PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brownie Anderson (ranked 1905 p4p, 226 weight class) and Cliff Rigano (ranked 1684 p4p, 205 weight class). Anderson comes to the cage accompanied by Motörhead - Hellraiser. Brownie Anderson could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Cliff Rigano's chin.

Anderson
vs
Rigano

183 cm
38
169 lbs
36 - 19 - 1

188 cm
34
184 lbs
19 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class 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 36 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Brownie Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Cliff Rigano!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rigano scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Anderson leaves Rigano with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A quick step to the side and Anderson tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Anderson throws a looping overhand right but Rigano ducks down to avoid it.
Anderson swings widly with a right hand
and Rigano cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Rigano drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Anderson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Anderson continues to stall.
Rigano trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Anderson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Rigano throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Anderson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Rigano is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson stays in close to Rigano's body and controls the position.

Rigano is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Anderson defends well.

Anderson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rigano has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Anderson has managed to get both his arms back between Rigano's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rigano had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Anderson defends it easily.
Anderson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Anderson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Anderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Anderson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Rigano is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Anderson is aware though and is defending well.
Anderson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Anderson stands and throws Rigano's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Anderson is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Rigano is looking for a sweep.
Anderson controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rigano is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Anderson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rigano wants to get back to full guard.
Anderson trying to control the pace.
Anderson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rigano tries to get to full guard but Anderson has control of the leg.
Anderson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rigano is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Anderson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rigano moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Anderson throws a front kick aimed at Rigano's knee but Rigano avoids it well.

Rigano throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Anderson was covering up waiting for the punch and Rigano finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rigano trying to control the position from guard on top but Anderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anderson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rigano's guard.

Rigano can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Anderson controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rigano is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Anderson defends well.
Anderson is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rigano has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Anderson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Anderson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Rigano working for a triangle but Anderson defends it easily.

Rigano is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Anderson defends well.
Anderson works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Anderson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rigano tries to roll over but Anderson keeps him under control.
Anderson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rigano wants to improve his position but Anderson is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Anderson prevents Rigano from improving his position.
Anderson stalling.
More hug and hope from Anderson.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Anderson.
Anderson is looking to take a break and control but Rigano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Rigano is trying to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Anderson seems content to control.
Rigano wants to get back to full guard.
Well, if Anderson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Anderson is trying to control the action in half guard but Rigano is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rigano is looking for a sweep. Anderson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Anderson moves nicely into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brownie Anderson 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!

Anderson scores with a jab to the body.
Anderson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Anderson. Rigano does a little dance to reset his feet.

Rigano decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Anderson is looking for a sweep. Rigano is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Anderson is working hard here to advance position.
Anderson is looking to control Rigano's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Anderson avoid being mounted?
Anderson is pressing down on Rigano's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rigano lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rigano with a flurry of punches that miss.
Anderson controlling the position.
Rigano landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson wants to sweep here but Rigano controlling him for the moment.
Rigano throwing strikes but missing.
Rigano trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rigano throws a big elbow that misses.
Anderson pulls Rigano in close to his closed guard and prevents Rigano from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rigano wants to pass the guard but Anderson is keeping the position.
Anderson working a defensive guard here.

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.
Anderson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Rigano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Anderson is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Anderson cracks the inside of Rigano's front leg.
Anderson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rigano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Anderson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rigano.
Good standup being displayed there by Anderson as he connects with a hook.
Rigano shoots in for a takedown but Anderson shows good takedown defense.
Anderson connects with a right hand. Rigano shakes it off.
Nice uppercut lands for Anderson. That snapped Rigano's head back.

Rigano gets a takedown into half guard.
Anderson is controlling Rigano's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rigano is looking for a kimura but Anderson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rigano to get the leverage.
Anderson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rigano is working away from the top position though.
Rigano wants to control but Anderson is keeping him busy.
Anderson trying to control here.

Anderson is defending against the submission attempts here by Rigano.
Anderson moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Anderson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rigano content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anderson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Cliff Rigano!
A relieved looking Cliff Rigano thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.