PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ray Fayth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cliff Rigano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Fayth
vs
Rigano

190 cm
35
185 lbs
32 - 13 - 0

188 cm
25
184 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 32 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ray Fayth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cliff Rigano!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick from Fayth misses.
Fayth misses with a looping right.
Fayth changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Fayth is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rigano.
Fayth misses with a looping right.
Rigano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fighters circle momentarily. Fayth darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rigano keeps Fayth at a distance using the push kick.
Rigano lands a really nice looking cross but Fayth seems unphased.
Rigano thumps Fayth with a low kick.
Fayth misses with a hook

and Rigano counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Fayth!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fayth gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Fayth is looking for a sweep. Rigano is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rigano keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigano is keen to just control but Fayth is a slippery customer.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rigano wants to pass to mount but Fayth is defending the position.
Nice strikes from Rigano there.
Rigano prevents Fayth from improving his position.
Fayth is looking to control Rigano's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fayth avoid being mounted?
Rigano wants to control but Fayth is keeping him busy.

That's two 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.
Fayth trying to control from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rigano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fayth. Rigano does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fayth closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rigano misses with a body shot.
Fayth swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ray Fayth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rigano swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A quick step to the side and Fayth tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fayth throws a body shot but no joy.
Rigano cracks the inside of Fayth's front leg.
Rigano avoids the body shot from Fayth.
Fayth tried to score with a low kick but Rigano checks it.
Rigano keeps the fight on the outside.
Rigano throws a nice looking combination but Fayth bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fayth pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Fayth throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rigano throws a right hand that Fayth ducks under and follows up with a left that Fayth also avoids with ease.
Fayth tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fayth.
Fayth lands a right hook to the body.
Fayth waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rigano.
Fayth dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rigano misses the shot to the body.
Rigano swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
An attempted straight right counter from Fayth misses the target.
Fayth pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rigano throws a low kick but Fayth avoids it.
Rigano throws a nice looking combination but Fayth bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Fayth, right into the meat.
Rigano checks a low kick from Fayth.
Rigano uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fayth.
A slow jab from Rigano misses its intended target.
Fayth throwing a counter right hand but Rigano manages to avoid it.
Fayth ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rigano moves away.
Rigano throws a low kick but Fayth avoids it.

Fayth closes the distance and clinches.
A short uppercut from Rigano.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fayth gets through Rigano's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rigano.
Rigano stalling against the cage.
Fayth slows down the pace here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rigano.

Rigano's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rigano slips under a jab.
Rigano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fayth throws a shot from downtown. Rigano moves away and avoids it.
Rigano walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Rigano takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Fayth lands with a kick to the ribs.
Fayth moves forwards but Rigano connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Fayth moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cliff Rigano will probably get the nod.
That's time! Fayth's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rigano throws a hook to the side of Fayth's head but Fayth sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fayth tries to counter by clinching up but Rigano breaks away and moves out of range.
Rigano moves away from the strike by Fayth.
Fayth throws a lazy right hand but Rigano sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A punch lands to the side of Rigano 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rigano takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Rigano throws an off balance right hand
and Fayth counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rigano keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fayth.
Rigano swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Rigano breaks the clinch.
Rigano connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Fayth stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Fayth throws a hook but Rigano avoids it easily.
Fayth throws a looping overhand right but Rigano ducks down to avoid it.
Rigano moves out of range as Fayth strikes.
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!
Rigano misses with an uppercut.
Fayth looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
A big left from Fayth misses.
Fayth drops his hands momentarily and Rigano takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fayth lands an overhand right.
Rigano throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Fayth dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fayth throws the left hand but Rigano avoids the punch easily.
Rigano throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rigano jabs Fayth to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Fayth is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rigano.
A left lands for Rigano.
Fayth swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fayth with a hook.
Fayth misses with an uppercut. Rigano saw that one coming.
Rigano lands a lovely overhand right.
Rigano slips a jab and a cross from Fayth.
Fayth waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rigano.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rigano bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Fayth's head.

It looks like Ray Fayth has been cut.
Fayth misses the jab.
Fayth misses with a hook
and Rigano counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fayth takes a swing at Rigano's ribcage but misses.
Rigano uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fayth.
A head kick from Rigano lands but Fayth takes it in his stride.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rigano.
Rigano throws a hook to the side of Fayth's head but Fayth sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rigano. Fayth does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jab from Fayth.
Fayth throws a good cross that connects.
Rigano looks to score with a jab to the body but Fayth is just out of range.
A slow jab from Rigano misses its intended target.
Rigano throws an overhand right that lands on Fayth's shoulder, as Fayth tries to avoid the shot.
Fayth scores with a nice strike.
Fayth throws a body punch but Rigano moves out of range.
Rigano slips under a jab from Fayth.
Rigano throws an off balance right hand
and Rigano takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rigano slips under a jab from Fayth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fayth scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Fayth misses with a straight right.
Rigano scores with a nice body kick.
Rigano dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Fayth. That's going to slow Rigano down.
Rigano jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rigano throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A big left from Rigano misses.
Rigano swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rigano scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rigano moves out of range as Fayth strikes.
Rigano is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Fayth is looking to slow Rigano down with leg kicks.
Rigano swings for the body but Fayth moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Fayth has managed to clinch.
Fayth lands an uppercut.
Fayth lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rigano backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rigano misses with a punch to the body.

Rigano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rigano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rigano scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A jab from Fayth misses.
Rigano gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rigano lands a nice looking body kick.
Fayth fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rigano.
Fayth throws out a loose jab but Rigano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rigano motions for Fayth to come forward. Rigano throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Fayth throwing a counter right hand but Rigano manages to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rigano misses with a body kick.
Fayth throws a hook but Rigano avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Rigano misses the target.
A slapping body kick lands there for Rigano.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ray Fayth will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ray Fayth's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rigano slips under a jab.
Rigano throws an overhand right that lands on Fayth's shoulder, as Fayth tries to avoid the shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rigano. Fayth does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fayth ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rigano moves away.
A little jabbing left from Rigano on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Fayth getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Fayth looks to land a left hand but Rigano moved out of range nicely.
Fayth smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rigano walks into a stiff left hand from Fayth.
Rigano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fayth darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Fayth gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fayth lands a left hand.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rigano is pushing Fayth up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rigano pushes Fayth back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigano stalls.

Fayth has hold of one of Rigano's legs. Rigano is fighting the takedown attempt but Fayth gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Fayth trying to control but Rigano is working from the bottom.
Rigano is trying to keep Fayth in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fayth content to stall in guard here.
Fayth throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fayth pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rigano is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fayth is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rigano preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rigano keeping moving, preventing Fayth from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Fayth. Those never looked like landing.
Rigano changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Rigano misses with a hook. Fayth ducked under it nicely.
Rigano misses with a looping left.
Fayth throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rigano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fayth moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fayth avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rigano loads up on a big right hand but Fayth slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fayth throws a jab when Rigano was well out of range.
Rigano feints a jab promting Fayth to slip. Rigano then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Fayth slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Fayth throws a hook but Rigano avoids it easily.
Fayth misses with a left hand
and Rigano counters with a nice uppercut.
Ray Fayth is winning the standup battle so far.
Rigano moves out of range as Fayth strikes.
Fayth waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rigano.
Rigano scores with a nice right hand.
Fayth keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rigano throws a leg kick but Fayth sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Fayth takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Fayth misses with a hook.
Fayth steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Rigano. That one must have hurt.
Rigano misses with a few strikes there.
Rigano fakes the leg kick and cracks Fayth in the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fayth swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fayth looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fayth swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rigano steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fayth.
Rigano throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rigano slips under a jab.
A low kick from Fayth is predictable there

and Rigano counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rigano controlling the action here.
Fayth won't allow Rigano to pass to mount.
Fayth keeping control of the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cliff Rigano.
I think Rigano 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cliff Rigano!
A victorious Cliff Rigano thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.