PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Loel (ranked 3196 p4p, 357 weight class) and Cliff Rigano (ranked 3405 p4p, 371 weight class). Loel comes to the ring accompanied by Third Eye Blind - Semi-Charmed Life. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Loel
vs
Rigano

180 cm
33
187 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

188 cm
38
184 lbs
27 - 23 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
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 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yuri Loel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Cliff Rigano!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Loel lands a head kick. Rigano smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Loel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cliff Rigano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Loel has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rigano finds it's way round the side to connect with Loel's head.

It looks like Yuri Loel has been cut.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rigano or perhaps it was just good defense by Loel, which made it look bad.
Decent striking displayed by Loel there.
Loel throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rigano throws a big shot that misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Loel misses the target.
Rigano shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Loel lands with an uppercut that bounces Rigano off the ropes and back into range.
Loel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rigano moves away.
A head kick misses from Loel.
Rigano thinks about the counter body kick.
Rigano takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rigano darts in looking for a takedown but Loel gets double underhooks and turns Rigano into the ropes.
Yuri Loel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Rigano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loel connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Loel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Loel definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Rigano throws a hook but Loel blocks it.
Loel lands a body shot.
Loel goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rigano tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Loel defends well and Rigano ends up having to push Loel into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rigano drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rigano.
Loel feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Riganos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rigano shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Loel sprawls well. Loel wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rigano gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rigano or perhaps it was just good defense by Loel, which made it look bad.
Loel was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Loel lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rigano gets a takedown into half guard.
Loel preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Loel tries to kick Rigano off but Rigano keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Loel wants to control but Rigano is keeping busy.
Rigano trying to control from half guard but Loel is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Loel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yuri Loel's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rigano misses with a takedown attempt - Loel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rigano connects with a crisp jab.
Loel looks to land a left hand but Rigano moved out of range nicely.
Loel misses with a body shot.
Rigano misses with a takedown attempt - Loel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rigano fails with a takedown attempt.
Yuri Loel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Rigano.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rigano fails with the takedown
and Loel counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Loel misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Loel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Loel scores with a hook to the body. Rigano takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Loel misses with a wild combination.
Rigano will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Loel is looking for a counter combo.
Loel dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Loel as Rigano shoots in.
Rigano moves away from the strike by Loel.
A little jabbing left from Rigano on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Loel misses with a wild combination.
Loel cracks the inside of Rigano's front leg.
Loel misses with a leg kick
and Rigano counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rigano drives through with a takedown into Loel's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Loel keeping moving, preventing Rigano from controlling successfully.
Loel looking for a sweep. Not yet Loel, not yet.
Loel working a defensive guard here.
Loel is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rigano trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Loel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rigano stops Loel from standing up.
Rigano trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Loel working a defensive guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rigano shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Loel dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Yuri Loel's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rigano moves away from the strike by Loel.
Rigano defending well as Loel loads up on a big left hand.
Loel misses with a looping left.
Rigano is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Rigano shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Loel sprawls well. Loel wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rigano gets slowly back to his feet.
Rigano shoots in and drives through. Loel sprawls well.
Loel looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Loel throws a series of strikes that have Rigano backpedaling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rigano fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Loel tries a head kick but it misses.
Rigano fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Yuri Loel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Rigano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loel keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cliff Rigano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Loel slips a straight right by Rigano.
Loel misses with a double jab.
Rigano looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A left and a right from Loel both land. Nice combination.
Rigano with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Loel to score with a decent uppercut.
Loel lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Loel looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rigano looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rigano steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Loel. That one must have hurt.
Rigano tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Loel defends well and Rigano ends up having to push Loel into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
It appears Loel was looking to counter with a kick there.
Yuri Loel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rigano takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rigano takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rigano misses with an uppercut
and Loel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rigano takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Rigano misses with a looping left.
Loel lands a jab.
Rigano goes for a double leg but Loel avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Loel continues to drive forward.
Loel works Rigano's body with a nice hook.
That kick from Loel tenderised Rigano's leg. Rigano is trying to keep his angry face on.
Loel scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Loel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Loel throws a series of punches but Rigano avoids them all with ease.
Rigano now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Yuri Loel is winning the standup battle so far.
Loel throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rigano ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Loel moves away.
Rigano throws a right hand that misses
enabling Loel to counter with a crisp jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Loel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Loel, 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Yuri Loel!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Yuri Loel!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Yuri Loel!

Yuri Loel wins by unanimous decision!
A victorious Yuri Loel thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.