PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Riggs (ranked 2719 p4p, 257 weight class) and Eldar Smith (ranked 3605 p4p, 343 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Riggs
vs
Smith

190 cm
28
286 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

215 cm
31
270 lbs
17 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ryan Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eldar Smith!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggs throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith.
A cross from Riggs lands.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've been hearing reports that Riggs has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Smith lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Ryan Riggs has been cut.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Riggs.
Riggs misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Smith unleashes a big counter combination but Riggs bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Riggs takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Smith tries to clinch but Riggs moves away
and Riggs counters with a two punch combo.
Smith throws a series of punches but Riggs avoids them all with ease.
Riggs closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smith circles away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riggs swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Riggs misses with a wild body shot.
Smith lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Riggs swings widly with a right hand
and Smith counters with a one-two to the body.
Riggs shoots in looking for a takedown. Smith tries to sprawl out of it but Riggs keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Smith manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Smith unleashes a big counter combination but Riggs bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Riggs throws a jab but it's blocked by Smith.

Riggs shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Riggs was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith tries to improve position but can't.
Smith gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Smith makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Riggs swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Riggs is looking to counter punch.
Smith keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Riggs.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Riggs.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Riggs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riggs scores with a nice hook to the head.
Riggs is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smith is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith tries to score a body lock takedown but Riggs shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Smith gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Riggs looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith wants to stand but Riggs has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Riggs trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riggs throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Riggs looking for a sweep. Not yet Riggs, not yet.
Smith being controlled here momentarily.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Riggs is working hard here to advance position.

Riggs has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Riggs is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Riggs is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Riggs throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Riggs trying to advance position but Smith counters by regaining guard.
Riggs working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Riggs trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Riggs lands a couple of elbows.
Riggs throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Riggs landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs throws a big elbow that misses.
Riggs missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith looking to control.
Riggs throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith wants to stand up but Riggs is controlling him.
Riggs stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Riggs is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Riggs is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Riggs postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Riggs working some strikes from top position.

Smith is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Riggs is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Smith is still in real trouble! Can Riggs finish him?
Riggs arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Smith's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Ryan Riggs!