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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Luther (ranked 1268 p4p, 197 weight class) and Cliff Rigano (ranked 2657 p4p, 388 weight class). Cliff Rigano acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.
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| 182 cm
31
185 lbs
14 - 5 - 0 |
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188 cm
30
184 lbs
13 - 6 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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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
14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Luther!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Cliff Rigano!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luther fails with an attempt to clinch.
Luther fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rigano takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Luther is looking to clinch.
Rigano has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Luther gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Rigano.
Luther shoots in but no luck this time.
Luther fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Luther swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
John Luther seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rigano misses with a lunging right hand
and Luther counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Luther stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Luther wants it to stay on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Luther looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luther throws a body punch but Rigano moves out of range.
A left lands for Rigano.
Rigano avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Luther has closed the distance and engaged Rigano in a clinch.
Luther throws a head punch that misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Luther misses with a body punch.
Luther lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Luther misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rigano lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Luther or not.
Rigano creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Luther's defenses.
Luther lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rigano taking a breather.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Luther.
Luther lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rigano backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rigano creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Luther fails to land.
Luther prevents the takedown attempt.
Luther misses with a punch on the inside.
Rigano keeps control of Luther as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Luther looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rigano comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
It looks like John Luther has been cut.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luther managing to block the knees to the body from Rigano.
Rigano has a couple of punches blocked by Luther.
Luther swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rigano landing some nice looking knees to the body.
We've been hearing reports that Luther has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rigano lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rigano lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rigano throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Luther has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rigano avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rigano misses with a short punch on the inside.
Luther misses with some punches.
Rigano misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Luther.
Rigano is trying to trip Luther. He has hold of a leg but Luther is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Rigano persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luther has his hands on Rigano's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rigano content to stall in guard here.
It looks like Rigano might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luther looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rigano scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rigano scoring with some ground and pound.
Rigano seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rigano has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Luther is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rigano trying to control but Luther is working from the bottom.
Luther looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rigano passes Luther's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rigano is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rigano trying to control from half guard but Luther is working away.
Luther is trying to get back to full guard.
Rigano trying to mount his opponent but Luther defends it.
Rigano seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Cliff Rigano dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Luther's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Rigano drops his hands momentarily and Luther takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rigano tests Luther's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Luther throws a shot from downtown. Rigano moves away and avoids it.
A big left from Rigano misses.
Luther drops his hands momentarily and Rigano takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Cliff Rigano seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Luther is looking to clinch.
Luther takes one on the button.
Luther fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rigano avoids it really well and circles away.
Rigano throws out a counter right but Luther avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luther fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rigano throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Luther on the side of the head.
Luther tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rigano throws a jab when Luther was well out of range.
Luther tries to clinch but Rigano is having none of it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Luther tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rigano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Luther misses with a low kick.
Rigano scores with a crisp jab that stopped Luther in his tracks.
Rigano has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Luther tries to clinch but Rigano is having none of it.
Luther gets caught flat footed, as Rigano shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rigano throwing strikes but missing.
Rigano postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Luther keeping moving, preventing Rigano from controlling successfully.
Rigano trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rigano got a little sloppy there for a moment and Luther has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rigano has managed to get both his arms back between Luther's legs - danger averted.
Rigano tries to free his leg and advance position but Luther is retaining full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luther looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rigano has picked Luther up and slammed him! Luther can't keep hold of the triangle and Rigano manages to pass to side control!
Luther manages to get back to half guard.
Luther trying to hold on to Rigano's head to control him but Rigano postures up.
Rigano tries to pass the half guard into mount. Luther knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rigano looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Luther is looking to improve his position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luther trying to control here.
Luther won't allow Rigano to pass to mount.
Luther is staying active underneath Rigano, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Luther wants to improve his position but Rigano is controlling well.
Luther regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rigano controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Luther seems keen to control Rigano's posture.
Cliff Rigano has got the better of the ground game so far.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Luther has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rigano is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Luther.
Luther is looking to regain half guard here but Rigano keeps moving and retains side control.
Luther is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Rigano off and has taken his back!
Rigano fending off the submission attempt from Luther.
Luther has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Cliff Rigano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Luther's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!
Rigano connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Rigano throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Luther's waist but Luther gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rigano off to one side.
Luther tries to clinch there but Rigano circles away.
Luther tries to close the distance and clinch but Rigano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Luther tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rigano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rigano looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rigano lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Rigano swats away the attempt to clinch by Luther.
Rigano might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Rigano fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luther tries to clinch up but Rigano circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice sprawl there from Luther as Rigano shoots in.
It looked like Luther was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Rigano.
Luther moves in looking to clinch but Rigano pushes him off.
Luther lands a glancing blow to the side of Rigano's head.
Luther walks into a straight right hand from Rigano.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Luther takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Luther fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rigano throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Luther stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Luther tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rigano manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rigano misses with the combination.
Luther tries to close the distance and clinch but Rigano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Luther doesn't manage to clinch there - Rigano circles away.
A little jabbing left from Rigano on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rigano lands with a nice combination. Luther backs away looking to recover.
Rigano scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Rigano is looking to land body kicks.
Luther wants to clinch up but Rigano keeps it at a distance.
Luther ducks right into an uppercut from Rigano.
Rigano moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Luther tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Luther tries to clinch up.
Rigano punishes Luther's body with a nice straight punch.
Rigano blocks a jab.
Luther tries to clinch there but Rigano circles away.
Rigano throws out a powerful jab.
Luther is looking to clinch.
Luther is looking to clinch but Rigano is avoiding it.
Luther fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rigano ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Luther moves away.
Rigano stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
John Luther is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rigano circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rigano looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Luther slips under a jab from Rigano.
Luther lands with a right hand.
Rigano lands a jab.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luther shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rigano pinned against the cage. Rigano gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rigano goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Luther tries to clinch up but Rigano circles away and keeps his distance.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rigano! But no joy.
Rigano listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Luther thows a left - swing and a miss!
Luther scores with a shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Luther looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Luther doesn't manage to clinch there - Rigano circles away.
A punch lands to the side of Luther 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rigano works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Luther rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rigano moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luther tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rigano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Luther tries to clinch but Rigano is having none of it.
Rigano throws out a counter right but Luther avoids it with no problem.
Rigano keeps the fight on the outside.
Rigano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Luther.
Luther misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rigano throws a body shot but no joy.
Rigano scores with a nice right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rigano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Luther was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Rigano doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rigano cracks Luther with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
John Luther has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Luther clinches up with Rigano and pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Luther's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rigano gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Luther.
A left hand lands to the body for Luther.
And that's the end of the fight!
Cliff Rigano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rigano has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cliff Rigano!
A relieved looking Cliff Rigano thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
49% |
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