PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Duce Bigalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tor Troeng (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tor Troeng acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Bigalo
vs
Troeng

180 cm
28
165 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

170 cm
27
160 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Duce Bigalo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tor Troeng!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bigalo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Troeng manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Bigalo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Bigalo missing with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Bigalo.
Bigalo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Bigalo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bigalo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Troeng on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Troeng lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bigalo backwards.

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

Bigalo gets a clinch.
Bigalo missing with knees to the body.
Troeng wants a takedown.
Bigalo tries a knee to the head but Troeng blocks it.
Bigalo tries to land a knee to the head but Troeng blocks with his arms.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Bigalo takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Bigalo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Troeng is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Troeng wants to break free but Bigalo has control.
Troeng looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Bigalo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Bigalo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Bigalo misses with an elbow over the top.
Troeng is trying to break free.
Bigalo misses with a knee strike.
Bigalo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Troeng.

Troeng manages to pull guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bigalo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Troeng is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Troeng works his way into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Troeng working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Troeng working the ground and pound.
Troeng wants to control but Bigalo is keeping him busy.
Bigalo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Troeng.
Bigalo regains half guard there - taking advantage of Troeng's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bigalo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Troeng is working away from the top position though.
Troeng has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Troeng wants to pass to mount but Bigalo is defending the position.
Troeng not doing much here.
Bigalo is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Troeng is taking a breather. Bigalo says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
It looks like Troeng might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tor Troeng has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Bigalo thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Troeng if he has to take too many more of those.
Bigalo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Troeng fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bigalo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Troeng checks a leg kick.
Bigalo looks for the body kick but Troeng saw that one coming.
Troeng's coach down at St Petersburg MMA Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Troeng's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Duce Bigalo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bigalo looks to land a body kick but Troeng moved away.
Troeng shoots for a double leg takedown but Bigalo sprawls well. He's pushed Troeng's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Troeng scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bigalo doesn't seem bothered though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Troeng throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bigalo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bigalo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Bigalo throws a low kick, looking for Troeng's leg but Troeng calmly moves out of range.
Troeng shoots for a takedown but Bigalo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tor Troeng will probably get the nod.
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.

Troeng steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Bigalo. That one must have hurt.
Troeng bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bigalo's head backwards.
Bigalo wants to clinch up but Troeng keeps it at a distance.
Bigalo tries a head kick but it misses.
Bigalo throws the kick towards the body but Troeng avoids it.
Bigalo throws a body kick that misses.
Troeng connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Troeng moves out of range of the body kick.
Troeng with a hook.
Troeng tries for a takedown but Bigalo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Troeng connects with the punch.
Troeng missing with a left hand there. Bigalo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The fight stays on the outside here - Bigalo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bigalo thumps Troeng with a low kick.
Bigalo definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
A clash of legs there as Bigalo blocks the low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bigalo thuds his shin into the meat of Troeng's side.
Bigalo swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Troeng fails with the takedown.
Bigalo lets loose with a powerful body kick. Troeng will feel that in the morning.
A solid body kick from Bigalo.
Bigalo thows a body kick. Troeng tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Troeng is breathing heavily.
Bigalo goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bigalo explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Bigalo misses with a body kick.
Bigalo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Troeng throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bigalo's waist but Bigalo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Troeng off to one side.
Duce Bigalo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tor Troeng.
Bigalo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Bigalo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bigalo lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bigalo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Troeng.
Bigalo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Troeng has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bigalo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Troeng is defending well for now.
Bigalo working Troeng over with knees to the body.
Troeng avoids the elbow strike from Bigalo, against the cage.
Troeng has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Bigalo.
Bigalo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Bigalo creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Troeng's defenses.
Bigalo tries to land a knee to the head but Troeng blocks with his arms.
Bigalo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Troeng on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bigalo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bigalo misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bigalo tries a knee to the head but Troeng blocks it.
Bigalo lands an elbow that stopped Troeng in his tracks for a moment.

Troeng's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bigalo misses with a kick to the body.
Troeng lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Bigalo tests Troeng's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bigalo keeps Troeng at a distance using the push kick.
Troeng lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Troeng.
Bigalo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
The fighters circling - Troeng throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bigalo connects with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Troeng finds it's way through Bigalo's defenses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Troeng cracks Bigalo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Bigalo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bigalo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
No joy there for Troeng, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Troeng scores with a jab to the head.

Bigalo rushes Troeng and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bigalo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bigalo looking to throw knees to the head but Troeng is blocking nicely.
Troeng is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bigalo to keep the fight standing.
Troeng wants to take the fight to the mat but Bigalo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bigalo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Troeng's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bigalo misses with a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bigalo misses with a low kick.
Bigalo fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Troeng is out of range.
Bigalo throws a head kick that misses.
A jab from Troeng misses.
Troeng takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Troeng throws a series of punches but Bigalo moves out of range.
Bigalo tries to clinch but Troeng is having none of it.
Troeng slips under a jab from Bigalo.
Bigalo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Troeng lands an overhand right.
Troeng scores with a shot to the body.
Bigalo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Bigalo closes the distance but Troeng moves to the side
and Troeng counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Bigalo pushes Troeng up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Troeng tries to pull guard but Bigalo won't allow it.
Bigalo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bigalo looking to throw knees to the head but Troeng is blocking nicely.
Bigalo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Troeng blocks an elbow strike.
Bigalo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Bigalo tries to land knees in the clinch but Troeng avoids the damage to the body.
Troeng fails to pull guard.
Troeng tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bigalo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Duce Bigalo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tor Troeng.
Bigalo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bigalo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Troeng blocks it with crossed arms.
Bigalo lands a nice elbow.
Troeng blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bigalo pushes off an throws an elbow but Troeng leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bigalo misses with a knee to the head.
Bigalo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Troeng avoids it.
Bigalo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Troeng has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bigalo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Troeng is defending well for now.
Duce Bigalo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Troeng avoids a wild elbow strike from Bigalo.

Troeng pulls guard successfully.
Bigalo stopping the sweep attempt from Troeng.
Bigalo trying to control but Troeng is working from the bottom.
Troeng manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bigalo manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Troeng wants to control from the top but Bigalo keeps moving.
Bigalo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Troeng controls the pace.
Troeng with a flurry of punches that miss.
Troeng's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Troeng stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bigalo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Troeng trying to control but Bigalo is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tor Troeng hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A jab lands there for Troeng.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Troeng sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Troeng scores with a jab to the head.
Bigalo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Bigalo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Troeng loads up on a big right hand but Bigalo slips the punch.
Troeng lands a glancing blow to the side of Bigalo's head.
An inside leg kick lands from Bigalo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bigalo throws a leg kick which misses Troeng's front leg but catches the back leg as Troeng tries to avoid it.
Troeng catches Bigalo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Troeng uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bigalo.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bigalo misses with a body kick.

Bigalo gets a clinch.

Troeng breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Duce Bigalo did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Troeng scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Troeng moves out of range of the body kick from Bigalo.
Bigalo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Troeng.
Bigalo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Troeng avoids a kick to the body.
Bigalo throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Bigalo wants to clinch but Troeng slips to the side
and Troeng counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Troeng moves out of range as Bigalo throws a body kick.
Bigalo throws a head kick that misses
and Troeng counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Troeng lands a nice shot to the body.
Troeng scores with a decent looking hook.
Troeng takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Troeng lands a nice hook to Bigalo's body. Bigalo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Troeng's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Troeng. Bigalo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bigalo slips under a jab from Troeng.
Troeng takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bigalo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bigalo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Troeng's calf.
Troeng looks to land a combination but Bigalo avoids it well.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Troeng.
Bigalo wants to clinch but Troeng slips to the side
letting Troeng counter with a right hand.
Troeng swats away the attempt to clinch by Bigalo.
Troeng fails to land with a series of punches.
Bigalo is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Troeng digs a good body shot into Bigalo's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bigalo misses with a kick to the body.
Bigalo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Troeng swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bigalo lands a nice looking body kick.
Bigalo throws a body kick that misses.
Bigalo motions for Troeng to come forward. Bigalo throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Troeng takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Troeng shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bigalo defends it nicely.
Troeng is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Troeng takes a kick to the side of the head.
Bigalo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Troeng dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Troeng misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Troeng dips to his left and cracks Bigalo with an uppercut!
Troeng jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Bigalo takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Troeng fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bigalo throws a front kick that sends Troeng stumbling back into the cage.
Bigalo lands a head kick. Troeng smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Bigalo lands with a kick to the ribs.

Troeng shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bigalo's guard.
Bigalo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bigalo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Troeng controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bigalo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bigalo pulls Troeng in close to prevent any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Troeng trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Troeng not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Troeng throws a head kick but Bigalo moves out of range.
Bigalo throws a head kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bigalo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Bigalo looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Troeng sizes up Bigalo with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Bigalo tries to move into range but Troeng moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Tor Troeng will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Troeng lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Bigalo instigates a clinch.
Bigalo tries a knee to the head but Troeng blocks it.
Troeng wants to take the fight to the mat but Bigalo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Bigalo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Troeng is keeping busy.
Bigalo prevents the takedown attempt.
Bigalo lands a damaging elbow.
Troeng managing to block the knees to the body from Bigalo.
Bigalo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Bigalo lands an elbow inside that Troeng shrugs off.
Troeng blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Troeng jumps guard but Bigalo stands there with Troeng around his waist. Troeng gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Duce Bigalo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tor Troeng.
Troeng on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Troeng tries to break the clinch but Bigalo is controlling the position.

Troeng pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bigalo takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Bigalo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Troeng. That did some damage!
Bigalo ducks under a wild hook from Troeng.
Bigalo moves in looking to clinch but Troeng pushes him off.
Troeng bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Bigalo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Troeng scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Troeng avoids the head kick by Bigalo.
Bigalo takes a jab right on the kisser.
Troeng tests Bigalo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Bigalo throws a push kick but Troeng slaps the foot to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bigalo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bigalo wants it to stay on the feet.
Bigalo throws a sloppy head kick and Troeng moves out of range easily.
Bigalo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Troeng checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Duce Bigalo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Troeng blocks a head kick by Bigalo.
Troeng slips under a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bigalo takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bigalo throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Bigalo misses with a low kick.
Duce Bigalo is winning the standup battle so far.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Nice body kick from Bigalo.
Troeng fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bigalo thumps Troeng with a low kick.
Bigalo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Troeng fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bigalo on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bigalo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Troeng digs a good hook to Bigalo's body.
Bigalo slaps away a takedown attempt from Troeng, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Troeng catches Bigalo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bigalo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Troeng is out of range and Bigalo settles back down.
Troeng cracks Bigalo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Bigalo fakes the leg kick and cracks Troeng in the body.
Troeng circles away from the clinch attempt.
Troeng scores with a hook to the body. Bigalo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Troeng stuns Bigalo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Troeng lands a body shot.
Bigalo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Troeng manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Bigalo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bigalo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Troeng.
Troeng is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bigalo trying to land knees to the body.
Troeng scores with a shoulder strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Troeng jumps guard but Bigalo stands there with Troeng around his waist. Troeng gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bigalo prevents Troeng from breaking the clinch.
Troeng is trying to break the clinch but Bigalo is controlling him.
Bigalo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Troeng tries to pull guard but Bigalo holds him up against the cage and eventually Troeng drops back down to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bigalo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Troeng blocks the elbow strike.
Troeng working hard to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tor Troeng.
I think Troeng 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 47:49
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 47:48
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tor Troeng!
Tor Troeng is the new lightweight champion!
Tor Troeng spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.