PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jozef Beast (ranked 2365 p4p, 305 weight class) and Cliff Rigano (ranked 2820 p4p, 366 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Beast
vs
Rigano

183 cm
36
175 lbs
26 - 11 - 2

188 cm
32
184 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 26 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jozef Beast!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Cliff Rigano!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circle momentarily. Beast darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rigano fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Beast on the side of the head.
Beast jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Beast misses with a lunging right hand
and Rigano counters with a straight right hand.
Nice cross by Rigano.
Beast swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rigano cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rigano swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rigano blocks a head kick by Beast.
Beast misses with a left hand
and Rigano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Beast takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rigano blocking some punches.
Beast managing to block the knees to the body from Rigano.
Beast lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rigano backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Beast.
Rigano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Beast fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rigano managing to block the knees to the body from Beast.
Rigano creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rigano blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rigano has clasped his hands together around Beast's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Rigano tries to advance to mount but Beast denies him.
The referee asks Rigano politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Rigano prefers to stall for the moment though.
Beast wants to get back to his feet but Rigano is dominant here and he's now got Beast's back!
Beast is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Rigano.
Beast trying to get back to his feet but Rigano is in full control for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rigano throwing sloppy strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beast is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Rigano working for the choke.
My spies in AREA 51 inform me that Rigano has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Rigano is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Beast is defending well though. Rigano let's go of the attempt for now.
Rigano missing with strikes from the back.
Beast trying to get back to his feet but Rigano is in full control for now.

Rigano looking to break Beast's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Beast remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Rigano will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rigano has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Beast has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Rigano keeps control of the position easily here as Beast tries to buck him off.

Rigano looking for the choke from the back.
Well, with Rigano on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Beast is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Rigano misses with punches from the back.
Rigano tries to keep control of the position but Beast is staying busy.

Rigano looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Beast is controlling Rigano 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beast trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rigano's guard.
Rigano looking for a sweep. Not yet Rigano, not yet.

Beast stands and steps away. Rigano gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A swing and a miss from Rigano.
Rigano loads up on a big right hand but Beast slips the punch.
Beast tried to counter with a leg kick but Rigano avoided it.
A lazy body kick from Beast
and Rigano counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Beast misses with a hook to the body
and Rigano counters with a nice uppercut.
Rigano throws a series of punches but Beast avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cliff Rigano dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Beast takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Rigano lunges at Beast with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Beast's hand.

It looks like Jozef Beast has been cut.
Beast ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Beast throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Beast lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Beast throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rigano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Beast closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The fighters circling - Rigano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Beast forces Rigano back against the cage and clinches.
Beast lands a knee to the body.
Beast lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rigano takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rigano lands an elbow just above Beast 's eye.
Beast scores a nice knee to the body.
Rigano tries to land a knee to the head but Beast blocks with his arms.
Rigano misses with an elbow strike.
Rigano tries to land a knee to the head but Beast blocks with his arms.
Beast throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rigano blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beast looking to throw knees to the head but Rigano is blocking nicely.
Beast connects with a knee to the head.
Beast throws a head punch that misses.
Beast lands with a short shot to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rigano obliges.
Beast tries a knee to the head but Rigano blocks it.
Rigano tries to land knees in the clinch but Beast avoids the damage to the body.
Beast lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Beast blocks an uppercut.
Rigano slowing the pace effectively.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rigano just misses with a elbow thrown towards Beast's brow.
Rigano using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Beast has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Beast lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rigano throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Beasts head.
Jozef Beast has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Beast scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Beast gets through Rigano's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Beast is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rigano is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beast has a couple of punches blocked by Rigano.
Rigano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Beast tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rigano stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rigano is trying to stall.
Beast swings wildly with an uppercut but Rigano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Beast using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rigano has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rigano misses with a knee to the head.
Beast using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rigano has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Beast landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rigano blocks an uppercut.
Beast with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rigano.
Beast throws a head punch that misses.
Beast gets through Rigano's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beast unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rigano lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Beast scores with a nice hook to the head.
Beast tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Beast lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rigano backwards.
Rigano throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Beasts head.
Beast landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Beast lands with a right to the head.
Beast misses with some punches.
Rigano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rigano misses with an elbow over the top.
Beast misses with a knee strike.
Beast swings wildly with an uppercut but Rigano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Beast lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Beast has a couple of punches blocked by Rigano.
Beast blocks a body shot from Rigano.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Beast.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rigano lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Beast backwards.
Knees in the clinch landing for Beast.
Rigano tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Beast avoids it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Beast.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rigano just misses with a elbow thrown towards Beast's brow.
Rigano throws an elbow that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Beast.
Beast tries to land knees in the clinch but Rigano avoids the damage to the body.
Rigano struggles to land a body shot inside as Beast controls his hands.
Beast swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Beast blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Beast looking to throw knees to the head but Rigano is blocking nicely.
Knees to the body from Beast.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rigano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Beast blocks a body shot from Rigano.
Beast tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rigano avoids it.
Rigano blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jozef Beast dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jozef Beast's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rigano misses with a two punch combination.
Jozef Beast seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Beast scores with a nice head shot.
Rigano swings widly with a right hand
and Rigano takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rigano might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Beast wants to clinch.
Rigano takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Good work by Rigano as he checks the leg kick.
Rigano looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
An attempted straight right counter from Beast misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beast cracks Rigano with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Beast throws a good cross that connects.
Beast is looking to chop away at Rigano's legs.
Rigano takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Beast misses with an uppercut. Rigano saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigano getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rigano misses the body punch
and Beast counters with a stiff right hand.
Beast tries to work over Rigano's front leg with a kick but Rigano checks it.
Beast is looking to slow Rigano down with leg kicks.
The crowd cheers as Rigano lands an impressive looking overhand right. Beast doesn't seem phased though.
Beast moves forwards but Rigano connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Beast misses with a hook
and Rigano counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rigano swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Beast cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rigano takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A thudding body kick lands there by Beast!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Beast has closed the distance and engaged Rigano in a clinch.
Rigano blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rigano lands a damaging elbow.

Rigano turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Rigano manages to end up in side control.
Beast wants to get back to his feet but Rigano drags him back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Beast's face as Rigano controls the position.
Rigano working the ground and pound from side control.
Beast is trying to buck Rigano off.

Rigano goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Beast has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Rigano but great work by Beast.

Beast decides to stand back up.
Rigano lands a slapping body shot.
Beast bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Beast appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Beast misses with a body kick.
Beast wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rigano misses with a body shot
and Beast counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Cliff Rigano seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Beast scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A nice leg kick lands there from Beast.
Beast looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Beast steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rigano.
Rigano checks a leg kick nicely.
Rigano throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rigano waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Beast.
Beast throws a hook to the side of Rigano's head but Rigano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Good shot there by Beast.
Rigano takes a jab right on the kisser.
Beast motions for Rigano to come forward. Beast throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Beast cracks Rigano with a good jab.
Jozef Beast is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rigano jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rigano lands with a good body shot.
Beast scores with a nice head shot.

Rigano is rocked!
Beast takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Beast blocks a jab.
Beast waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rigano.
A big right from Rigano misses.
Beast tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rigano was well out of range. Poor timing from Beast.
It seemed like Rigano was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice uppercut lands for Beast. That snapped Rigano's head back.
Rigano is still on wobbly legs! Can Beast finish him?
A looping hook to the body misses from Beast. Rigano does a little dance to reset his feet.

Beast darts in and clinches Rigano up against the cage.
Beast using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rigano has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Beast throws a head punch that misses.
Rigano seems to have recovered his senses.
Beast is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rigano can do to turn this around?
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Beast throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Riganos head.
Beast unloads a knee to the mid-section.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jozef Beast showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Beast 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jozef Beast!
Jozef Beast thanked the fans post fight for their support.