PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jack Nigal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felipe Cigano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nigal comes to the cage accompanied by Cannibal Corpse - Death Walking Terror. Felipe Cigano acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Nigal
vs
Cigano

179 cm
20
150 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

178 cm
20
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Deadly Clothing
Rivers Edge Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jack Nigal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Felipe Cigano!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, John Roberts and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cigano throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Cigano misses with a leg kick.
Nigal takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cigano scores with a jab to the body.

Cigano clinches.
Cigano wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cigano jumps guard but Nigal stands there with Cigano around his waist. Cigano gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Nigal fails to pull guard.

Nigal breaks the clinch.

Nigal has taken the fight to the clinch.

Nigal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nigal is defended easily by Cigano.
Jab, jab by Cigano - just one landing.
Cigano waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nigal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Cigano finds it's way through Nigal's defenses.
Cigano lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Nigal backs up against the cage.
Nigal takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Nigal instigates a clinch.
Cigano working hard to break the clinch.
Nigal tries a knee to the head but Cigano blocks it.
Nigal keeps control of Cigano as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cigano tries to break free but Nigal pushes him back against the cage.

Nigal drags the fight down to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cigano works over Nigal with some ground and pound from guard.

Nigal looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nigal throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Cigano must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nigal looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Cigano puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Nigal is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cigano's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cigano's back!
Cigano has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nigal gets his hands free as Cigano looks to control.
Nigal missing with punches from the back.
Cigano wants to get back to his feet.
Nigal scores with punches to the body.
Cigano tries to roll but Nigal sticks to his back.
Nigal loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Cigano hold on?
Nigal lands strikes to the head.
Nigal misses with an elbow to the head.
Nigal misses with a punch to the head.
Cigano covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cigano covers up after that shot from Nigal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cigano looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Cigano looks gassed!
Cigano covering up well under a series of strikes from Nigal.
Nigal keeps control of the position as Cigano tries to break free.
Cigano is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Nigal has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nigal looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Nigal scores with punches to the body.
Nigal lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Cigano covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Nigal. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Cigano grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nigal gets his hands free as Cigano looks to control.
Nigal doesn't have the hooks in and Cigano manages to turn into his guard.
Cigano trying to control the position from guard on top but Nigal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nigal has his foot on Cigano's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cigano works his way back into a safe position though.
Nigal wants to sweep but no luck.
Cigano trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Nigal looking for a guillotine here but Cigano defends easily.

Nigal has an active guard here but Cigano has managed to pass into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cigano performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Felipe Cigano will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice sprawl there from Cigano as Nigal shoots in.
Cigano tries to bum rush Nigal with a series of wild strikes but Nigal uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nigal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cigano is fending him off so far but Nigal persists. Nope, Cigano circles away and we're back to standing.
Nigal wants to clinch
letting Cigano counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cigano misses with a body kick.
Cigano fails to land with a series of punches.
Cigano fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nigal avoids it really well and circles away.
Nigal fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Nigal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cigano throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nigal sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nigal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cigano circles away from the clinch attempt
and Cigano counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jack Nigal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck for Cigano with that takedown attempt.
Cigano swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Nigal.

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.
Cigano tries to bum rush Nigal with a series of wild strikes but Nigal uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cigano throws a sloppy head kick and Nigal moves out of range easily.
Cigano is breathing heavily.
Cigano cracks a nice hook into Nigal's ribs.
Nigal looks to clinch
letting Cigano counter with a right hand.
Cigano throws a big shot that misses.
Nigal tries to clinch up
and Cigano counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cigano closes the distance looking to clinch

and Nigal moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nigal keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cigano's efforts to push away.

Nigal pulls guard effortlessly.

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

Nigal throws his legs up looking for a submission but Cigano uses it to pass to side control.
Nigal is trying to get back to half guard.
Cigano avoids the strikes from the bottom by Nigal.

Cigano has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cigano lands a lovely overhand right.
No joy there for Cigano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nigal takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Cigano tests Nigal's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice cross by Cigano.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cigano darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
No joy there for Cigano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nigal wants to clinch up but Cigano keeps it at a distance.
Nigal tries to clinch there but Cigano circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Felipe Cigano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nigal ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nigal fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nigal tries to clinch but Cigano moves away
and Nigal takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cigano closes the distance looking to clinch

and Nigal counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Nigal pulls guard effortlessly.

Nigal is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cigano defends well.

Nigal had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cigano defends it easily.
Cigano really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nigal. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Cigano is looking to stand up but Nigal won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nigal is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cigano defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Nigal has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cigano can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cigano is looking to stand up but Nigal won't let him.
Nigal keeping moving, preventing Cigano from controlling successfully.

Nigal has his foot on Cigano's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cigano works his way back into a safe position though.
Cigano passes Nigal's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cigano looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nigal with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nigal is looking to control Cigano's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nigal avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nigal looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cigano tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Nigal is refusing to be controlled, as Cigano sits in half guard.
Cigano sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nigal defending well though.

Nigal looking for submissions off his back.
Nigal tries to roll over but Cigano keeps him under control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nigal takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nigal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nigal blocks a jab.
A low kick from Cigano misses

and Nigal counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Nigal.
Cigano wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nigal jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cigano walks away with a smile on his face. Nigal gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nigal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cigano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cigano shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Nigal counters by clinching up.
Nigal tries to pull guard but Cigano holds him up against the cage and eventually Nigal drops back down to his feet.
Nigal drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cigano pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Nigal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nigal stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nigal wants it to stay on the feet.
Nigal ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nigal misses with a takedown attempt
and Cigano counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Cigano closes the distance but Nigal moves to the side

and Nigal counters with a takedown into side control.
Cigano takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Jack Nigal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nigal creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cigano sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Felipe Cigano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cigano tries to control but Nigal manages to take his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Nigal showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cigano has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Felipe Cigano!