PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jim Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Rigg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Franco
vs
Rigg

190 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jim Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, William Rigg!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Donatello Bradman and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco swats away the attempt to clinch by Rigg.
Rigg tries to work over Franco's front leg with a kick but Franco checks it.
Franco throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rigg.
Rigg looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Franco is fending him off so far but Rigg persists. Nope, Franco circles away and we're back to standing.

Rigg closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Franco to the mat! Franco manages to get full guard.
Franco seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Franco trying to control the position.
Franco looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rigg won't allow Franco to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigg is looking to work some ground and pound but Franco has wrist control.
Rigg tries to free his leg and advance position but Franco is retaining full guard.
Rigg working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Franco is adopting a defensive guard.
Franco wants to sweep here but Rigg controlling him for the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice sprawl there from Franco as Rigg shoots in.
Jim Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Rigg.
Rigg shoots in but no luck this time.
Rigg pivots, looking for a leg kick but Franco is out of range and Rigg settles back down.

Franco gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rigg to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Franco is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Franco has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rigg in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Franco keeping moving, preventing Rigg from controlling successfully.

Franco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rigg gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Franco tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rigg looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco keeping moving, preventing Rigg from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rigg postures up in Franco's guard and throws a big left but Franco blocks it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Franco tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rigg swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rigg throws a lazy right hand but Franco sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Franco shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Franco showed some decent athleticism there.
Franco is breathing heavily.
Franco wants to get back to his feet.
Rigg misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rigg manages to get to full guard.
Rigg wants to sweep here but Franco controlling him for the moment.
Rigg preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Franco postures up.
Franco trying to control the position from guard on top but Rigg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franco is really struggling to control Rigg but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Franco dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rigg throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Franco on the side of the head.

Rigg pushes Franco up against the cage in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Franco as Rigg tries to tie him up.

Franco manages to pull guard.
Rigg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Franco is keeping the position for now.
Franco keeping moving, preventing Rigg from controlling successfully.
Rigg is looking to advance position but Franco has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Rigg can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigg wants to control but Franco is having none of it.
Rigg regains half guard.
Franco is trying to control the action in half guard but Rigg is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rigg works his way to full guard. Good work.
Franco trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rigg manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rigg working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Franco's head.

Franco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rigg gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rigg showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rigg works over Franco with some ground and pound from guard.
Franco keeping moving, preventing Rigg from controlling successfully.
Rigg postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Franco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rigg missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rigg trying to control the position from guard on top but Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rigg thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Franco working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rigg shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Franco counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rigg is on top in guard.
Rigg lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Franco can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rigg controls the pace.
Franco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Franco keeping full guard, as Rigg tries to pass.
Rigg throwing strikes from guard but Franco blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rigg drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rigg jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rigg must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Franco has momentary wrist control but Rigg slips an elbow through the middle.
Rigg working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rigg won't allow Franco to sweep him here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rigg tries for a takedown but Franco sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rigg shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Franco counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Jim Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Rigg.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Franco is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jim Franco will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rigg closes this distance looking for a takedown but Franco circles away.

Rigg shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Franco keeping moving, preventing Rigg from controlling successfully.
Rigg stops Franco from standing up.
Franco 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.
Rigg slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Franco managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rigg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigg trying to control the action but Franco is working from the bottom.

Rigg looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Franco is trying to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rigg throws a big shot that misses.
Rigg misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Franco shoots in and drives through. Rigg sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rigg fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Franco avoids the body shot from Rigg.

Rigg looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rigg sitting in guard, not really doing much.
William Rigg has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rigg passes Franco's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rigg seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rigg is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rigg missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rigg trying to control from half guard but Franco is working away.
Franco taking some punishment here, with Rigg in his half guard.
Rigg sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Franco defending well though.
Rigg wants to pass to mount but Franco is defending the position.
Rigg trying to control from half guard but Franco is working away.
Franco wants to control but Rigg is keeping busy.
Franco tries to get to full guard but Rigg has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Franco gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Franco preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rigg throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Franco works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Franco keeping moving, preventing Rigg from controlling successfully.
Rigg working some strikes from top position.
Rigg makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rigg postures up.
William Rigg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rigg lands a couple of digs.
Jim Franco is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rigg works over Franco with some ground and pound from guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
William Rigg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Franco has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Franco!