PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Iron Dong Pao (ranked 2323 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cliff Rigano (ranked 3398 p4p, 380 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Iron Dong Pao has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Iron Dong Pao seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Dong Pao
vs
Rigano

188 cm
25
185 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

188 cm
37
184 lbs
24 - 20 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iron Dong Pao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 20 - 1, fighting out of London, Cliff Rigano!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Pao. Rigano does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pao misses with a wild combination.
Pao misses with a body shot.
Rigano replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Pao blocks it well.
Pao misses with an uppercut.
Rigano takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Rigano shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Pao napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Pao is trying to control Rigano's posture but Rigano avoids it.
Pao tries to buck Rigano off but Rigano is having none of it.
Rigano working away.
Pao tries to buck Rigano off but Rigano is having none of it.
Pao manages to get back to half guard.
Pao's coaches at Shark Tank MMA have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Pao is doing well to control the position and prevent Rigano from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigano is keen to just control but Pao is a slippery customer.
Pao manages to get to full guard.
Rigano passes Pao's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Pao is staying active underneath Rigano, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pao manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pao looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rigano is one step ahead there.
Rigano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pao is keeping the position for now.
Rigano trying to control but Pao is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pao tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pao has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Rigano drops back looking for a leg! Pao is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pao manages to kick Rigano off! Rigano jumps back into Pao's guard.

Rigano is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Pao controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pao feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Rigano is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pao is aware though and is defending well.
Pao stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rigano swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rigano working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pao doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pao manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pao is working Rigano over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Pao has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Rigano to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Pao is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Rigano pulls down on the head and he's put Pao to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Cliff Rigano!
A victorious Cliff Rigano thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.