PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tuan Riley (ranked 24535 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roger Rigidy (ranked 5318 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Riley
vs
Rigidy

180 cm
19
214 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

195 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Tuan Riley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Roger Rigidy!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Ben Hemmingworth and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riley fails with an attempt to clinch.

Rigidy darts in and clinches Riley up against the cage.

Rigidy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rigidy misses with a head kick.
Rigidy scores with a one two! Riley had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Tuan Riley's cut is getting worse.
Rigidy misses with a takedown attempt - Riley sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Roger Rigidy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riley is looking to clinch but Rigidy is avoiding it.
Rigidy feints the counter takedown.
Rigidy moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Riley could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Riley tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rigidy paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Riley fails with an attempt to clinch.
Riley stuffs the takedown.
Riley tries to counter with a takedown but Rigidy is quick to defend against it.
Rigidy with a lazy takedown attempt

and Riley decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rigidy's guard.
Tuan Riley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roger Rigidy.
Rigidy looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigidy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Riley trying to control but Rigidy is working from the bottom.
Riley wants to stand but Rigidy is controlling his posture from full guard.
Riley trying to control but Rigidy is working from the bottom.
Rigidy tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
Riley wants to get up but he can't break Rigidy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rigidy looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rigidy misses with a takedown attempt
and Riley counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Riley closes the distance and clinches.
Rigidy wants a takedown but no success here.

Riley pulls Rigidy into guard.
My spies in Cozad MMA Sydney inform me that Rigidy has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Rigidy throws a strike but Riley rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rigidy pushes Riley off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Riley tries to close the distance and clinch but Rigidy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley throws a right hand that Rigidy ducks under and follows up with a left that Rigidy also avoids with ease.
Riley tries to clinch there but Rigidy circles away.
Rigidy looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Riley tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rigidy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Rigidy rushes Riley and presses him up against the cage.

Riley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Riley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tuan Riley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rigidy swats away the attempt to clinch by Riley.
Rigidy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rigidy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rigidy keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rigidy shoots for a takedown but Riley saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rigidy showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Riley.
Riley tries to close the distance and clinch but Rigidy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rigidy wants to clinch.
Riley half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Riley closes the distance but Rigidy moves to the side

and Rigidy counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Riley!
Riley tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Riley is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roger Rigidy will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tuan Riley's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Riley is looking to clinch but Rigidy is avoiding it.
Riley moves in looking to clinch but Rigidy pushes him off.

Rigidy has managed to clinch.

Rigidy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rigidy keeps the fight on the outside.
Riley wants to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rigidy! But no joy.
Roger Rigidy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riley fails with an attempt to clinch.
Riley displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rigidy.

Rigidy drives through and clinches with Riley against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigidy fails to pull guard.
Rigidy is breathing heavily.

Rigidy pulls guard successfully.
Rigidy wants to stand up but Riley is controlling him.
Roger Rigidy has got the better of the ground game so far.

Rigidy is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Riley wants to get up but he can't break Rigidy's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rigidy controls Riley momentarily but Riley frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rigidy strikes from his own guard.
Riley throwing strikes from guard but Rigidy blocks nicely.
Rigidy seems keen to control Riley's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Riley has closed the distance and engaged Rigidy in a clinch.
Rigidy is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Riley gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Tuan Riley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roger Rigidy.
Rigidy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Riley has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rigidy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rigidy avoids the elbow strike from Riley, against the cage.
Rigidy drops down looking for an ankle pick but Riley pulls his leg out and moves away.
Riley tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rigidy paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Riley fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rigidy misses with a looping left.
Rigidy keeps the fight on the outside.
Rigidy throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rigidy fails to land the takedown.
Riley tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rigidy paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley tries to clinch but Rigidy is having none of it.
Riley tries to clinch up but Rigidy circles away and keeps his distance.
Riley is looking to clinch but Rigidy is avoiding it.
Riley tries to clinch but Rigidy moves out of range.
Rigidy is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Riley throws a series of strikes that have Rigidy backpedaling.
Rigidy tries for a takedown but Riley circles away easily

and Riley counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Riley.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riley wants to control from the top but Rigidy keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Riley has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rigidy is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Roger Rigidy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tuan Riley's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Riley tries to clinch there but Rigidy circles away.

Rigidy pushes Riley up against the cage in a clinch.
Riley goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rigidy prevents it.

Rigidy breaks the clinch.
Riley tries to close the distance and clinch but Rigidy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Rigidy clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rigidy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Riley dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Rigidy jumps guard and drags Riley to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Rigidy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigidy wants to stand but Riley is controlling the position.
Riley has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rigidy is proving hard to escape from.
Riley wants to control from the top but Rigidy keeps moving.
Rigidy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Riley manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Riley is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Riley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rigidy.
Riley is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rigidy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Riley tries to clinch but Rigidy moves out of range.
Riley will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rigidy tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rigidy swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rigidy tries to keep at a distance but Riley has taken the fight into the clinch.

Rigidy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rigidy keeps the fight on the outside.
Sloppy strikes from Rigidy. Those never looked like landing.
Riley tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rigidy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Riley has managed to clinch.
Rigidy can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rigidy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Riley tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rigidy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rigidy drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Riley defends it well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Riley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rigidy misses the shot to the body.
Rigidy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Riley tries to clinch but Rigidy moves out of range.
Riley is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tuan Riley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roger Rigidy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Riley leaves Rigidy with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roger Rigidy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rigidy 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roger Rigidy!