PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ben Riggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dennis Turcotte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riggs comes to the cage accompanied by Cypress Hill - (Rock) Superstar. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Riggs
vs
Turcotte

185 cm
19
175 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

175 cm
23
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dennis Turcotte!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggs tries to clinch there but Turcotte circles away.

Turcotte has taken the fight to the clinch.

Turcotte has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Riggs is trying to keep an underhook but Turcotte manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Turcotte is thwarting Riggs's attempts to control the position.

Turcotte is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Riggs doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Turcotte.

Turcotte is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Riggs sees it coming and defends easily.

Turcotte wants to work for an arm triangle but Riggs is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Riggs wants to improve his position but Turcotte is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs is trying to stand up here but Turcotte is controlling him well.

Turcotte seems to be working for a kimura but Riggs defends the submission attempt.
Turcotte wants to advance to full mount but Riggs doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Riggs clinches but Turcotte breaks the clinch

and Turcotte decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Riggs's guard.
Riggs is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Riggs wants to stand up but Turcotte is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turcotte wants to pass the guard but Riggs is keeping the position.
Turcotte trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Riggs keeping full guard, as Turcotte tries to pass.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Riggs looks to clinch

and Turcotte counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Turcotte.
Riggs wants to stand but Turcotte is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turcotte trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Turcotte is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Turcotte throwing strikes but missing.
Turcotte advances to half guard.
Riggs makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Riggs.
Riggs managing to control the position.
Turcotte throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Riggs can't keep his opponent in guard - Turcotte advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Riggs is trying to stand up here but Turcotte is controlling him well.
Turcotte tries to pass to full mount but Riggs defends it.
Turcotte is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Turcotte throws a strike but Riggs rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Riggs trying to control the position from guard on top but Turcotte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Turcotte looking to hit a scissor sweep but Riggs is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dennis Turcotte dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Riggs tries to clinch but Turcotte moves away

and Turcotte counters with a shoot takedown. Riggs fights it but they end up in guard.
Turcotte trying to move into half guard but instead Riggs has managed to sweep!
Riggs stopping the sweep attempt from Turcotte.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Riggs is working Turcotte over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Riggs postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Turcotte looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Riggs working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Riggs has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Riggs with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Riggs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Riggs landing with the ground and pound.
Turcotte looking to hit a scissor sweep but Riggs is one step ahead there.
Riggs with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs works over Turcotte with some ground and pound from guard.
Riggs postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Riggs connects with a couple of short punches.
Riggs content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Riggs with a flurry of punches that miss.
Riggs keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Turcotte's head.
Turcotte bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Riggs's guard.
Turcotte trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Turcotte wants to pass the guard but Riggs is keeping the position.

Turcotte drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Riggs manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Turcotte has Riggs in his guard.
Turcotte is breathing heavily.
Riggs stands up over Turcotte, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs won't allow Turcotte to sweep him here.
Riggs chips away with some ground and pound.
Riggs in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Riggs slips nicely into half guard.
Turcotte throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Riggs looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Turcotte with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Riggs wants to control but Turcotte is keeping him busy.
Riggs is really struggling to control Turcotte but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Riggs prevents Turcotte from improving his position.
Riggs throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Turcotte is looking to improve his position.
Riggs working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Riggs working Turcotte over with strikes.
Riggs winds up and cracks Turcotte with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs drops an elbow to the side of Turcotte's head.
Turcotte is looking for a sweep. Riggs is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Riggs thows a huge punch but Turcotte dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Turcotte wants to improve his position but Riggs is controlling well.
Riggs is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Riggs is looking to take a break and control but Turcotte is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Riggs prevents Turcotte from improving his position.
Riggs controlling the action here.
Turcotte gets back to full guard.

Turcotte had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Riggs is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Turcotte Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Riggs's back instead.
Turcotte missing with strikes from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turcotte misses with punches from the back.
Turcotte thows a strike but Riggs uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Riggs as he ends up in Turcotte 's guard!
Riggs postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Riggs won't allow Turcotte to sweep him here.
Turcotte has momentary wrist control but Riggs slips an elbow through the middle.
Turcotte trying to strike off his back.
Turcotte manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Riggs is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Riggs dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Riggs closes the distance but Turcotte moves to the side
and Turcotte makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Riggs closes the distance looking to clinch

and Turcotte counters with a single leg into guard. Riggs didn't expect that.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Turcotte accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Riggs controlling Turcotte's posture.
Turcotte trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Turcotte throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Riggs works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Turcotte forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs trying to control from the bottom.
Turcotte trying to mount his opponent but Riggs defends it.
Riggs is trying to control but can't.

Turcotte is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Riggs defends it well.
Turcotte takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Riggs darts in trying to clinch

and Turcotte counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs wants to get back to full guard.

Turcotte looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Riggs is pressing down on Turcotte's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Riggs is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Riggs tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turcotte with a flurry of punches that miss.
Turcotte advances to half guard.
Riggs is trying to stand up here but Turcotte is controlling him well.
Turcotte trying to mount his opponent but Riggs defends it.
Riggs is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Turcotte is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Riggs is just riding it out for now. Turcotte eventually gives up the hold.
Riggs moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Turcotte landing with the ground and pound.
Riggs wants to sweep but no luck.
Turcotte stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Riggs swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Riggs is looking to stand up but Turcotte isn't so interested in that idea.
Turcotte postures up in Riggs's guard and throws a big left but Riggs blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dennis Turcotte comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Turcotte has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dennis Turcotte!