PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johannes Maanpohja (ranked 1422 p4p, 176 weight class) and Cliff Rigano (ranked 4604 p4p, 447 weight class). Cliff Rigano will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Maanpohja
vs
Rigano

171 cm
42
173 lbs
23 - 39 - 0

188 cm
34
184 lbs
18 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Experienced

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 23 - 39 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johannes Maanpohja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Cliff Rigano!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rigano shoots in and bounces Maanpohja off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rigano is in close to Maanpohja's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rigano landing with the ground and pound.

Maanpohja looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rigano throws a big right hand that misses.
Rigano lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Maanpohja has his foot on Rigano's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rigano works his way back into a safe position though.
Rigano not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rigano postures up and lands a big shot to Maanpohja's brow.

Maanpohja is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rigano lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rigano trying to control the position from guard on top but Maanpohja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rigano has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Rigano avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigano controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rigano postures up and lands a big shot to Maanpohja's brow.
Maanpohja wants to sweep here but Rigano controlling him for the moment.

Rigano avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Maanpohja might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rigano postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rigano content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Maanpohja seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rigano's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rigano wants to control from the top but Maanpohja keeps moving.
Rigano connects with a couple of short punches.

Maanpohja looking for a guillotine here but Rigano defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rigano is aware though and is defending well.
Rigano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maanpohja is keeping the position for now.
Rigano scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Maanpohja has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rigano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rigano sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rigano wants to pass the guard but Maanpohja is keeping the position.
Rigano wants to control from the top but Maanpohja keeps moving.
Rigano is in close to Maanpohja's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Maanpohja is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja looking for subs off his back but Rigano has passed one foot through into half guard.
Rigano works his way into full mount!
Rigano looking to control but Maanpohja is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Maanpohja is looking to improve his position but Rigano isn't that keen on the idea.
Rigano working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Maanpohja is desperately trying to improve his position but Rigano has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rigano cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rigano trying to control but Maanpohja is having none of it.
Maanpohja is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rigano scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Maanpohja?
Rigano can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Maanpohja is looking to escape.
Rigano sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rigano trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maanpohja working to try and regain half guard.
Rigano punishing his opponent with strikes.
Maanpohja really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cliff Rigano dominated that round.
That's time! Maanpohja's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maanpohja looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rigano!
Rigano gets back to half guard.
Maanpohja slips a nice elbow through Rigano's hands, connecting with Rigano's forehead.

Maanpohja is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rigano sees it coming and defends easily.

Maanpohja is looking for a kimura but Rigano is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maanpohja to get the leverage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rigano manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

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

Rigano is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Maanpohja rolls with it to try and escape but Rigano cranks on the arm and Maanpohja is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Cliff Rigano!
An out of breath Cliff Rigano thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.