PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Soto (ranked 5061 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cliff Rigano (ranked 3591 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Soto
vs
Rigano

182 cm
33
175 lbs
20 - 6 - 1

188 cm
33
184 lbs
17 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
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 20 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Carlos Soto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Cliff Rigano!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Paul Tew and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Soto fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rigano, pushing him back against the cage.
Soto tries a body shot but Rigano blocks it.
Soto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Soto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Soto lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rigano prevents a body shot from Soto.
Rigano changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Soto fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Soto has Rigano up against the cage in a clinch.
Rigano blocks a body shot from Soto.
A left hand lands to the body for Soto.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Soto.
Soto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soto misses with a punch to the body.
Soto misses with a body punch.
Soto tries to throw a body punch but Rigano avoids it by throwing Soto back against the cage.
Soto struggles to land a body shot inside as Rigano controls his hands.
Soto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rigano drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Soto gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigano has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Soto after a bit of a struggle.
Carlos Soto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Rigano.
Soto tries to throw a body punch but Rigano avoids it by throwing Soto back against the cage.
Rigano blocks a body shot from Soto.
Soto can't find room to land a body shot as Rigano controls the action.
Rigano blocks a body shot from Soto.
Soto stops a takedown attempt from Rigano.
Soto misses with a body punch.
Soto prevents the takedown attempt.
Soto tries to throw a body punch but Rigano avoids it by throwing Soto back against the cage.
Soto is pressed up against the cage. Rigano has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Soto down to the mat. Soto avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Soto forces Rigano back against the cage and clinches.
Soto misses with a body punch.
Soto struggles to land a body shot inside as Rigano controls his hands.
Rigano has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Soto avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rigano goes for a takedown attempt but Soto pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rigano scores with a shot to the body.
Carlos Soto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rigano shoots for a double leg takedown but Soto sprawls well. He's pushed Rigano's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rigano throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Soto's waist but Soto gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rigano off to one side.

Soto takes the fight into the clinch.
Soto misses with a punch to the body.
Rigano wants a takedown but no success here.
Soto prevents the takedown attempt.
Soto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Soto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Soto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Soto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rigano wants a takedown but no success here.
A hook to the body from Soto.
Rigano looks winded!
Soto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Soto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rigano is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Soto is defending well.
Soto tries to work over Rigano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rigano can't get the takedown.
Soto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rigano's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rigano.
Soto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rigano's elbow.
Soto can't find room to land a body shot as Rigano controls the action.
Soto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Soto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rigano's elbow.
Soto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rigano's elbow.
Soto digs a right hand underneath Rigano's ribcage. Rigano let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Soto stops a takedown attempt from Rigano.
Soto misses with a body punch.
Soto misses with a punch to the body.
Rigano is trying to drag Soto to the mat but Soto just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Soto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Soto misses with a body punch.
Rigano drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Soto lands a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soto is leaning against Rigano and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rigano looking for a takedown.
Soto tries a body shot but Rigano blocks it.
Soto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Soto tries to throw a body punch but Rigano avoids it by throwing Soto back against the cage.
Rigano changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Soto fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Soto rushes Rigano and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Soto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A body shot lands from Soto.
Soto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rigano prevents a body shot from Soto.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Soto tries a body shot but Rigano blocks it.
Soto stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Soto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rigano's elbow.
Soto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Soto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Soto dominated that round.
That's time! Soto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Soto has closed the distance and engaged Rigano in a clinch.
Soto tries a body shot but Rigano blocks it.
Soto can't find room to land a body shot as Rigano controls the action.
Rigano is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Soto is defending well for now.
Soto can't find room to land a body shot as Rigano controls the action.
Rigano is working for takedown but Soto is calmly controlling the position for now.
Soto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rigano can do to turn this around?
Soto tries a body shot but Rigano blocks it.
Soto lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Rigano blocks a body shot from Soto.
Soto gets underhooks to prevent Rigano's takedown attempt.
Rigano lands with a left to the head.
Soto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rigano prevents a body shot from Soto.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soto lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rigano or not.
Soto tries a body shot but Rigano blocks it.
Rigano is breathing heavily.
Soto gets underhooks to prevent Rigano's takedown attempt.
Carlos Soto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Rigano.
Soto can't find room to land a body shot as Rigano controls the action.
Soto misses with a body punch.
Rigano prevents a body shot from Soto.
Rigano is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Soto is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soto digs a right hand underneath Rigano's ribcage. Rigano let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Soto tries to throw a body punch but Rigano avoids it by throwing Soto back against the cage.
Soto struggles to land a body shot inside as Rigano controls his hands.
Soto throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Soto struggles to land a body shot inside as Rigano controls his hands.
Soto misses with a body punch.
Soto misses with a punch to the body.
Soto can't find room to land a body shot as Rigano controls the action.
Soto can't find room to land a body shot as Rigano controls the action.
Soto lands a body shot.
Soto can't find room to land a body shot as Rigano controls the action.
Soto can't find room to land a body shot as Rigano controls the action.
Soto gets underhooks to prevent Rigano's takedown attempt.
Rigano has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Soto after a bit of a struggle.
Rigano is working for takedown but Soto is calmly controlling the position for now.
Soto can't find room to land a body shot as Rigano controls the action.
Soto avoids a wild elbow strike from Rigano.
Soto tries to throw a body punch but Rigano avoids it by throwing Soto back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soto tries a body shot but Rigano blocks it.
Soto misses with a body punch.
Soto misses with a body punch.
Soto tries to work over Rigano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Soto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rigano's elbow.
Soto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Soto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rigano's elbow.
Soto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rigano tries for a takedown but Soto manages to get underhooks.
Soto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Soto struggles to land a body shot inside as Rigano controls his hands.
Rigano wants a takedown but no success here.
Soto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rigano tries for a takedown. No joy.
Soto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Soto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Soto tries to work over Rigano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Soto misses with a punch to the body.
Soto misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Soto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rigano wants to take the fight to the mat but Soto manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Soto is pressed up against the cage. Rigano has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Soto down to the mat. Soto avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rigano shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Soto pinned against the cage. Soto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Soto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Soto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rigano's elbow.
Soto tries to throw a body punch but Rigano avoids it by throwing Soto back against the cage.
Soto tries to throw a body punch but Rigano avoids it by throwing Soto back against the cage.
Soto misses with a body punch.
Soto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rigano's elbow.

Rigano turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Soto pushes Rigano away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rigano gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rigano tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Soto is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rigano is controlling him well.
Rigano advances nicely into full mount.
Soto is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Rigano in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rigano lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Soto has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Soto clinches with his opponent.
Soto tries to work over Rigano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rigano is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Soto gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Soto misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Rigano gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Soto wants to stand but Rigano is controlling the position.

Soto wriggles free and stands up.
Rigano catches Soto with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Soto clinches up against the cage.
Soto stops a takedown attempt from Rigano.

Rigano has hold of one of Soto's legs. Soto is fighting the takedown attempt but Rigano gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Rigano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rigano wants to control from the top but Soto keeps moving.
Rigano prevents Soto from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigano content to stall in guard here.
Rigano tries to free his leg and advance position but Soto is retaining full guard.

Soto pushes Rigano off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Soto rushes Rigano and presses him up against the cage.
Soto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rigano wants a takedown but no success here.
Cliff Rigano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Carlos Soto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Rigano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rigano has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Soto is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Soto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rigano's elbow.
Soto can't find room to land a body shot as Rigano controls the action.
Soto tries to throw a body punch but Rigano avoids it by throwing Soto back against the cage.
Rigano wants to take the fight to the mat but Soto manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Soto tries a body shot but Rigano blocks it.
Soto prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rigano tries to score a body lock takedown but Soto shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Soto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Soto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rigano's elbow.
Soto tries to work over Rigano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Soto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Soto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rigano drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Soto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soto misses with a body punch.
Soto tries a body shot but Rigano blocks it.
Soto can't find room to land a body shot as Rigano controls the action.
Soto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Soto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rigano.
Rigano drops down looking for an ankle pick but Soto pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rigano throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Soto fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rigano, pushing him back against the cage.
Rigano tries to break the clinch but Soto is controlling the position.
Soto can't find room to land a body shot as Rigano controls the action.
Rigano goes for a takedown attempt but Soto pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Rigano gets tackled into the cage by Soto. Soto maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rigano's elbow.
Soto struggles to land a body shot inside as Rigano controls his hands.
Soto works on Rigano's body with a couple of short punches.
Soto tries to throw a body punch but Rigano avoids it by throwing Soto back against the cage.
Soto misses with a body punch.
Soto tries to work over Rigano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rigano drops down looking for an ankle pick but Soto pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rigano tries to score a power double leg takedown but Soto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rigano somewhat.

Rigano gets tackled into the cage by Soto. Soto maintains the clinch.
Soto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Soto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Soto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Soto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Soto dodges an elbow strike from Rigano.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos Soto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Soto, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:26
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Soto!
Carlos Soto bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.