PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mikael Kappenen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Riggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riggs is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Deathamphetamine by EXODUS. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kappenen
vs
Riggs

192 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
182 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mikael Kappenen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Martin Riggs!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Chad Campbell and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kappenen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Riggs's face.

It looks like Martin Riggs has been cut.
Kappenen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Riggs tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kappenen avoids it.
Kappenen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Riggs's face.
Riggs looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Riggs misses with an elbow strike.
Kappenen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Riggs up against the cage.
Kappenen misses with a knee to the head.
Kappenen landing knees to the head.
Riggs takes a knee right on the jaw!

Riggs pulls Kappenen into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kappenen won't allow Riggs to sweep him here.
Riggs has control of Kappenen's left arm, preventing Kappenen from doing any damage.
Kappenen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Riggs on the ground.
Riggs keeping moving, preventing Kappenen from controlling successfully.
Riggs pulls Kappenen in close to his closed guard and prevents Kappenen from doing any damage or advancing position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Riggs slips a nice elbow through Kappenen's hands, connecting with Kappenen's forehead.
Kappenen is looking to escape.
Riggs landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Riggs prevents Kappenen from standing back up.
Riggs throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Riggs seems to be looking for submissions.

Riggs is working for a kimura but Kappenen is defending it quite comfortably.

Riggs is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kappenen is just riding it out for now. Riggs eventually gives up the hold.
Riggs prevents Kappenen from standing back up.
Riggs has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Riggs is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kappenen is just riding it out for now. Riggs eventually gives up the hold.
Riggs is trying to control the action in half guard but Kappenen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kappenen tries to kick Riggs off but Riggs keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kappenen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kappenen tries to get out of the position.
Kappenen trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riggs trying to control from half guard but Kappenen is working away.
Riggs is looking to advance position but Kappenen won't allow it.
Riggs lands with a punch from half guard.
Riggs not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Riggs prevents Kappenen from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Riggs lands a nice short elbow.
Kappenen is trying to stand up here but Riggs is controlling him well.
Riggs lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Riggs thows a huge punch but Kappenen dodges it nicely.
Riggs is looking to take a break and control but Kappenen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kappenen pushes Riggs off looking to stand but Riggs dives back in and keeps control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Riggs is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Kappenen is looking to escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Riggs misses with a straight right.
Kappenen throwing a counter right hand but Riggs manages to avoid it.

Riggs has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kappenen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kappenen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Riggs.
Riggs jumps guard but Kappenen stands there with Riggs around his waist. Riggs gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs is trying to drag Kappenen to the mat but Kappenen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kappenen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Riggs drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kappenen gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mikael Kappenen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martin Riggs.
Riggs drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kappenen gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A knee to the head by Kappenen.
Kappenen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kappenen landing knees to the head.
Kappenen misses with a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Kappenen scores with a nice short uppercut.
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!
Kappenen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
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 Mikael Kappenen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Martin Riggs's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kappenen forces Riggs back against the cage and clinches.
Riggs takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kappenen with a knee to the head.
Riggs avoiding damage as Kappenen throws knees to the body.

Riggs pulls guard successfully.
Riggs wants to sweep but no luck.
Kappenen trying to control the position from guard on top but Riggs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kappenen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Riggs keeping moving, preventing Kappenen from controlling successfully.
Riggs is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Riggs stops Kappenen from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kappenen is not content to let Riggs control the position.
Kappenen tries to kick Riggs off but Riggs keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Riggs is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kappenen defends it well.
Still in half guard, Riggs seems content to control.
Kappenen tries to kick Riggs off but Riggs keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Riggs passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Kappenen!
Kappenen is squirming around, avoiding Riggs's attempts to control the action.
Kappenen is trying to stand.
Riggs dominating with strikes here.
Kappenen really wants to buck Riggs off and get back to his feet.
Kappenen is in a horrible position here. Riggs smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kappenen is trying to stand.
Riggs landing strikes from the mount and Kappenen is in trouble!
Martin Riggs has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kappenen trying desperately to get to his feet.
Riggs breaks from Kappenen's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Riggs quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Riggs but it's paid off an Kappenen is forced to tap! Nice work by Riggs.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Martin Riggs!
Martin Riggs thanked the fans post fight for their support.