PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Saul Riggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Orzhov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Riggs
vs
Orzhov

162 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Saul Riggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Orzhov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riggs avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Riggs attempts a counter takedown but Orzhov avoids it well and moves away.
Riggs could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Orzhov closes the distance and pushes Riggs back into the cage.
Orzhov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Riggs.

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

Orzhov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Riggs sprawls well initially but Orzhov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Orzhov decides to stand and escape the position.
Riggs scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Orzhov doesn't seem bothered though.
Orzhov lands with a nice combination. Riggs backs away looking to recover.
Orzhov throws a body kick that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Riggs misses with a hook.
Orzhov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Riggs moves into the clinch successfully.
Orzhov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orzhov throws a combination that misses

and Riggs counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Orzhov kicks Riggs off and gets back to his feet.

Riggs has closed the distance and engaged Orzhov in a clinch.

Riggs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Orzhov tries for a takedown but Riggs circles away easily

and Riggs holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Riggs breaks from the clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Orzhov scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Riggs keeps the fight on the outside.

Riggs rushes Orzhov and presses him up against the cage.

Riggs pulls guard successfully.
Orzhov forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs manages to get to full guard.
Riggs wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riggs keeping full guard, as Orzhov tries to pass.
Orzhov slips nicely into half guard.
Riggs wants to improve his position but Orzhov is controlling well.
Riggs makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Riggs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orzhov distracts Riggs with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Orzhov trying to control but Riggs is working from the bottom.

Riggs uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Orzhov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Riggs's guard.
Orzhov distracts Riggs with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Riggs has his feet on Orzhov's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Riggs throws a body shot but no joy.
Orzhov wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orzhov lands a nice hook to Riggs's body. Riggs takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Orzhov throws a right and a left that Riggs avoids nicely.

Riggs shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Orzhov has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Riggs off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Orzhov shoots in for a takedown but Riggs shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Orzhov looks winded!
Orzhov throws the kick towards the body but Riggs avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yuri Orzhov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Riggs gets caught flat footed, as Orzhov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Orzhov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Riggs looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Orzhov wants to pass the guard but Riggs is keeping the position.
Riggs might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Orzhov landing with the ground and pound.
Riggs wants to improve his position but instead Orzhov has moved into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs is looking to escape.
Orzhov 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Riggs kicks off Orzhov and gets to his feet.
Orzhov fails to land the takedown.
Orzhov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Orzhov is breathing heavily.
Orzhov fails with the takedown
and Riggs counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Orzhov thinking.
Saul Riggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Orzhov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Orzhov back to the cage. Riggs follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Riggs pushes Orzhov up against the cage in a clinch.
Orzhov is trying to pull guard but Riggs turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Riggs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Orzhov fails with a takedown attempt.
Saul Riggs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Orzhov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Orzhov tries to keep at a distance but Riggs has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riggs is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Orzhov to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riggs has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Orzhov after a bit of a struggle.

Riggs's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Riggs swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Some wild striking there from Riggs.
Despite the aggression on Orzhov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Riggs slaps away a takedown attempt from Orzhov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Riggs throwing a counter right hand but Orzhov manages to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Riggs.

Orzhov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orzhov tries to pull guard but Riggs holds him up against the cage and eventually Orzhov drops back down to his feet.
Riggs jumps guard but Orzhov stands there with Riggs around his waist. Riggs gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Riggs throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Orzhov blocks it with crossed arms.
Riggs wants to break the clinch but can't.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Riggs throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Orzhovs head.
Orzhov lands a body punch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Orzhov keeps control of Riggs as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Orzhov has hold of one of Riggs's legs. Riggs is fighting the takedown attempt but Orzhov gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Riggs is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Orzhov dives into side control.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Riggs bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saul Riggs dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Orzhov shoots in for a double leg but Riggs sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Riggs looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Orzhov is fending him off so far but Riggs persists. Nope, Orzhov circles away and we're back to standing.
Riggs dives in for a single leg takedown but Orzhov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Orzhov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Orzhov looks for a takedown but Riggs sprawls well.
Riggs shoots in looking for a takedown. Orzhov tries to sprawl out of it but Riggs keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Orzhov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saul Riggs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Orzhov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Riggs tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Orzhov manages to circle out of the way.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riggs leaves Orzhov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Riggs has managed to clinch.
Riggs tries to pull guard but Orzhov won't allow it.
Riggs gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Orzhov.
Riggs is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Orzhov keeps control of Riggs as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Riggs looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two 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.
Riggs tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Orzhov's elbow.
Orzhov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Riggs fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Orzhov shoots and misses

and Riggs counters by clinching up.

Riggs manages to break the clinch.
Orzhov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Riggs misses with a body shot.
Orzhov steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Riggs.
No luck for Riggs with that takedown attempt.
No luck for Orzhov with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orzhov tries to clinch but Riggs moves out of range.
Orzhov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Orzhov lands with a nice body kick.
Orzhov moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Riggs will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Saul Riggs is winning the standup battle so far.
Riggs leaves Orzhov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orzhov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Yuri Orzhov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riggs showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Orzhov.
Orzhov with a poor takedown

and Riggs counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Riggs is trying to pull guard but Orzhov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Riggs lands a good knee to the midsection. Orzhov won't want to take too many of those.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Riggs tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Riggs working hard to break the clinch.

Riggs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Riggs rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Orzhov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saul Riggs showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Riggs 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saul Riggs!