PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rob Riggins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelo Riviera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riviera has chosen Kanye West - Stronger as his entrance music. Rob Riggins is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Riggins
vs
Riviera

180 cm
22
167 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

184 cm
25
178 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rob Riggins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marcelo Riviera!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggins avoids a punch combination nicely.
Riggins darts in trying to clinch
and Riviera counters with a three punch combo that has Riggins backing up. Riggins nods at Riviera to acknowledge the strikes.

Riggins closes the distance and pushes Riviera back into the cage.
Riggins on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Riviera's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Riggins is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Riggins lands an elbow that stopped Riviera in his tracks for a moment.
Riviera looks gassed!
Riggins using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Riggins landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Riggins with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Riggins avoiding damage.
Riggins with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The referee calls for Riggins to work.
Riggins scores with a knee to the head.
Riggins comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Riggins lands with a light punch inside.
Riggins lands an elbow inside that Riviera shrugs off.
Riggins stalling.
Riggins with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Riggins landing knees to the body.
Riggins lands an elbow that stopped Riviera in his tracks for a moment.
Riggins stalls.

Riggins breaks from the clinch.
Riggins tries to clinch there but Riviera circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Riviera swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Riggins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Riggins rushes Riviera and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Riggins lands a damaging elbow.
Riggins creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Riviera's defenses.
Riviera being controlled against the cage.
A short right from Riggins on the inside.
Riggins lands an elbow inside.
Riggins connects with a nasty looking knee right to Riviera's face.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Riggins seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Riggins gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Riviera takes an elbow to the temple.

Riviera is rocked!
Riggins lands with a left to the head.
Riviera is still on wobbly legs! Can Riggins finish him?
Riggins creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Riviera takes a knee right on the jaw!
Riggins creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Riggins just misses with a elbow thrown towards Riviera's brow.
Riviera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Riggins is defending well for now.
Riggins with a knee to the head.
Riggins misses with an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggins connects with a knee to the head.
Riggins misses with an elbow over the top.
Riviera fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Riggins lands a knee to the head.
Riggins throws a knee to the head but misses.
Riggins misses with a knee to the head.
Riviera blocks an elbow strike from Riggins.
Riviera is working for takedown but Riggins is calmly controlling the position for now.
Riggins misses with an elbow strike.
Riviera seems to have recovered his senses.

Riviera pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Riviera lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Riggins has managed to clinch.
Riviera blocks an elbow strike.
Riviera taking a breather.
Riggins controlling the action here for a moment.
Riviera fails to pull guard.
Rob Riggins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelo Riviera.
Riviera trying to land knees to the body.
Riggins utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Riggins leaning against his opponent.
Riviera is struggling to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Riggins.
Riggins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Riviera avoids it.
Riviera trying to control the position but instead, Riggins has worked for underhooks and has pushed Riviera into the cage.
Riggins looking to throw knees to the head but Riviera is blocking nicely.
Riggins lands a nice elbow.
Riviera working hard to break the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Riviera landing some nice looking knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Riggins.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Knees in the clinch landing for Riggins.
Riviera tries a knee to the head but Riggins blocks it.
Riggins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Riggins as Riviera tries to tie him up.
Riggins tries a knee to the head but Riviera blocks it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Riviera.
Riggins landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Riggins lands an uppercut.

Riggins manages to break the clinch.
Riviera looks to land a combination. Riggins sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Riggins tries to clinch
and Riviera counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Riggins tries to clinch up but Riviera circles away and keeps his distance.
Riviera throws a sloppy head kick

and Riggins holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Riggins lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Riviera wants the takedown. Riggins is fighting it off but Riviera persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Riggins's guard against the cage.
Riggins keeping moving, preventing Riviera from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Riggins avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Riviera tries to stand but Riggins is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Riggins dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Riggins is looking to clinch.
Riggins tries to close the distance and clinch but Riviera swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Riviera looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Riviera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Riggins paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Riggins has closed the distance and engaged Riviera in a clinch.
Riggins lands with a right to the head.
Riviera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Riggins is defending well for now.
Nice elbow from Riggins.

Riggins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Riviera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Riggins tries to clinch up.
Riggins wants to clinch up but Riviera keeps it at a distance.

Riviera darts in and clinches Riggins up against the cage.
Riviera trying to stall but Riggins improves his position.
Riviera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Riggins is defending well for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riggins dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Riviera jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Riggins walks away with a smile on his face. Riviera gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Riggins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Riggins tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Riviera counters with a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Riggins doesn't manage to clinch there - Riviera circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riviera throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Riggins.
Riggins tries to clinch but Riviera moves away
and Riviera counters with a head kick. That will keep Riggins thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Riggins moves in looking to clinch but Riviera pushes him off.
Riviera swats away the attempt to clinch by Riggins.
The fight stays on the outside here - Riggins looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Riviera misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Marcelo Riviera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Riggins tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Riviera manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Riggins tries to clinch but Riviera moves out of range.
Riviera circles away from the clinch attempt

and Riviera counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Riviera trying to land knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Riggins.
Nice elbow from Riggins.
Riggins controlling the action here for a moment.
Riggins gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Riggins lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggins lands a nice elbow.
Riggins lands an elbow inside.
Riviera trying to land knees to the body.
Riggins putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Riviera in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Riggins lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Riggins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Riviera tries to clinch but Riggins is having none of it.

Riggins pushes Riviera up against the cage in a clinch.
Riggins working Riviera over with knees to the body.
Riviera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Riggins.
Rob Riggins has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Riggins scores a nice knee to the body.
Riggins is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Riggins misses with a knee strike.
Riggins tries to land a knee to the head but Riviera blocks with his arms.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Riviera obliges.
Riviera missing with knees to the body.
Riviera tries to land a knee to the head but Riggins blocks with his arms.
Riggins tries to land knees in the clinch but Riviera avoids the damage to the body.
Riggins is pushing Riviera up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Riviera looking to throw knees to the head but Riggins is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggins comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Riggins is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Riviera is keeping busy.

Riviera pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Riggins tries to clinch up

and Riviera counters by moving into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Riviera as Riggins tries to tie him up.
Riggins tries to land a knee to the head but Riviera blocks with his arms.
A frustrated look appears on Riviera's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Riggins takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Riviera pulls guard effortlessly.

Riggins stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Riggins takes a kick to the side of the head.
Riggins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Riviera moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Riggins fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Riviera swats away the attempt to clinch by Riggins.
Riggins tries to clinch but Riviera moves out of range.
Riggins closes the distance but Riviera moves to the side
and Riviera counters with a stiff right hand.
Riviera circles away from the clinch attempt
and Riviera counters with a big head kick but Riggins shrugs it off.
Riviera circles away from the clinch attempt.
Riggins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Riviera paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Riggins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Riviera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A knee to the head by Riggins.
Riviera avoids a wild elbow strike from Riggins.
Riviera scores a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rob Riggins will probably get the nod.
That's time! Riggins's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Riviera throws a series of punches but Riggins avoids them all with ease.
Riviera tries to clinch but Riggins is having none of it.
Riviera keeps the fight on the outside.
Riggins tries to clinch up
and Riviera counters with a three punch combo that has Riggins backing up. Riggins nods at Riviera to acknowledge the strikes.

Riggins closes the distance and clinches.
Riggins is trying to stall.
Riggins slowing the pace effectively.
Riggins crunches a lovely knee into Riviera's ribcage.
Riggins throws a knee to the head but misses.
Riviera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Riggins has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Riggins connects with a nasty looking knee right to Riviera's face.
Riviera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Riggins avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riviera wants to get back to striking at distance but Riggins won't allow it.
Riggins with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Riggins trying to land knees to the body.
Riggins lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Riviera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Riggins has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Riggins lands an elbow inside.
Riviera wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Riggins escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riviera throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rob Riggins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riggins tries to close the distance and clinch but Riviera swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Riviera tries to clinch there but Riggins circles away.
Riviera keeps the fight on the outside.
Riviera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Riviera tries to clinch there but Riggins circles away.
Riggins closes the distance but Riviera moves to the side
enabling Riviera to counter with a crisp jab.
Riviera lands a jab to the head.

Riggins drives through and clinches with Riviera against the cage.
Riviera avoids a wild elbow strike from Riggins.
Riviera trying to land knees to the body.
Riviera missing with knees to the body.
Riggins with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Riviera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Riviera tries a knee to the head but Riggins blocks it.
Riviera tries to land knees in the clinch but Riggins avoids the damage to the body.
Riviera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Riggins is defending well for now.
Riviera connects with a nasty looking knee right to Riggins's face.
A frustrated look appears on Riviera's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Riggins trying to land knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Riviera obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Riviera missing with knees to the body.
Riggins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Riviera has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Riggins lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Riggins.
Riviera wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Riggins has him pressed against the cage.
Riggins lands a damaging elbow.
The referee is keeping an eye on Riviera - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Riviera tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Riggins just stands there and leans against the cage.
Riviera looking to stall.
Riviera tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Riggins just stands there and leans against the cage.
Riggins makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Riggins on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Riggins with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Riggins obliges.
Riviera is trying to break free.

Riviera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Riviera misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Riggins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Riviera swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Riviera drives through and clinches with Riggins against the cage.
Riggins lands a nice elbow.
Riviera trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riviera tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rob Riggins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcelo Riviera.

Riviera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Riviera swats away the attempt to clinch by Riggins.
Riviera throws a head kick but Riggins moves out of range.
Riggins tries to clinch but Riviera moves out of range.
Riggins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Riviera swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice uppercut there from Riviera.
Riviera throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Riggins.
Riviera throws a head kick that half lands.
Riggins moves to clinch but Riviera breaks away
and Riviera counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Riviera does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Riggins moves in looking to clinch but Riviera pushes him off.
Riggins tries to clinch up

and Riviera moves into the clinch.
Riggins connects with a nasty looking knee right to Riviera's face.
Riviera missing with knees to the body.
Riviera drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Riggins gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Marcelo Riviera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Riggins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Riggins tries to land a knee to the head but Riviera blocks with his arms.
Riviera tries to land knees in the clinch but Riggins avoids the damage to the body.
Riviera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Riggins is defending well for now.
Riggins lands an elbow that stopped Riviera in his tracks for a moment.
Riggins taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Riggins with a knee to the head.
Riggins lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Riviera tries to land knees in the clinch but Riggins avoids the damage to the body.
Riviera prevents a body shot from Riggins.
Riggins keeps control of Riviera as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Riggins gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Riggins presses Riviera against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Riviera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Riggins avoiding damage as Riviera throws knees to the body.
Riggins scores with a knee to the head.
Riggins landing knees to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Riggins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Riggins keeps control of Riviera as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Riviera jumps guard but Riggins stands there with Riviera around his waist. Riviera gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Riggins.
Rob Riggins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Riviera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Riggins has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

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 Rob Riggins.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Riggins, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob Riggins!