PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Saul Riggs (ranked 25543 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drake Blubbel (ranked 6533 p4p, 0 weight class). Saul Riggs has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Riggs
vs
Blubbel

162 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Saul Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Drake Blubbel!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Blubbel drives through and clinches with Riggs against the cage.

Blubbel breaks the clinch.
Blubbel dives in for a single leg takedown but Riggs sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Blubbel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Riggs paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Riggs takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Riggs avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Riggs clinches up against the cage.
Riggs prevents the takedown attempt.
Blubbel is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Saul Riggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Drake Blubbel.
Blubbel is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Riggs gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Blubbel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riggs circles away from the clinch attempt.

Blubbel lands a big head kick that sends Riggs tumbling to the mat! Blubbel takes a step backwards and waves Riggs back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Riggs is rocked!

It looks like Saul Riggs has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riggs misses with the combination.
Oh Riggs is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Riggs tries for a takedown but Blubbel sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Riggs seems to have got his legs back now.

Riggs gets tackled into the cage by Blubbel. Blubbel maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riggs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Blubbel clinches up against the cage.

Riggs jumps into guard, dragging Blubbel to the mat.
Riggs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Blubbel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Blubbel throwing strikes from guard but Riggs blocks nicely.
Blubbel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Riggs wants to sweep here but Blubbel controlling him for the moment.
Blubbel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Riggs has an active guard here but Blubbel has managed to pass into half guard.
Blubbel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blubbel decides to stand up.
Blubbel shoots in for a takedown but Riggs shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Blubbel gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Blubbel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Blubbel is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Riggs can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Blubbel walks away with a smile on his face. Riggs gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Blubbel darts in and clinches Riggs up against the cage.

Blubbel drags the fight down to the ground.
Riggs with a nice head shot there.
Riggs sitting in guard here, content to control.
Riggs throws a big right hand that misses.
Riggs throwing strikes but missing.
Riggs is working Blubbel over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Blubbel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Riggs defends it easily.
Blubbel looks winded!
Riggs sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blubbel wants to get back to his feet but Riggs is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Riggs trying to control the position from guard on top but Blubbel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Riggs displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Blubbel throws out the jab.
Riggs goes for a double leg but Blubbel avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Blubbel continues to drive forward.

Blubbel has managed to clinch.
Riggs could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Riggs gets underhooks to prevent Blubbel's takedown attempt.
Blubbel is working for takedown but Riggs is calmly controlling the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drake Blubbel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Saul Riggs's cut.
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.

Blubbel shoots for a double leg takedown but Riggs sprawls well. He's pushed Blubbel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Riggs forces Blubbel back against the cage and clinches.
Riggs is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Riggs displaying some good clinch control by pressing Blubbel up against the cage.
Blubbel lands a good knee to the midsection. Riggs won't want to take too many of those.
Blubbel is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Riggs to keep the fight standing.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Blubbel content to slow the pace in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Blubbel drags the fight down to the ground.
Riggs works over Blubbel with some ground and pound from guard.
Riggs won't allow Blubbel to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Blubbel is trying to keep Riggs in close.
Blubbel has control of Riggs's left arm, preventing Riggs from doing any damage.
Riggs trying to stand up but can't free himself from Blubbel's guard.
Riggs trying to control but Blubbel is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Riggs gets to his feet. Blubbel looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blubbel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Riggs paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Riggs gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Riggs fails to pull guard.

Blubbel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Riggs stuffs the takedown.
Saul Riggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Drake Blubbel.
Blubbel is breathing heavily.
Riggs takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Blubbel gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Riggs tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Blubbel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Blubbel stuffs the takedown.
Riggs dives in and grabs Blubbel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Blubbel pushes down on Riggs's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blubbel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Riggs as he jumps to the side.
Riggs is looking for a counter combo.
Blubbel wants to clinch
and Riggs counters with a three punch combo that has Blubbel backing up. Blubbel nods at Riggs to acknowledge the strikes.
Riggs scores with a body shot.
Blubbel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Riggs avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Riggs tries to clinch but Blubbel is having none of it.
Riggs lands a jab to Blubbel's midsection.
No luck for Riggs with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Blubbel eats them both and turns towards Riggs to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Blubbel keeps the fight on the outside.
Blubbel steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Riggs.
Blubbel shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Riggs goes for a double leg but Blubbel avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Blubbel continues to drive forward.
Horrible takedown attempt by Blubbel or perhaps it was just good defense by Riggs, which made it look bad.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blubbel shoots for a double leg takedown but Riggs sprawls well. He's pushed Blubbel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Riggs goes for a double leg but Blubbel avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Blubbel continues to drive forward.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saul Riggs dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Saul Riggs's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Blubbel shoots in for a double leg but Riggs sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Horrible takedown attempt by Blubbel or perhaps it was just good defense by Riggs, which made it look bad.
Blubbel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Riggs misses with a series of wild punches.
Riggs keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riggs throws a series of punches but Blubbel moves out of range.

Blubbel moves into the clinch.
Blubbel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Riggs is trying to break the clinch but Blubbel has him pressed against the cage.
Riggs lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riggs pulls Blubbel into guard.
Blubbel sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Riggs's guard.
Riggs wants to get back to his feet.
Riggs tries to get to full guard but Blubbel has control of the leg.

Riggs kicks off Blubbel and gets to his feet.
Riggs throws a combination. Blubbel tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Blubbel shoots for a takedown but Riggs saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Saul Riggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Drake Blubbel.

Blubbel rushes Riggs and presses him up against the cage.
Riggs jumps guard but Blubbel stands there with Riggs around his waist. Riggs gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Blubbel.

Blubbel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Blubbel shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Blubbel connects with a crisp jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riggs misses with a double jab

and Blubbel counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Blubbel.
Riggs is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Blubbel to keep the fight standing.

Blubbel jumps guard and drags Riggs to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Riggs wants to control from the top but Blubbel keeps moving.

Riggs gets to his feet - Blubbel follows without any prompting.
Saul Riggs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blubbel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Riggs sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Riggs scores with a one two! Blubbel had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Blubbel dives in for a single leg takedown but Riggs sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Blubbel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Riggs circles away.
Riggs attempts a counter takedown but Blubbel avoids it well and moves away.
Riggs looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Riggs misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Blubbel.
Blubbel throws a series of punches but Riggs avoids them all with ease.
Riggs fails with a takedown attempt.
Blubbel unleashes a big counter combination but Riggs bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blubbel fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Riggs looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Blubbel is fending him off so far but Riggs persists. Nope, Blubbel circles away and we're back to standing.
Blubbel is looking for the big counter here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Riggs has Blubbel pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Blubbel manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Riggs looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Blubbel ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Blubbel no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Riggs trying to control but Blubbel is working from the bottom.

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 Saul Riggs.
I think Riggs 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saul Riggs!