PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Saul Riggs (ranked 10119 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Powers (ranked 6601 p4p, 0 weight class). Saul Riggs has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Riggs
vs
Powers

162 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 1 - 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, Will Powers!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggs falls off balance throwing a combination

and Powers counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Powers tries for a takedown. No joy.
Riggs really is a fat lump.
Riggs tries to land knees in the clinch but Powers avoids the damage to the body.

Riggs's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Powers gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Riggs breaks the clinch.

Riggs scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Powers tries to roll over but Riggs keeps him under control.
Powers trying to control from the bottom.
Well, if Riggs is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Powers avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Riggs.
Riggs is nestled in close to Powers, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Riggs throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Powers to regain full guard.
Riggs trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Powers wants to sweep here but Riggs controlling him for the moment.
Riggs throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Powers has Riggs pulled in close to control his posture.
Riggs tries to stand but Powers is controlling from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Riggs looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Powers explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Powers fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Powers takes the fight into the clinch.

Riggs breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Powers looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Saul Riggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Powers.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Powers gets caught flat footed, as Riggs shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Powers has Riggs pulled in close to control his posture.

Powers looking for subs off his back but Riggs has passed one foot through into half guard.
Riggs stalling away here and it's allowed Powers to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Powers wants to stand and escape but Riggs is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs won't allow Powers to sweep him here.
Powers keeping moving, preventing Riggs from controlling successfully.
Riggs controlling from the top position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Powers keeping moving, preventing Riggs from controlling successfully.
Riggs in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Riggs throws a big right hand that misses.
Riggs controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saul Riggs dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Riggs tries to sprawl but Powers drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Powers drops an elbow to the side of Riggs's head.
Powers is stalling here. Riggs is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Powers seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Riggs has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
You can see the frustration on Powers's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Powers regains half guard.
Riggs looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powers keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Powers manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs wants to stand but Powers has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Riggs throwing strikes but missing.

Powers had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Riggs defends it easily.
Powers tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Powers is pulling down on Riggs's head to control his posture.
Powers trying to control the position.
Powers is controlling Riggs's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Riggs throwing strikes from guard but Powers blocks nicely.
Riggs wants to stand but Powers has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Riggs has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Riggs gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Powers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Riggs feinted with a counter takedown.

Powers closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Riggs's guard.
Powers stops Riggs from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs keeping moving, preventing Powers from controlling successfully.
Powers works over Riggs with some ground and pound from guard.

Riggs escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Powers gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Powers postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Powers trying to control the position from guard on top but Riggs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Powers is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Saul Riggs overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Riggs has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Powers can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Powers won't allow Riggs to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Powers clinches with his opponent.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Riggs obliges.

Riggs manages to break the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Powers shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Powers was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Powers grinds an elbow into Riggs's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Will Powers will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Powers darts in and clinches Riggs up against the cage.

Riggs breaks the clinch.

Riggs gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Powers to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Powers trying to control the position from guard on top but Riggs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Powers gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Powers rushes Riggs and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powers is trying to drag Riggs to the mat but Riggs just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Powers taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs jumps guard but Powers stands there with Riggs around his waist. Riggs gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Riggs manages to break the clinch.
Powers dives in and grabs Riggs's left leg, looking for a takedown. Riggs pushes down on Powers's head and hops out.

Powers shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Riggs manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Powers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Powers is pushing Riggs up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
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 Powers walks away with a smile on his face. Riggs gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Riggs keeps the fight on the outside.
Powers fails with a takedown attempt.
Saul Riggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Powers.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Powers manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Powers.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Riggs throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Powers tries to clinch up.
Riggs misses with a wild combination.
Nice uppercut lands for Powers. That snapped Riggs's head back.

Powers bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Riggs throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers has a takedown stuffed.
Riggs tries to bum rush Powers with a series of wild strikes but Powers uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Powers scores with a kick to the midsection.
Powers throws a right hand that Riggs ducks under and follows up with a left that Riggs also avoids with ease.
Riggs throws a body punch but Powers moves out of range.
Powers drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Riggs defends it well.
Powers tries a head kick but it misses.
Riggs dives in for a single leg takedown but Powers sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Powers misses with a takedown attempt - Riggs sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs wants to clinch up but Powers keeps it at a distance.
Riggs slaps away a takedown attempt from Powers, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Riggs ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Powers moves away.

Powers darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Powers seems to be working for a kimura but Riggs defends the submission attempt.
Riggs is looking to improve his position.

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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

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