PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benedict Riggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Verhoeven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Verhoeven has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Rico Verhoeven will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Riggs
vs
Verhoeven

182 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

196 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Benedict Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rico Verhoeven!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Daniel Blasius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggs shoots in for a takedown but Verhoeven shows good takedown defense.
Verhoeven looks winded!

Riggs closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Verhoeven breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Verhoeven throws a left and a right that both miss

and Riggs counters by moving into the clinch.

Riggs manages to pull guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Riggs has his hands on Verhoeven's head, controlling the position.
Verhoeven wanted to stand there but Riggs had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riggs wants to stand but Verhoeven is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs is trying to control the position but Verhoeven postures up.
Riggs tries to strike from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Riggs rushes Verhoeven and presses him up against the cage.

Riggs manages to pull guard.
Riggs really is a fat lump.
Riggs throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riggs thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs looking to control.
Verhoeven wants to stand but Riggs is controlling his posture from full guard.
Verhoeven wants to stand and escape but instead Riggs has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Verhoeven has a closed guard, preventing Riggs from standing up.
Riggs with a nice head shot there.
Riggs with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Riggs trying to stand up but can't free himself from Verhoeven's guard.
Riggs scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Verhoeven's head.

Riggs stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Riggs shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Verhoeven as he avoids it easily.
Riggs throws an overhand right that lands on Verhoeven's shoulder, as Verhoeven tries to avoid the shot.
Verhoeven takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Riggs throws a hook to the side of Verhoeven's head but Verhoeven sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Verhoeven on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Riggs pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Horrible takedown attempt by Riggs or perhaps it was just good defense by Verhoeven, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benedict Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs shoots in for a double leg but Verhoeven sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Verhoeven defending well as Riggs loads up on a big left hand.
Riggs missing with a left hand there. Verhoeven was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A big left from Riggs misses.
Riggs misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Verhoeven throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Riggs misses the jab.
Verhoeven swats away the attempt to clinch by Riggs.
It seemed like Verhoeven was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benedict Riggs dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice defenses there by Verhoeven.
Riggs fails with a takedown attempt.
Verhoeven misses with a hook.
Riggs lands a lovely overhand right.
Verhoeven is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Verhoeven on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Riggs keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Verhoeven slips under a jab from Riggs.
Riggs is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Verhoeven can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riggs throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Verhoeven tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Riggs is in Verhoeven's guard.
Riggs wants to get up but he can't break Verhoeven's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Riggs gets to his feet. Verhoeven looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Riggs looks to throw the jab but Verhoeven is out of range.
Verhoeven stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Verhoeven wants it to stay on the feet.
Verhoeven rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Riggs moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Riggs shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Verhoeven's guard.
Riggs cracks Verhoeven with a solid left hand.
Riggs connects with a couple of short punches.
Riggs stands up over Verhoeven, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Riggs wants to get up but he can't break Verhoeven's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Riggs might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs scoring with punches to the head and body.
Riggs distracts Verhoeven with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Riggs is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Riggs prevents Verhoeven from getting back to his feet.
Riggs works over Verhoeven with some ground and pound from guard.
Riggs is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Riggs postures up and lands a big shot to Verhoeven's brow.
Riggs working some strikes from top position.
Riggs throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Verhoeven works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Riggs stops Verhoeven from standing up.
Riggs with a nice head shot there.
Verhoeven wants to stand and escape but Riggs is having none of it.
Riggs is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Riggs wants to stand but Verhoeven has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riggs stands up and waves to Verhoeven to follow him.
Verhoeven lands with a kick to the temple. Riggs shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Riggs feints and as Verhoeven raises his hands in defense, Riggs changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Riggs scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Riggs prevents Verhoeven from getting back to his feet.

Verhoeven is working an open guard so Riggs takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs lands a head shot.
Riggs shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Verhoeven pinned against the cage. Verhoeven gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benedict Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riggs shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Verhoeven as he jumps to the side.
Verhoeven misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Riggs on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benedict Riggs dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Verhoeven blocks a jab.
Verhoeven throws a leg kick

and Riggs counters with a shoot takedown. Verhoeven fights it but they end up in guard.
Riggs is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Riggs throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Verhoeven works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Riggs lands a couple of digs.
Verhoeven utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Riggs is working Verhoeven over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riggs won't allow Verhoeven to get back to his feet.
Riggs landing with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riggs wants to stand but Verhoeven has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Verhoeven takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Riggs is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Riggs landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Verhoeven is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Riggs makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Verhoeven is rocked!
Riggs connects with a couple of short punches.
Verhoeven is still in real trouble! Can Riggs finish him?

Riggs gets to his feet. Verhoeven looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
and Riggs counters with a massive uppercut that badly hurts Verhoeven! He's just covering up as Riggs starts to tee off till the referee steps in and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Benedict Riggs!