PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tim Riggins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dario Matic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Riggins
vs
Matic

188 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

Conviction
Conviction

Behold The Beast - Fresh stock
Behold The Beast - Fresh stock

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tim Riggins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dario Matic!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggins shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Matic defends it nicely.
Matic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Riggins looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Matic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Riggins is one step ahead there.
Matic can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Riggins controls the pace.
Riggins landing some decent shots from guard.
Riggins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Matic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggins working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Matic's head.
Riggins 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.
Riggins cracks Matic with a solid left hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Riggins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Matic wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Riggins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Riggins stopping the sweep attempt from Matic.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Riggins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Riggins trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Riggins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Riggins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Matic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Matic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Riggins.
Matic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Riggins postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Matic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Riggins lands a couple of digs.
Riggins thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggins preventing the sweep.
Riggins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Riggins stands up over Matic, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Matic pushes Riggins off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Matic takes a swing at Riggins's ribcage but misses.
Matic tries to close the distance and clinch but Riggins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Riggins swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Riggins shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Matic manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Matic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Riggins is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggins tries to free his leg and advance position but Matic is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riggins makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Matic throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Riggins cracks Matic with a solid left hand.
Matic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Matic wants to sweep but no luck.

Riggins is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Riggins sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Matic's guard.
Riggins missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Matic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Riggins.
Matic throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Riggins scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Matic is trying to stand up here but Riggins is controlling him well.
Riggins throwing shots but Matic is blocking nicely.
The fighters are battling for position here. Matic manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Riggins stopping the sweep attempt from Matic.
Matic looks gassed!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Matic lands with a nice body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matic tries to close the distance and clinch but Riggins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matic scores with a body shot.
Matic tries to clinch up.
Matic doesn't manage to clinch there - Riggins circles away.
Matic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Riggins swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Riggins circles away from the clinch attempt.
Matic misses with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Riggins dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Matic fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matic tries to clinch but Riggins moves out of range.
Matic works Riggins's body with a nice hook.
Matic throws a one two combo.
Matic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Riggins circles away quickly and effectively.
Matic throws a sloppy head kick and Riggins moves out of range easily.
Matic tries to close the distance and clinch but Riggins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Riggins feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riggins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Riggins won't allow Matic to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matic wants to sweep here but Riggins controlling him for the moment.
Riggins is in close to Matic's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Riggins throwing strikes from guard but Matic blocks nicely.
Riggins content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Riggins stands up over Matic, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Riggins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Matic wants to sweep but no luck.
Riggins slips nicely into half guard.
Riggins is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Matic tries to roll over but Riggins keeps him under control.
Matic is breathing heavily.
Riggins working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggins throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are battling for position here. Matic manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Riggins is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Riggins trying to control but Matic is working from the bottom.
Matic is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Riggins gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Matic tries to clinch but Riggins is having none of it.
Matic throws a right and a left that Riggins avoids nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Riggins is defended easily by Matic.
Matic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Matic wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggins misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Riggins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matic tries to close the distance and clinch but Riggins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Riggins paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Matic tries to clinch up but Riggins circles away and keeps his distance.
Matic throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Riggins.
Riggins closes the distance and clinches up with Matic, looking for a takedown. Riggins pushes Matic against the cage but Matic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

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.
Matic lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Dario Matic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Riggins is defended easily by Matic.
Matic misses with the combination.
Matic tries to clinch up but Riggins circles away and keeps his distance.
Matic moves in looking to clinch but Riggins pushes him off.
Riggins has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Riggins dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Matic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Riggins shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Matic sprawls well. Matic wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Riggins gets slowly back to his feet.
Matic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Matic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Matic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Matic is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggins shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Matic as he avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Riggins is defended easily by Matic.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Riggins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riggins keeps the fight on the outside.

Riggins fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Matic sprawls well initially but Riggins persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Riggins prevents Matic from improving his position.
Riggins is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Dario Matic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggins lands strikes from half guard.
Riggins sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matic defending well though.
Matic is looking to improve his position.
Riggins working over Matic with some ground and pound. Matic looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Riggins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matic keeps working.
Riggins lands strikes from half guard.
Riggins wants to pass to mount but Matic is defending the position.
Riggins not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Matic wants to get back to full guard.
Matic manages to get to full guard.
Riggins landing some decent shots from guard.
Matic wants to stand and escape but Riggins is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggins trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Riggins lands a couple of digs.
Matic wants to sweep here but Riggins controlling him for the moment.
Matic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Riggins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Matic wants to stand up but Riggins is controlling him.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Matic is on top in guard.
Tim Riggins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matic in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Matic throws a strike but Riggins rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Matic wants to sweep here but Riggins controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Riggins drops back looking for a leg! Matic is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Matic manages to kick Riggins off! Riggins jumps back into Matic's guard.
Matic looking for a sweep. Not yet Matic, not yet.
Riggins keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Matic's head.
Riggins won't allow Matic to sweep him here.
Riggins with a nice head shot there.
Tim Riggins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Riggins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Matic works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Riggins working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Matic is looking for a triangle but Riggins pushes his legs off easily.
Riggins scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Riggins trying to control the position from guard on top but Matic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Matic looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Riggins showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

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