PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael Patton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek Riggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Patton's entrance music is Marilyn Manson - Born Villain . A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Patton
vs
Riggs

175 cm
35
162 lbs
46 - 15 - 1

177 cm
32
168 lbs
29 - 17 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)
Perkele!

North
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 46 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Patton!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Derek Riggs!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggs tries a head kick but it misses.
Riggs tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Patton was well out of range. Poor timing from Riggs.
Patton throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Patton throws out a loose jab but Riggs uses good head movement to avoid it.
Riggs shoots in but no luck this time.
Patton cracks Riggs with a right hand to the side of the head.
Patton throws a head kick that misses.
Patton throws a leg kick
and Patton takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Patton thumps Riggs with a low kick.
Riggs misses with a jab to the body
and Patton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Riggs has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Patton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Riggs.
Riggs looks to throw the jab but Patton is out of range.
Patton moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Patton throws a leg kick but Riggs sees it coming and moves out of range.
Riggs looks to score with a jab to the body but Patton is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patton throws a nice outside leg kick.
Patton misses with an uppercut. Riggs saw that one coming.
Patton wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A looping hook to the body misses from Patton. Riggs does a little dance to reset his feet.
Riggs with a jab.
Patton keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Riggs.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Riggs.
Patton throws a low kick but Riggs moves out of range easily.
Riggs fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Riggs avoids the head kick by Patton.
Riggs throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Riggs throws a hook but Patton avoids it easily.
Patton has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Athletic Advantage in the buildup to the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Patton swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Riggs takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Riggs feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Pattons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Riggs closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Riggs loads up on a big right hand but Patton slips the punch.
Patton checks a low kick from Riggs.
Riggs feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Pattons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Patton is looking to slow Riggs down with leg kicks.
Riggs throws an overhand right that lands on Patton's shoulder, as Patton tries to avoid the shot.
Riggs blocks a low kick nicely.
Michael Patton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Riggs throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Patton sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Good leg kick by Patton there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patton catches Riggs with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Riggs throws a leg kick but Patton sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Patton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Riggs dives in for a single leg takedown but Patton sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Michael Patton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek Riggs.
Patton prevents Riggs from breaking the clinch.
Riggs cracks Patton with a nice body shot.

Patton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Riggs throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Patton lands with a hook. Riggs tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Riggs throws a shot from downtown. Patton moves away and avoids it.
Riggs uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Patton.
Patton thows a body shot but no joy.
Patton lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Patton is looking to score with low kicks.
Patton throws a leg kick but Riggs moved away.
Riggs moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A combination from Patton does no damage.
Riggs lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Patton walks into a left hand.
Riggs thows a left - swing and a miss!
Riggs swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Riggs punishes Patton's body with a nice straight punch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Patton stuffs the takedown.
Riggs attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Patton misses the shot to the body.
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 Michael Patton will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Patton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A chopping leg kick lands by Riggs.
The fighters circling - Riggs throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A low kick from Patton misses
and Riggs counters with a nice body shot.
Riggs fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Patton is out of range.
Patton moves out of range of the strikes.
Riggs slips a straight right by Patton.
Riggs missing with a left hand there. Patton was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Patton bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Riggs's head.
Riggs misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Riggs ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Derek Riggs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riggs throws a solid leg kick but Patton takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Riggs.
Riggs avoids the body shot from Patton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patton thuds a left hand into Riggs's body.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Riggs.
A shot to the liver by Patton. Beautiful body shot.
Patton lands a front kick.
Patton keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Riggs moves out of range as Patton strikes.
Riggs lands a lovely overhand right.
Patton misses with a shot to the body
and Riggs counters with a straight right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A looping hook to the body misses from Riggs. Patton does a little dance to reset his feet.
Riggs throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A cross from Riggs lands.
Riggs scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Patton throws a low kick but Riggs moves out of range easily.
Riggs throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A shot to the liver by Riggs. Beautiful body shot.
Patton throws out a leg kick but Riggs moves out of range and Patton only half commits.
Riggs works the jab nicely.
Patton cracks Riggs with a right hand to the side of the head.
Riggs fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Riggs scores with a body shot.
Patton takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Riggs throws a low kick but Patton avoids it.
Riggs scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Riggs throws a leg kick that is checked
and Patton counters with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs tries to land a leg kick but Patton saw it coming and moves away.
Riggs loads up on a big right hand but Patton slips the punch.
Riggs throws a leg kick that misses.
Patton finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Patton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A low kick from Riggs misses
and Patton counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Patton plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Riggs jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Riggs gets a double leg takedown into Patton's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Riggs working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Patton's head.
Riggs in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs throwing strikes but missing.
Riggs with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riggs tries to free his leg and advance position but Patton is retaining full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Riggs's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Riggs is in close to Patton's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Riggs trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Patton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Riggs throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Riggs showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Riggs just misses with a punch to the body.
Riggs throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Riggs ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Riggs tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Riggs throws a shot from downtown. Patton moves away and avoids it.
Riggs throws a leg kick which misses Patton's front leg but catches the back leg as Patton tries to avoid it.
Patton dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Riggs. That did some damage!
Good leg kick by Patton there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Patton misses with a series of wild punches.
Derek Riggs seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Riggs takes a swing at Patton's ribcage but misses.
Riggs sizes up Patton with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Patton.
Patton connects with a good right hand that stumbles Riggs. Riggs circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Patton works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Patton fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Riggs.
Riggs's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Riggs keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Patton.
Patton looks to score with a jab to the body but Riggs is just out of range.
Riggs throws out a loose jab but Patton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Patton walks into a left hand.
Riggs throws a good cross that connects.
Riggs throws a lazy right hand but Patton sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Riggs gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Patton.
Patton ducks under a wild hook from Riggs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Patton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Patton throws a jab but it's blocked by Riggs.
Patton lands a right hook to the body.
Patton jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Patton misses with an uppercut.
Jab from Riggs.
Patton lands a jab.
Riggs attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Riggs scores with a jab.
Patton throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs throws a low kick but it's checked well by Patton.
Patton lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Riggs lands a jab to Patton's midsection.
Riggs scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Riggs throws a right and a left that Patton avoids nicely.
Patton throws a hook to the side of Riggs's head but Riggs sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Riggs checks a low kick from Patton.
Patton lands a nice leg kick that just misses Riggs's sensitive parts.
A slapping leg kick lands for Patton.
Patton's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Riggs connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Patton scrambles back to his feet.
Riggs misses with a shot to the body
and Patton counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Riggs takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Riggs avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Riggs misses.
Riggs connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Patton with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Patton connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Patton slips under a jab.
Riggs throws a low kick but it's checked well by Patton.
Patton buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Riggs swings away with a body shot that misses
and Patton counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Patton blocks a leg kick.
Patton throws a nice head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Patton clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Patton tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Riggs is able to avoid easily.
Riggs takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Riggs checks a low kick from Patton.
Riggs throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Riggs checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Patton dodges the punch combination from Riggs.
Patton with a hook.
Patton throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Patton jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Riggs ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Patton moves away.
Riggs swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Riggs thows a leg kick but Patton checks it
and Patton counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Patton.
Patton looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Riggs dips to his left and cracks Patton with an uppercut!
Patton throws a nice inside leg kick.
Patton tries a low kick but Riggs avoids it.
Riggs fails with a takedown attempt.
Riggs shoots in for a double leg but Patton sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Riggs is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Riggs throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs moves away from the strike by Patton.
Riggs tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Patton throws a series of punches but Riggs avoids them all with ease.
Patton just misses with a punch to the body.
Riggs misses with a right hand
and Patton counters with a left to the body.
A jab from Riggs does it's job there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Patton keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Michael Patton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek Riggs.
Patton just misses with a punch to the body.
Riggs looks to score with a jab to the body but Patton is just out of range.
Riggs avoids the head kick by Patton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patton keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Riggs uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Patton has time to react.
Patton lands a head kick!
Riggs shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Patton as he jumps to the side.
Patton checks the leg kick nicely there.
Patton fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Riggs.
Riggs misses with a jab to the body
and Patton connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Patton keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Riggs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Patton missing with a left hand there. Riggs was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Riggs ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Riggs throws a body punch but Patton moves out of range.
Patton takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Riggs looks to score with a jab to the body but Patton is just out of range.
Riggs misses with a low kick.
Riggs checks the leg kick nicely there.
Jab from Patton.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riggs is looking to score with low kicks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Riggs moves out of range of the leg kick from Patton.
Patton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Patton had his way with Derek Riggs in that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Patton connects with a solid leg kick.

Riggs shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Riggs wants to take a breather but Patton is having none of it.
Riggs thows a huge punch but Patton dodges it nicely.
Patton gets back to full guard.
Riggs looking to sit in guard and control but Patton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Riggs is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs is trying to hold Patton in close to prevent damage but Patton has managed to pass into half guard.
Riggs is trying to control but can't.
Riggs works his way to full guard. Good work.
Riggs wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riggs is looking to sweep but instead, Patton has passed into half guard.
Riggs manages to get to full guard.
Riggs keeping moving, preventing Patton from controlling successfully.
Michael Patton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs trying to control the position.
Riggs is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Derek Riggs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riggs looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Patton puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Patton wants to pass to mount but Riggs is defending the position.
Patton prevents Riggs from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patton takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Riggs tries to roll over but Patton keeps him under control.
Riggs is looking to get back to full guard here but Patton has managed to pass to side control instead.
Riggs is looking for a sweep.
Patton slows the pace down.
Riggs struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Patton trying to control the position but Riggs is working away.
Patton just content to control the position.
Riggs misses with an elbow from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Riggs tries to bench press Patton off him but Patton keeps the position.
Riggs trying to remain calm as Patton controls from the top position.
Riggs gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Riggs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Patton has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 47:48
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 48:47
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Michael Patton!
Michael Patton retains his lightweight title!
Michael Patton decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.