings for the body but Riggs moves out of range.
Riggs feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Valentino's calf.
Riggs lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Riggs misses with a shot to the body
and Valentino counters with a good low kick that Riggs was not able to check.
Valentino throws a hook to the side of Riggs's head but Riggs sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Valentino checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Riggs uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Valentino.
Riggs throws a lazy right hand but Valentino sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Valentino shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Riggs lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Riggs shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Valentino defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs moves away from the strike by Valentino.
Valentino doesn't manage to clinch there - Riggs circles away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Valentino.
Valentino lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Valentino throws a low kick, looking for Riggs's leg but Riggs calmly moves out of range.
Riggs scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Valentino lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Some wild striking there from Valentino.
Riggs throws a body kick that misses.
Riggs is looking to score with low kicks.
Valentino throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Valentino is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Riggs lands an overhand right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riggs throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice jab there from Riggs.
Valentino is still on wobbly legs! Can Riggs finish him?
Valentino throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Valentino misses with a body shot.
Valentino misses with a wild combination.
Valentino avoids the head kick by Riggs.
Valentino seems to have recovered his senses.
Riggs moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Riggs shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Valentino as he avoids it easily.

Valentino fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Riggs, pushing him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Riggs fails to land.
A short uppercut from Valentino.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Derek Riggs will probably get the nod.
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!

Valentino uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Riggs fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Riggs sizes up Valentino with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Riggs throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Valentino sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Valentino takes one on the button.
Valentino keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Riggs.
Valentino keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd cheers as Riggs lands an impressive looking overhand right. Valentino doesn't seem phased though.
Valentino gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Riggs.
Riggs has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Valentino.
Riggs thows a left - swing and a miss!
Valentino tries to clinch there but Riggs circles away.
Riggs throws a low kick, looking for Valentino's leg but Valentino calmly moves out of range.
Derek Riggs is winning the standup battle so far.
Valentino fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentino looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Riggs on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Valentino pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A solid leg kick lands there for Riggs.
A bone on bone clash there as Valentino blocks the leg kick.
Riggs misses with a body shot.
Valentino looks to score with a jab to the body but Riggs is just out of range.
Valentino slaps away a takedown attempt from Riggs, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Valentino gets caught flat footed, as Riggs shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Valentino wants to sweep but no luck.
Riggs with a flurry of punches that miss.
Riggs works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Giorgio Valentino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valentino bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Riggs looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Derek Riggs is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Valentino has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Riggs is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riggs wants to sweep but no luck.
Valentino throws a big right hand that misses.
Valentino being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentino trying to control but Riggs is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Giorgio Valentino has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Valentino checks the leg kick.
Valentino's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Riggs throws a low kick but it's checked well by Valentino.
Valentino tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Valentino throws a jab when Riggs was well out of range.
Riggs shoots for a double leg takedown but Valentino 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 Derek Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riggs shoots in and drives through. Valentino sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentino swings for the body but Riggs moves out of range.
Valentino misses with a lunging right hand
and Riggs counters with a low kick, right behind Valentino 's knee.
Valentino has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Riggs fails with a takedown attempt.
Valentino walks into a stiff left hand from Riggs.
Valentino ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Riggs moves away.
Valentino tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Riggs is able to avoid easily.
Valentino lands a right hook to the body.
Riggs scores with the left hand. Valentino knows he should have avoided that one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice body punch from Riggs.
Riggs throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Riggs uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Valentino.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Derek Riggs.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Riggs, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Derek Riggs!
An out of breath Derek Riggs thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.