PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Martin Riggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jessup Pike (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jessup Pike is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Riggs
vs
Pike

190 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

184 cm
23
160 lbs
3 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Martin Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Jessup Pike!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Daniel Bishop and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggs throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Pike shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pike with a flurry of punches that miss.
Riggs keeping moving, preventing Pike from controlling successfully.
Pike won't allow Riggs to get back to his feet.
Pike thows a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pike tries to free his leg and advance position but Riggs is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riggs is looking to stand up but Pike isn't so interested in that idea.
Pike wants to control from the top but Riggs keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pike tries to free his leg and advance position but Riggs is retaining full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Riggs connects with a solid leg kick.
Riggs throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Martin Riggs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riggs connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Pike's hands.
Good work by Pike as he checks the leg kick.
Pike walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Riggs really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Pike avoids the head kick by Riggs.
Pike misses with a jab, cross combination.
A head kick misses from Riggs.
Riggs takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pike ducks right into an uppercut from Riggs.
Riggs looks to land a body kick but Pike moved away.
Riggs throws out a loose jab but Pike uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pike blocks a jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Riggs is looking to break free of the clinch but Pike has double underhooks.
Riggs wants to get back to striking at distance but Pike won't allow it.
Riggs is looking to break free of the clinch but Pike has double underhooks.
Pike stalling.
Riggs has had enough of the clinch but Pike keeps him there for the moment.

Pike pulls Riggs into guard.

Pike has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Riggs can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Riggs would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Riggs is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pike throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Pike is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pike has a closed guard, preventing Riggs from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Pike is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Riggs is looking to stand up but Pike won't let him.
Pike 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.

Pike escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Riggs gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Good standup being displayed there by Riggs as he connects with a hook.
Riggs misses with a head kick.
Riggs pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pike slips under a jab from Riggs.
Riggs throws a low kick but it's checked well by Pike.
Riggs throws the kick towards the body but Pike avoids it.
Pike moves away from the strike by Riggs.
Martin Riggs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pike connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Pike takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Riggs throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pike blocks a jab.
Pike scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pike avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Riggs throws a leg kick

and Pike decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Riggs's guard.
Riggs wants to stand up but Pike is controlling him.
Pike trying to control the position from guard on top but Riggs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pike is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Riggs is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Riggs has escaped and now he's on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pike wants to sweep but no luck.
Pike wants to stand and escape but Riggs is having none of it.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riggs decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Pike slips under a jab from Riggs.
Riggs throws a hook but Pike avoids it easily.
Riggs keeps Pike at a distance using the push kick.
Pike walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Riggs jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Riggs scores with a jab to the jaw.
Pike moves out of range as Riggs strikes.
Riggs throws a looping overhand right but Pike ducks down to avoid it.

Pike forces Riggs back against the cage and clinches.
Pike trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs has had enough of the clinch but Pike keeps him there for the moment.
Pike has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Riggs is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Riggs is trying to break the clinch but Pike has him pressed against the cage.
Riggs wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pike tries for a takedown. No joy.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Riggs is looking to break free of the clinch but Pike has double underhooks.

Pike gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Pike seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Riggs does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Pike is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Riggs still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Riggs has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
You can see the frustration on Pike's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jessup Pike showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Riggs tries a head kick but it misses.
Riggs throws a head kick that misses.

Pike clinches with his opponent.
Pike keeps control of Riggs as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Riggs letting Pike take a breather here.
Riggs wants to break free but Pike has control.
Riggs wants to break the clinch but can't.
Riggs is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Riggs wants to break free but Pike has control.
Riggs wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pike has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pike tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Riggs wants to break the clinch but can't.

Pike gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

Riggs makes his way to full guard, as Pike worked for a kimura.
Pike thows a big elbow that misses.

Riggs manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pike takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Pike ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Riggs throws a hook but Pike blocks it.
Pike misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A jab from Riggs misses.
A combination from Riggs does no damage.

Pike moves into range and clinches up with Riggs.
Pike stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Riggs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Riggs throws a head kick that misses

and Pike counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Riggs wants to get back to striking at distance but Pike won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pike's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Riggs is trying to break the clinch but Pike has him pressed against the cage.
Riggs wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pike controlling the action here for a moment.
Riggs is trying to break free.
Pike prevents Riggs from breaking the clinch.
Pike displaying some good clinch control by pressing Riggs up against the cage.
Riggs tries to break the clinch but Pike is controlling the position.
Pike softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Riggs wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pike has him pressed against the cage.
Riggs has had enough of the clinch but Pike keeps him there for the moment.
Riggs can't break the clinch.
Riggs is trying to break the clinch but Pike has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Pike successfully pulls guard.
Riggs wanted to stand there but Pike had control of the position.

Pike working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Riggs doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Riggs manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pike trying to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jessup Pike comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pike 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jessup Pike!