PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cliff Rigano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taiei Kin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rigano
vs
Kin

188 cm
22
184 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
174 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cliff Rigano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Taiei Kin!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circle momentarily. Rigano darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rigano jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kin lets loose with a powerful body kick. Rigano will feel that in the morning.
Kin closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rigano counters with a nice leg kick.
Rigano misses with an uppercut. Kin saw that one coming.
Kin slips a jab from Rigano.
Kin blocks a jab.
Rigano throws an overhand right that lands on Kin's shoulder, as Kin tries to avoid the shot.
We've been told by Rigano's head coaches at Russian Fighting Community Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kin lands a front kick.
Kin scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rigano lands a right hook to the body.

Kin has closed the distance and engaged Rigano in a clinch.
Rigano fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kin swings wildly with an uppercut but Rigano uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rigano blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kin missing with knees to the body.
Rigano is trying to break free.
A head punch on the inside from Rigano fails to land.
Rigano wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kin tries to stall but Rigano uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kin connects with a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rigano as Kin tries to tie him up.
A short right from Kin.
Kin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kin displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rigano up against the ropes.
A body shot lands from Rigano.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rigano as Kin tries to tie him up.
Kin lands with a light punch inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kin tries a knee to the head but Rigano blocks it.
Rigano wants to stall.
Rigano misses with a knee to the head.
Kin lands a knee to the body.
Kin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rigano.
Kin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kin trying to land knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kin.
Rigano using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rigano's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kin tries to land knees in the clinch but Rigano avoids the damage to the body.
Rigano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rigano scores with a shot to the side of Kin's head.
A right hook to the body lands for Rigano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rigano backwards.
Rigano trying to control the position but instead, Kin has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rigano into the ropes.
A nice left hand lands by Kin.
Kin scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rigano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rigano lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rigano backwards.
Rigano is trying to push Kin away but Kin has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Kin can't find room to land a body shot as Rigano controls the action.
Rigano swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kin pushes Rigano back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rigano has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rigano.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kin obliges.
Kin looking to slow down the pace here.
Kin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kin prevents Rigano from breaking the clinch.
Rigano tries a body shot but Kin blocks it.
Kin tries a body shot but Rigano blocks it.
Knees to the body from Kin.
Kin lands a nice knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Kin.
Rigano is breathing heavily.
Kin managing to block the knees to the body from Rigano.
Kin landing knees to the body.
Kin scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kin working Rigano over with knees to the body.
Kin stalling the fight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taiei Kin dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rigano with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kin to score with a decent uppercut.
Rigano's corner calls for a 1-2. Rigano obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kin throws a looping overhand right but Rigano ducks down to avoid it.
Rigano misses with a kick to the body.
Kin throws a body kick that misses.
Rigano tried to score with a low kick but Kin checks it.
A nice side step and Kin releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rigano swings away with a body shot that misses

and Kin counters with a head kick that drops Rigano to the mat! Rigano scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Rigano is rocked!
Kin tries to land a front kick but Rigano steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kin is looking to chop away at Rigano's legs.
Rigano jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rigano was well out of range. Poor timing from Kin.
Rigano pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kin is out of range and Rigano settles back down.

Kin moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kin looking to stall.
Rigano wants to get back to striking at distance but Kin won't allow it.
Rigano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rigano lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rigano takes a shot to the head.
Kin content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Kin lands a left hand.
Kin stalling in the clinch.
Kin tries to stall but Rigano uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kin scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kin.
Kin just leaning against Rigano, taking a breather.
Rigano takes a shot to the head.
Rigano throws a punch but it's blocked by Kin.
A short left from Kin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kin lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rigano or not.
Rigano throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kin blocks it with crossed arms.
Rigano tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kin avoids it.
Kin lands with a short punch from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rigano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rigano with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kin trying to control the position but instead, Rigano has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kin into the ropes.
Kin looking to slow down the pace here.
Kin is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kin is trying to maintain a safe position but Rigano gets an underhook and turns Kin into the ropes.
Rigano lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rigano is trying to maintain a safe position but Kin gets an underhook and turns Rigano into the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kin looking to throw knees to the head but Rigano is blocking nicely.
Kin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rigano misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kin lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rigano or not.
Kin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kin has Rigano pressed against the ropes, preventing Rigano from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rigano throws a punch but it's blocked by Kin.
Kin scores with a knee to the head.
Kin controlling the action here for a moment.
Rigano swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kin missing with knees to the body.
Rigano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rigano on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rigano blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rigano stalling in the clinch but Kin improves position.
Kin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kin tries to land a knee to the head but Rigano blocks with his arms.
Kin taking a breather.
Kin landing knees to the body.
Kin lands an uppercut.
Rigano will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kin up against the ropes.
Kin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rigano misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kin trying to control the position but instead, Rigano has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kin into the ropes.
Kin being controlled against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taiei Kin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kin thumps Rigano with a low kick.
Kin attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Kin - that will leave a mark!
Rigano checks a leg kick.
Kin feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rigano's calf.
Rigano fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kin misses with a hook.
A little feinted left hand from Rigano on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The crowd cheers as Kin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rigano doesn't seem phased though.
Kin buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Taiei Kin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rigano misses with a wild body shot.
Kin fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rigano is out of range.
Rigano pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigano moves out of range of the body kick.
And Rigano counters with a quick kick to the body but Kin blocks it.
Rigano with a nice cross.
Kin scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rigano in his tracks.
Kin misses with a body kick.
Rigano connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kin's hands.
Kin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Kin closes the distance and pushes Rigano back into the ropes.
Kin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rigano backwards.
Rigano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rigano avoids it.
Kin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Kin scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rigano is trying to push Kin away but Kin has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Kin gets through Rigano's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rigano tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kin lands a body punch.
Kin lands with a light punch inside.
Rigano swings wildly with an uppercut but Kin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rigano.
Kin is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kin with a knee to the head.
Kin is trying to stall.
Rigano lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Rigano pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Rigano misses.
Rigano on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kin. Kin obviously looking to wear him down.
Rigano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rigano misses the jab.
Kin misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Rigano counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kin takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Rigano tries to keep at a distance but Kin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kin working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rigano throws a punch but it's blocked by Kin.
Rigano throws a head punch that misses.
Rigano tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kin.
Kin scores with a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kin is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kin.
Kin lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kin lands a right hand.
Kin scores with a shoulder strike.
Oh Rigano is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kin has Rigano pressed against the ropes, preventing Rigano from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Kin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rigano seems to have got his legs back now.
Kin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rigano in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kin is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rigano.
Rigano scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kin tries to throw a body punch but Rigano avoids it by throwing Kin back against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taiei Kin really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A right-left combo lands from Kin.
Kin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rigano.
Rigano thows a leg kick but Kin checks it
and Kin counters with a slapping leg kick.
Rigano looks to land a right hand but Kin moved out of range.
Rigano jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kin ducks under a wild hook from Rigano.
Kin fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A good leg kick by Kin.
Rigano throws a combination. Kin tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Cliff Rigano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kin lands a really nice looking cross but Rigano seems unphased.
Kin closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rigano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kin manages to avoid it.
Rigano looks to land a right hand but Kin moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kin throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rigano blocks a head kick by Kin.
Kin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rigano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rigano.
Kin looks to score with a jab to the body but Rigano is just out of range.
Rigano checks the leg kick.
Kin is looking to land body kicks.
Kin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rigano.
Kin moves forwards but Rigano connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Kin moves into the clinch.
Kin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rigano is defending well for now.
Kin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kin gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rigano.
Rigano is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Kin managing to block the knees to the body from Rigano.
Kin working Rigano over with knees to the body.
Rigano is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rigano trying to control the position but instead, Kin has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rigano into the ropes.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Rigano presses Kin against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kin works on Rigano's body with a couple of short punches.
Kin lands a good knee to the midsection. Rigano won't want to take too many of those.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rigano is keeping busy.
Rigano's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rigano misses with a punch on the inside.
Kin crunches a lovely knee into Rigano's ribcage.
Kin stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rigano avoiding damage as Kin throws knees to the body.
Kin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rigano tries to work over Kin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A head punch on the inside from Rigano fails to land.
Kin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Rigano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A big right from Kin misses.
Rigano throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rigano throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kin.
Rigano on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kin. Kin obviously looking to wear him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kin moves out of range as Rigano strikes.
Kin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rigano scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Nice uppercut lands for Rigano. That snapped Kin's head back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rigano misses with a hook. Kin ducked under it nicely.
Rigano throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rigano throws a hook to the side of Kin's head but Kin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rigano feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kin's calf.
A swing and a miss from Kin.
A jab from Rigano does it's job there.
Kin tries to close the distance and clinch but Rigano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kin misses with a hook.
Rigano pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kin is out of range and Rigano settles back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Taiei Kin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rigano cracks Kin with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Rigano throws a right and a left that Kin avoids nicely.
Rigano lands the left hand.
Rigano lands a really nice looking cross but Kin seems unphased.
Rigano misses with a low kick.
Kin wants to counter the offense by Rigano and move into the clinch position.
Rigano chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kin can pounce on him.
Rigano's corner calls for a 1-2. Rigano obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rigano misses the shot to the body.
Kin takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Kin is rocked!
Kin leaves his chin hanging out and Rigano seizes the opportunity with an uppercut! Kin crumbles to the floor in a heap, and the referee steps in and tends to the downed fighter! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 5, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Cliff Rigano!
A very excited looking Cliff Rigano made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.