PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Bridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Rigs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Bridge
vs
Rigs

175 cm
19
185 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

190 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Bridge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Kyle Rigs!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rigs stuffs the takedown.
Bridge changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rigs tries to avoid it but Bridge manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rigs to the ground. Rigs escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bridge.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Bridge. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bridge has Rigs up against the cage in a clinch.
Rigs wants to break free but Bridge has control.
Rigs tries to break the clinch but Bridge is controlling the position.
Bridge tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bridge is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bridge looking for a takedown.
Still in the clinch, Rigs scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rigs stalling in the clinch.
Bridge drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rigs gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bridge on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rigs landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bridge is breathing heavily.
Rigs comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like John Bridge has been cut.

Rigs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rigs is pressed up against the cage. Bridge has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rigs down to the mat. Rigs avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rigs throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
John Bridge seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rigs forces Bridge back against the cage and clinches.
Rigs prevents the takedown attempt.
Rigs is trying to break free.
Rigs prevents the takedown attempt.

Rigs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rigs closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridge prevents Rigs from breaking the clinch.
Rigs leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rigs connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bridge's face.
Rigs scores with a shot to the side of Bridge's head.
Rigs lands a damaging elbow.
A knee to the head by Rigs.
Rigs crunches a lovely knee into Bridge's ribcage.
Rigs connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bridge's face.
Rigs connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bridge's face.

Rigs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rigs has Bridge up against the cage in a clinch.

Rigs breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rigs moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Rigs clinches with his opponent.
Rigs will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Bridge up against the cage.
Rigs gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bridge.

Rigs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bridge has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Rigs closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rigs looking to throw knees to the head but Bridge is blocking nicely.
Rigs lands a shot to the body.
Bridge goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rigs prevents it.
Rigs landing knees to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Rigs.
Bridge wants a takedown.
A bit of stalling here from Rigs.
Rigs misses with a knee to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Rigs.
Rigs wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Rigs manages to break the clinch.
Rigs tries to clinch but Bridge moves out of range.

Rigs instigates a clinch.
Rigs gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bridge.
Rigs stops a takedown attempt from Bridge.

Rigs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bridge shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rigs but Rigs pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bridge shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rigs as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rigs circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bridge fails to land the takedown.
Bridge fails to land the takedown.
Bridge tries for a takedown but Rigs sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rigs lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Bridge tries to move into range but Rigs moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bridge looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rigs is fending him off so far but Bridge persists. Nope, Rigs circles away and we're back to standing.

Bridge shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bridge showed some decent athleticism there.
Bridge slips a nice elbow through Rigs's hands, connecting with Rigs's forehead.
Rigs really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bridge. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Bridge is working for a submission of some sort.
Bridge uses his free foot to push down on Rigs's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rigs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridge lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Bridge fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Bridge misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bridge postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rigs looks a forlorn figure.
Rigs is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Rigs dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Bridge's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rigs throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Bridge.
Bridge fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bridge shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rigs as he avoids it easily.
Bridge fails to land the takedown.
Rigs looks to land a combination. Bridge sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rigs throws a nice inside leg kick.
Bridge shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rigs as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Bridge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rigs throws a one two combo.
Rigs lands with a slapping head kick.
Rigs connects with a high kick.
Rigs pushes Bridge away with a front kick.
Rigs scores with a one two! Bridge had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rigs lands a nice looking body shot.
Rigs closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rigs lands a body shot.
Bridge dodges the punch combination from Rigs.
Nice sprawl there from Rigs as Bridge shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rigs rushes Bridge and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bridge is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rigs prevents the takedown attempt.
Rigs is trying to break free.
Rigs stops a takedown attempt from Bridge.
Rigs tries a knee to the head but Bridge blocks it.

Rigs manages to break the clinch.
Bridge closes the distance and clinches up with Rigs, looking for a takedown. Bridge pushes Rigs against the cage but Rigs circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Rigs gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Bridge is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rigs is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rigs has escaped and now he's on top!

Bridge had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rigs is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Bridge Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rigs's back instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bridge is persistently looking for the submission but Rigs is defending it well.
Bridge punches the canvas rather than the man.

Bridge is persistently looking for the submission but Rigs is defending it well.
Rigs has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rigs showing good submission defense here.
Bridge missing with strikes.
Bridge struggling to land strikes to the head as Rigs covers up.
Rigs trying to get back to his feet but Bridge is in full control for now.
Rigs covering up well and avoiding damage.

Bridge is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rigs is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Bridge is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bridge lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
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 John Bridge will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Bridge's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Bridge shoots in and drives through. Rigs sprawls well.
Bridge shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rigs as he jumps to the side.
Rigs tries to clinch there but Bridge circles away.
Bridge tries for a takedown but Rigs sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Bridge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bridge on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rigs lands a jab-cross combination.
Rigs lands a two punch combo.
Bridge moves forwards but Rigs connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Rigs has managed to clinch.
Rigs with a knee to the head.
Rigs tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Rigs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rigs with a nice cross.
Bridge fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rigs lets loose with a powerful body kick. Bridge will feel that in the morning.
Rigs moves in looking to clinch but Bridge pushes him off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bridge shoots in but Rigs avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rigs thuds his right hand into Bridge's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridge shoots in but no luck this time.
Bridge shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rigs closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rigs lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rigs with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bridge has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rigs is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rigs with a knee to the head.
Rigs is pressed up against the cage. Bridge has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rigs down to the mat. Rigs avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bridge fails with a takedown attempt.
Bridge shoots in but no luck this time.

Bridge feints and as Rigs raises his hands in defense, Bridge changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bridge in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bridge might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rigs is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rigs is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bridge is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridge preventing the sweep.
Bridge throwing strikes from guard but Rigs blocks nicely.
Bridge with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rigs utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bridge trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bridge shoots in for a double leg but Rigs sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rigs scores with a shot to the body.
Rigs scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kyle Rigs is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bridge fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bridge looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Bridge shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Bridge goes for an armbar but Rigs turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Rigs.
Bridge striking off his back but it's not causing Rigs any problems.

Bridge is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rigs has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bridge is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridge will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Bridge is working for the choke. He's slipped one arm under the chin. Rigs has to defend the other arm for all he's worth... but Bridge has managed to get that arm free too and he's tightening the choke! Rigs taps out and looks absolutely disgusted with himself. Bridge doesn't care though - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). John Bridge!