PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jang Jung (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manji Rigaldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jung
vs
Rigaldo

175 cm
20
174 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

185 cm
22
176 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jang Jung!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Manji Rigaldo!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Skip Squint and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jung instigates a clinch.
Jung tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rigaldo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jung is working for takedown but Rigaldo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rigaldo obliges.
Jung is working for takedown but Rigaldo is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jang Jung. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rigaldo tries to land a knee to the head but Jung blocks with his arms.
Jung fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rigaldo crunches a lovely knee into Jung's ribcage.

Rigaldo jumps into guard, dragging Jung to the mat.
Rigaldo looking for a sweep. Not yet Rigaldo, not yet.
Rigaldo is adopting a defensive guard.
Jung with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rigaldo wants to get back to his feet but Jung is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jung accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jung postures up in Rigaldo's guard and throws a big left but Rigaldo blocks it.
Rigaldo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rigaldo can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jung throws and elbow that misses. Rigaldo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jung's guard. Nice move by Rigaldo!
Rigaldo is looking to stand up but Jung won't let him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jung fails with a takedown attempt.
Jung is breathing heavily.

Rigaldo clinches with his opponent.
Jung takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rigaldo obliges.
Jung tries to circle away but Rigaldo has him pinned against the cage.

Rigaldo gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Rigaldo trying to control from half guard but Jung is working away.

Rigaldo decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Rigaldo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Rigaldo moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rigaldo lands an elbow just above Jung 's eye.
A right hook to the body lands for Rigaldo.
Rigaldo landing knees to the head.
Rigaldo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Rigaldo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Jung tries to keep at a distance but Rigaldo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Knees to the body from Rigaldo.
A knee to the head by Rigaldo.
Rigaldo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Jung in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rigaldo lands a nice elbow.
Rigaldo scores with a knee to the head.
Rigaldo landing knees to the head.

Rigaldo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Jung uses from the top position.
Jung trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rigaldo's guard.
Jung throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Rigaldo uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rigaldo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
You can see the frustration on Jung's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Jung is not content to let Rigaldo control the position.
Rigaldo throws a strike aimed at the side of Jung's head but Jung avoids it well.

Rigaldo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rigaldo scores with a couple of short elbows.
Rigaldo taking a breather here.

Rigaldo swings around for an armbar but Jung sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Rigaldo's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manji Rigaldo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rigaldo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A knee to the head by Rigaldo.
Rigaldo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jung is defending well for now.
Jung wants to break the clinch but can't.
Jung has had enough of the clinch but Rigaldo keeps him there for the moment.
Jung is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rigaldo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jung tries to break the clinch but Rigaldo is controlling the position.
Rigaldo crunches a lovely knee into Jung's ribcage.
Rigaldo lands a good knee to the midsection. Jung won't want to take too many of those.
Jung can't break the clinch.

Rigaldo manages to break the clinch.
Jung stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jung wants it to stay on the feet.

Rigaldo forces Jung back against the cage and clinches.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jung takes an elbow to the temple.

Rigaldo jumps guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rigaldo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rigaldo keeping full guard, as Jung tries to pass.
Rigaldo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jung. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rigaldo 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigaldo pulls Jung in close to his closed guard and prevents Jung from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rigaldo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jung.
Jung postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rigaldo 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.
Rigaldo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jung.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rigaldo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Jung manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Jung controls Rigaldo momentarily but Rigaldo frees himself.
Rigaldo is working Jung over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Jung wants to stand but Rigaldo is controlling the position.
Rigaldo trying to control the position from guard on top but Jung is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jung avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rigaldo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Jung is proving hard to escape from.
Jung wants to get back to his feet but Rigaldo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rigaldo wants to stand but Jung has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Rigaldo drives through and clinches with Jung against the cage.
Jung can't 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.
Knees to the body from Rigaldo.
Rigaldo connects with a knee to the head.
Rigaldo lands an elbow that stopped Jung in his tracks for a moment.
Rigaldo landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Rigaldo successfully pulls guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jung accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jung stopping the sweep attempt from Rigaldo.
Jung connects with a couple of short punches.
Jung loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jung throwing strikes from guard but Rigaldo blocks nicely.
Jung throws a strike but Rigaldo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manji Rigaldo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rigaldo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Jung is looking to escape.
Rigaldo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rigaldo with the ground and pound but Jung uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rigaldo postures up in Jung's guard and throws a big left but Jung blocks it.
Rigaldo trying to control the position from guard on top but Jung is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rigaldo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Jung is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigaldo throwing strikes but missing.
Jung 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jung being controlled here, momentarily.

Jung uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Rigaldo tries for a takedown but Jung sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jang Jung seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Rigaldo gets a clinch.
Jung jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rigaldo walks away with a smile on his face. Jung gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rigaldo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jung paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jung tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rigaldo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jung as he jumps to the side.
Rigaldo lands a body shot.
Jung misses with a straight right.
Jang Jung is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rigaldo has Jung up against the cage in a clinch.

Rigaldo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rigaldo gets the takedown into side control.
Rigaldo tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rigaldo scoring with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rigaldo decides to stand back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rigaldo has Jung pressed against the cage, preventing Jung from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Jung misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jung takes a knee right on the jaw!
Jung is working Rigaldo over against the cage.

Rigaldo breaks from the clinch.
A combination from Rigaldo does no damage.
Jung pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Rigaldo forces Jung back against the cage and clinches.

Rigaldo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jung misses with a head kick.
Rigaldo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jung sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jang Jung has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manji Rigaldo.
Jung swings away with a body shot that misses

and Rigaldo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rigaldo not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jung is trying to stand back up but Rigaldo is controlling him
Manji Rigaldo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jung is trying to get back to full guard.

Rigaldo stands up from half guard.

Rigaldo has managed to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rigaldo lands a left hand.
Rigaldo lands a knee to the head.
Jang Jung has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manji Rigaldo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rigaldo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jung is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rigaldo is defending well for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manji Rigaldo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rigaldo 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 26:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 26:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manji Rigaldo!