PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cliff Rigano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Hales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Hales struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.0lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Mark Hales has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rigano
vs
Hales

188 cm
29
184 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

204 cm
28
188 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Cliff Rigano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Hales!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A left lands for Rigano.
Hales is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hales shoots in for a takedown but Rigano shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hales circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hales with the counter takedown but Rigano avoids it easily.
Hales takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Hales has a takedown stuffed.
Hales shoots in for a takedown but Rigano shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cliff Rigano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Hales.
Hales shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rigano as he jumps to the side.
Rigano misses with an uppercut.
Rigano throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Hales counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Rigano has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Hales is on him like a limpet, forcing Rigano back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hales lands a takedown into guard.
Hales pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rigano is keeping the position for now.
Rigano pulls Hales in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hales stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rigano swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hales preventing the sweep.
Hales trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Hales drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rigano dives on top into guard.

Rigano trying to control the position from guard on top but Hales is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rigano lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rigano won't allow Hales to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hales looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rigano has picked Hales up and slammed him! Hales can't keep hold of the triangle and Rigano manages to pass to side control!
Hales is trying to get back to half guard.
Hales told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Rigano creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Hales manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Rigano working the head and body with strikes.
Hales is refusing to be controlled, as Rigano sits in half guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hales looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hales tries to roll over but Rigano keeps him under control.
Hales regains full guard. Nicely done.

Hales throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rigano escapes and throws Hales's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Rigano is staying tight to Hales's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Rigano advances nicely into full mount.
Hales wants to hold on but Rigano pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hales is trying to escape the mount.
Hales takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Rigano wants to control the pace but Hales is squirming around nicely.
Rigano raining down hammerfists from mount.
Hales tries to hold on but Rigano postures up.
Hales tries to reverse the position but Rigano maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cliff Rigano dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hales walks into a jab.
Rigano throws a good cross that connects.
A big right from Rigano misses.
Hales has a takedown stuffed.
Rigano lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rigano feints and then cracks Hales's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hales down.
Rigano tries a head kick but it misses.
Rigano misses with a hook. Hales ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hales dives in and grabs Rigano's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rigano pushes down on Hales's head and hops out.
Rigano throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Mark Hales has been cut.
Hales fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rigano avoids it really well and circles away.
It looked like Rigano wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cliff Rigano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Hales.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hales moves away from the strike by Rigano.
Hales dives in and grabs Rigano's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rigano pushes down on Hales's head and hops out.
Rigano throws a big shot that misses.
Hales looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hales gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cliff Rigano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rigano, as that shot connected.
Cliff Rigano is winning the standup battle so far.
Rigano looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hales with the counter takedown but Rigano avoids it easily.
Rigano connects with an inside leg kick.
Rigano thumps Hales with a low kick.

Rigano throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hales tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rigano is in Hales's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rigano stands and throws Hales's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rigano is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hales can do to turn this around?
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 landing a few strikes.
Hales manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rigano's best efforts.
Hales has hold of Rigano's hands but Rigano slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rigano working over Hales with some ground and pound. Hales looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rigano takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hales slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hales keeping full guard, as Rigano tries to pass.
Rigano preventing the sweep.

Hales is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hales throws his legs up looking for a submission but Rigano uses it to pass to side control.
Rigano works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Rigano is looking to take a break and control but Hales is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rigano 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.
Hales is trying to improve his position.
Hales struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rigano landing a few strikes.
Hales is letting Rigano control him for a moment.
Hales tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cliff Rigano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hales looks to move to half guard but instead Rigano has passed into mount! Damn!
Rigano looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rigano looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rigano looking to control but Hales is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hales really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cliff Rigano dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mark Hales's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hales on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rigano turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rigano lands with a hook. Hales tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hales avoids the head kick by Rigano.

Hales feints and as Rigano raises his hands in defense, Hales changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hales trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rigano manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Hales has his foot on Rigano's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rigano works his way back into a safe position though.
Rigano trying to control but Hales is working from the bottom.
Rigano keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hales's head.
Hales keeping moving, preventing Rigano from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hales can't keep his opponent in guard - Rigano advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rigano is trying to control the action in half guard but Hales is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hales is trying to get back to full guard.
Hales trying to control from the bottom.
Rigano lands strikes from half guard.
Hales manages to get to full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rigano's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hales keeping full guard, as Rigano tries to pass.
Cliff Rigano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rigano chips away with some ground and pound.

Hales escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rigano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rigano scoring with some ground and pound.
Rigano wants to control from the top but Hales keeps moving.

Hales working for submissions but it's allowed Rigano to get to half guard.
Rigano is nestled in close to Hales, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hales trying to control here.
Rigano wants to take a breather but Hales is having none of it.
Rigano slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hales manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rigano postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rigano controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rigano postures up.

Hales has his foot on Rigano's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rigano works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hales is trying to control the position but Rigano postures up.
Rigano with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rigano trying to control the position from guard on top but Hales is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rigano controls from within his opponent's guard.

Hales escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rigano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Hales had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rigano defends it easily.
Mark Hales has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hales takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cliff Rigano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rigano has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cliff Rigano!
Our winner, Cliff Rigano, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.