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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Harding (ranked 5407 p4p, 446 weight class) and Cliff Rigano (ranked 1105 p4p, 145 weight class). Cliff Rigano is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.
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| 188 cm
28
188 lbs
2 - 1 - 0 |
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188 cm
38
184 lbs
27 - 20 - 1 |
Good wrestling
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
2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daniel Harding!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
27 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Cliff Rigano!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harding ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rigano moves away.
Rigano closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rigano lands in his opponent's guard.
Rigano won't allow Harding to get back to his feet.
Harding has his feet on Rigano's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Harding throws a nice looking combination but Rigano bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
As Harding backs off Rigano throws a huge counter combo but Harding manages to avoid it all.
Rigano walks forward, straight into a front kick from Harding.
Harding misses the shot to the body.
Rigano swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rigano moves out of range of the strikes.
Harding stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Harding wants it to stay on the feet.
Harding was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We've been told by Harding's head coaches at Mary Gracies Jiu Jitsu that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Harding pushes Rigano away with a front kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rigano darts in looking for a takedown but Harding gets double underhooks and turns Rigano into the ropes.
Harding fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rigano.
Harding tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rigano was well out of range. Poor timing from Harding.
Harding swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rigano.
Harding explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Harding uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rigano.
Rigano tries to score a power double leg takedown but Harding sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rigano somewhat.
Daniel Harding has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Rigano.
Harding throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A countering left hand to the body from Rigano misses.
Harding throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Harding takes one to the side of the head.
It looks like Daniel Harding has been cut.
Rigano shoots in looking for a takedown. Harding tries to sprawl out of it but Rigano keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Harding manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rigano checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rigano throws a big counter head kick but Harding avoids it with no problem.
Harding lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Harding throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rigano on the side of the head.
Harding thumps Rigano with a low kick.
Harding feints and then cracks Rigano's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rigano down.
Harding waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rigano.
A little jabbing left from Rigano on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A good leg kick by Harding.
Harding jabbing away but nothing is landing.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rigano shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Harding sprawls well. Harding wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rigano gets slowly back to his feet.
Rigano tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Harding was well out of range. Poor timing from Rigano.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harding stuffs the takedown.
Harding lands a nice looking body kick.
Harding fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rigano has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rigano drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Harding misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Harding keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rigano has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Harding.
Rigano misses with a takedown attempt
and Harding counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harding connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Rigano walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Harding throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rigano chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Harding can pounce on him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Daniel Harding dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Daniel Harding's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Harding throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rigano shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Harding defends it nicely.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Harding, as that shot connected.
Rigano shoots in for a double leg but Harding sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Harding looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Harding dodges the punch combination from Rigano.
Harding misses with a body kick.
Rigano fails to land the takedown.
Daniel Harding has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Rigano.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harding cracks Rigano with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Harding is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rigano can do to turn this around?
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rigano crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Harding - the referee stops the clock and Rigano gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Harding. Rigano manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rigano on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rigano takes one to the side of the head.
Harding lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rigano shoots for a takedown but Harding saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rigano takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Harding gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Harding misses with a kick to the body.
A jab from Harding misses.
A punch lands to the side of Rigano 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rigano fails with a takedown attempt.
Harding swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Harding throws a leg kick which misses Rigano's front leg but catches the back leg as Rigano tries to avoid it.
Rigano scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Harding defending well as Rigano loads up on a big left hand.
A slapping leg kick lands for Harding.
Harding throws a half hearted mid kick.
Harding slaps away a takedown attempt from Rigano, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harding connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harding lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Harding fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rigano has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Harding scores with a nice body kick.
Rigano takes a kick to the side of the head.
Harding throws a body kick that misses.
Rigano looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rigano fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rigano on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Rigano shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Harding is looking to get back to is feet but Rigano passes into side control.
Harding pushes Rigano away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rigano gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Daniel Harding dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Daniel Harding's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Harding misses with a low kick.
A cross from Harding lands.
Rigano shoots in for a takedown but Harding shows good takedown defense.
Harding comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nice jab there from Harding.
Rigano fails with a takedown attempt.
Harding keeps Rigano at a distance using the push kick.
Harding connects with a leg kick. Rigano looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harding lands a leg kick that knocks Rigano off balance momentarily.
Harding digs a good body shot into Rigano's ribs.
Rigano changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Harding tries to avoid it but Rigano manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Harding to the ground. Harding escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A quick step to the side and Harding tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Daniel Harding has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Rigano.
Harding scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The crowd cheers as Harding lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rigano doesn't seem phased though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rigano moves out of range of the body kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Harding lands a head shot.
Cliff Rigano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rigano misses the jab.
Harding lands with a straight right. Rigano didn't see that one coming.
Harding fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Daniel Harding seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harding dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rigano. That did some damage!
Harding misses with a body shot.
Rigano looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rigano's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Harding scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rigano or perhaps it was just good defense by Harding, which made it look bad.
Rigano changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Harding tries to avoid it but Rigano manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Harding to the ground. Harding escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Harding.
Rigano shoots for a takedown but Harding saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rigano has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Harding.
Rigano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Harding throws a quick inside leg kick.
Harding scores with the left hand. Rigano knows he should have avoided that one.
Daniel Harding is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Harding throws a nice inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good leg kick by Harding there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Harding lands a head shot.
Harding buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harding throws a nice outside leg kick.
Harding fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rigano has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Harding moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Harding punishes Rigano's body with a nice straight punch.
Rigano misses the shot to the body.
Harding lands a nice looking body kick.
Harding connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Harding throws a nice outside leg kick.
Harding cracks Rigano with an open hand slap.
Rigano throws a hook to the side of Harding's head but Harding sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Harding lands a head kick!
Harding scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rigano doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harding cracks the inside of Rigano's front leg.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Harding, as that shot connected.
Rigano throws a jab when Harding was well out of range.
Rigano takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Harding showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Harding, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Daniel Harding!
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Daniel Harding!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Daniel Harding!
Daniel Harding wins by unanimous decision!
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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
83% |
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