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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benton Riggs (ranked 8086 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khalan Tao (ranked 5818 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.
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| 201 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0 |
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180 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut |
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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
1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benton Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Khalan Tao!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggs tries to keep at a distance but Tao has taken the fight into the clinch.
Riggs turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Riggs manages to end up in side control.
Tao tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Riggs easily slips into full mount!
Riggs sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tao tries to hold on but Riggs postures up.
Riggs stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tao moves into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Tao takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Riggs breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Tao tries for a takedown but Riggs circles away easily
and Riggs counters with a nice body shot.
Tao misses with a jab, cross combination.
Riggs thinks about countering with a head kick.
Tao moves into the clinch successfully.
Riggs is trying to pull guard but Tao has him pressed against the cage.
Tao keeps control of Riggs as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Riggs has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tao uses from the top position.
Tao must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Riggs looking for a guillotine here but Tao defends easily.
Riggs looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tao is one step ahead there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tao trying to control but Riggs is working from the bottom.
Riggs keeping full guard, as Tao tries to pass.
Riggs is looking for a triangle but Tao pushes his legs off easily.
Tao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Riggs is keeping the position for now.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs has his foot on Tao's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tao works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tao trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Riggs is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tao defends well.
Tao controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Riggs is working an open guard so Tao takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Riggs stuffs the takedown.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tao clinches.
Tao is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Tao lands a nice elbow.
Riggs jumps guard but Tao turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tao stops a takedown attempt from Riggs.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benton Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riggs is breathing heavily.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Tao.
Tao lands with a short shot to the head.
Tao stalling against the cage.
Tao goes for a takedown attempt but Riggs pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
No joy there for Tao, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Riggs shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tao as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Khalan Tao dominated that round.
That's time! Riggs's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Tao moves into range and clinches up with Riggs.
Tao keeps control of Riggs as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Riggs is looking to take this one to the mat.
Tao will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Riggs up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Riggs's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Tao using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Riggs has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riggs tries to close the distance and clinch but Tao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tao doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Riggs counters with a shoot takedown. Tao fights it but they end up in guard.
Tao has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Riggs is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs tries to break the clinch but Tao is controlling the position.
Tao's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Riggs manages to break the clinch.
Riggs slaps away a takedown attempt from Tao, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tao closes the distance and clinches.
Riggs drags the fight down to the ground.
Tao stands up and waves to Riggs to follow him.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tao is trying hard to land a takedown here. Riggs sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Benton Riggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khalan Tao.
Tao tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Riggs was well out of range. Poor timing from Tao.
Riggs is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Tao.
Tao stuffs the takedown attempt from Riggs. Riggs gets slowly back to his feet.
Tao gets a clinch.
Khalan Tao seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Riggs has clasped his hands together around Tao's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Tao wants to get back to his feet but Riggs is dominant here and he's now got Tao's back!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Riggs's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Riggs biding his time, looking for the opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tao trying to control the hands but Riggs breaks the grip.
Tao is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Riggs is staying active.
Benton Riggs overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Riggs doesn't have the hooks in and Tao manages to turn into his guard.
Tao sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tao throws a strike but Riggs rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Riggs tries to stand but Tao is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Tao moves into the clinch successfully.
A frustrated look appears on Riggs's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Riggs tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tao smiles and moves away.
Tao misses with a takedown attempt - Riggs sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Riggs appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Tao drives through and clinches with Riggs against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Khalan Tao 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. 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.
Tao forces Riggs back against the cage and clinches.
Tao tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Riggs just stands there and leans against the cage.
Riggs wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tao has him pressed against the cage.
Riggs pressing his opponent against the cage.
Riggs works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Tao working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Riggs doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Riggs manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Riggs trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tao's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riggs gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tao is defended easily by Riggs.
Khalan Tao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tao shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Riggs defends it nicely.
Riggs half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Benton Riggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khalan Tao.
Tao takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Riggs stuffs the takedown attempt from Tao. Tao gets slowly back to his feet.
Riggs wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Tao throws a head kick but Riggs moves out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Riggs.
Riggs clinches with his opponent.
Riggs goes for a takedown attempt but Tao pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tao instigates a clinch.
Riggs looking for a takedown.
Riggs wants a takedown.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tao has closed the distance and engaged Riggs in a clinch.
Riggs wants a takedown but no success here.
Riggs has Tao pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tao manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Riggs wants to take the fight to the mat but Tao manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Tao wants to take the fight to the mat but Riggs manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Tao changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Riggs fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tao throws a head kick that misses.
Tao closes the distance and clinches up with Riggs, looking for a takedown. Tao pushes Riggs against the cage but Riggs circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Riggs drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Tao throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tao leaves Riggs with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Riggs takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Riggs manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Tao on his heels. He'll look to pass Tao's guard now, I'm sure.
Tao manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Riggs displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tao.
Riggs drops down looking for a counter takedown but Tao sprawls and moves away.
And that's the end of the fight!
Khalan Tao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tao winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khalan Tao!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
40% |
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