PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Gelfen (ranked 1164 p4p, 136 weight class) and Ryan Riggs (ranked 1195 p4p, 140 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gelfen
vs
Riggs

195 cm
28
275 lbs
19 - 14 - 0

190 cm
32
286 lbs
18 - 10 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eddie Gelfen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ryan Riggs!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paul Aken and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Riggs scores with a takedown into Gelfen's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Riggs accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Riggs wants to control from the top but Gelfen keeps moving.
Gelfen throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Gelfen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Riggs.
Riggs throwing strikes but missing.
Riggs lands a couple of elbows.
Gelfen is trying to control the position but Riggs postures up.
Riggs is looking to advance position but Gelfen has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gelfen content just to control the position here.
Riggs tries to reverse the position but Gelfen maintains control.
Riggs felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Riggs manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gelfen prevents Riggs from improving his position.

Gelfen stands up from half guard.
Riggs connects with a looping right hand.
Riggs blocks a jab.
Gelfen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Riggss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

It looks like Ryan Riggs has been cut.
Gelfen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Riggs gets a takedown into half guard.
Riggs trying to mount his opponent but Gelfen defends it.
Riggs takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riggs is thwarting Gelfen's attempts to control the position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Riggs lands a nice short elbow.
Riggs is thwarting Gelfen's attempts to control the position.
Riggs throwing shots but Gelfen is blocking nicely.
Gelfen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Riggs scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gelfen trying to control but Riggs postures up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Riggs working the head and body with strikes.
Riggs prevents Gelfen from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gelfen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Riggs scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gelfen 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.
Riggs loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riggs with a nice head shot there.
Riggs is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Riggs trying to control but Gelfen is working from the bottom.
Riggs passes Gelfen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Riggs throws a strike but Gelfen avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Riggs cracks Gelfen with a solid left hand.
Riggs is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Riggs throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gelfen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Riggs cracks Gelfen with a solid left hand.
Riggs looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riggs lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gelfen is trying to control the position but Riggs postures up.
Riggs distracts Gelfen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gelfen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Riggs loads up on a big left hand. Gelfen felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Riggs looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Gelfen can't hide his disappointment, as Riggs celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ryan Riggs!