PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bjj Specialist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ondrej Rigo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bjj Specialist has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Specialist
vs
Rigo

188 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bjj Specialist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ondrej Rigo!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Specialist feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Specialist tries to free his leg and advance position but Rigo is retaining full guard.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Rigo has eaten all the pies!

Specialist drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Specialist jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rigo has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Rigo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Specialist gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Rigo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Specialist can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Specialist thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Specialist wants to pass the guard but Rigo is keeping the position.

Specialist is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rigo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Specialist doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Specialist manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Specialist postures up.
Specialist stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rigo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Specialist drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Specialist jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Rigo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Rigo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Specialist defends well.

Rigo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rigo controls Specialist momentarily but Specialist frees himself.
Specialist trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Specialist is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Specialist drops back looking for a leg! Rigo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rigo manages to kick Specialist off! Specialist jumps back into Rigo's guard.
Rigo keeping full guard, as Specialist tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rigo holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Specialist tries to free his leg and advance position but Rigo is retaining full guard.
Specialist is working hard here to advance position.

Rigo looking for a guillotine here but Specialist defends easily.
Rigo controls Specialist momentarily but Specialist frees himself.
Specialist looking to pass the guard.
Rigo is controlling Specialist's posture.

Specialist avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Rigo looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Specialist has picked Rigo up and slammed him! Rigo can't keep hold of the triangle and Specialist manages to pass to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Specialist looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Specialist gets to mount! Rigo was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Specialist jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Rigo is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Rigo and Specialist has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Rigo tries to buck Specialist off but Specialist is having none of it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rigo manages to get back to half guard.
Specialist wants to pass the guard but Rigo is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rigo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Specialist passes Rigo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ondrej Rigo will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Specialist shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Specialist is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rigo defends it well.
Rigo is trying to maintain the position but Specialist is very close to passing his half guard.
Rigo is pressing down on Specialist's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rigo trying to control the position.

Specialist got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rigo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Specialist has managed to get both his arms back between Rigo's legs - danger averted.
Rigo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Specialist drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Specialist jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Specialist looking to pass the guard.

Specialist thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rigo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Specialist gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Specialist advances position into side control!
Rigo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Specialist wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Specialist tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Specialist has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rigo can't do much from the bottom here.
Rigo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Rigo actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rigo is defending against the submission attempts here by Specialist.

Specialist seems to be looking for submissions.

Specialist looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Rigo trying to control here.

Specialist is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rigo has managed to free his arm - good work.

Rigo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rigo trying to control from the bottom.

Specialist is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Rigo looking for a kimura from the bottom but Specialist passes into side control!

Specialist is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rigo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Specialist tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Specialist has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Specialist tries for a kimura but Rigo is defending well.
Rigo can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rigo is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Specialist is staying active.
Specialist will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Specialist looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Rigo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rigo stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Rigo is looking for a sweep.
Rigo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Specialist is working for a submission of some sort.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Specialist wants to pass the guard but Rigo is defending well.
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 Bjj Specialist will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rigo throws a head kick that misses.
Specialist throws a head kick but Rigo moves out of range.

Specialist closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Specialist lands in his opponent's guard.
Specialist trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Rigo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Specialist is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rigo.

Specialist working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rigo is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Rigo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rigo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rigo is still trying to improve position.
Rigo gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Specialist moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rigo has worked his arm free - good work by Rigo!
Rigo tries to buck Specialist off but Specialist is having none of it.

Specialist tries for a kimura but Rigo is defending well.
Rigo gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Specialist is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rigo trying to control from the bottom.

Rigo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Specialist is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rigo sees it coming and defends easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Specialist moves nicely into side control.
Rigo struggling a bit here.

Specialist wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rigo, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Specialist is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rigo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Specialist is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rigo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rigo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Specialist's best efforts.

Specialist is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rigo defends it well.
Rigo is looking to improve his position.
Rigo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rigo has his foot on Specialist's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Specialist works his way back into a safe position though.

Rigo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Specialist can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rigo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Specialist defends it easily.

Rigo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Specialist trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rigo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Specialist is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ondrej Rigo.
I think Rigo 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ondrej Rigo!
Ondrej Rigo thanked the fans post fight for their support.