ROUND ONE:

Like we said in the pre-fight if Rivera loses he says he’ll retire. Riddle making his pro debut tonight. Fighters exchange some tentative punches in the middle before Rivera bulls Riddle to the fence and throws in some hard knees. Rivera now has a good grip on Riddle’s head–not sure if he’s trying to work a choke or just laying in some knees. Riddle gets a punch in but Rivera scoring well with the clinch. Riddle now responding with some knees. Rivera has been busier but Riddle looks no worse for wear. Big knee by Riddle. Herb Dean is moving them out to the middle and they’ll start over. A couple of big wild left hands for Rivera partially connect but again no real damage done. Both guys look pretty sloppy, like they don’t have any kind of strategy. Riddle and Rivera exchanging knees. Short right hand by Riddle. Riddle tries for a takedown but no luck. Riddle finally gets a takedown which may have given him the round. Tough one to call. We’ll go with Riddle 10-9

ROUND TWO:

More of the same so far in round one, now a big exchange of punches with Rivera getting the better of it. Back against the fence now and Rivera looking for a takedown. Rivera with some knees, Riddle responds in kind. Nothing really going on with Rivera trying for a takedown, Riddle blocking and the two fighters throwing knees here and there. Fighters move back to the middle, Rivera throws a big overhand left that misses. Takedown by Riddle, full mount by Riddle who throws in a few punches. Rivera reverses after a bungled armbar attempt. Rivera trying to pass guard, throwing in some punches here and there. Riddle grabs an arm and tries to set up the arm bar again as the round draws to a close. Another close round, we’ll give it to Riddle 10-9 putting him up on the SavSci scorecard 20-18. Of course with two very close rounds it could be 20-18 Rivera on the judges cards.

ROUND THREE:

Back to work with a short striking exchange that Rivera appears to want to avoid. Big right hand by Riddle followed by a knee that seems to do some damage. Rivera still trying to pull off a takedown but Riddle blocking. Riddle with a knee to the body followed by a big takedown. Riddle trying to pass guard. Rivera trying to work the rubber guard but Joe Rogan notes he’s doing it incorrectly. Now he’s getting it a little better–still no Shinya Aoki but he’s trying to work an omoplata but nothing doing. Big forearm/elbow by Riddle. Fighters back to their feet, no real action as Rivera looking for the takedown but Riddle reserves and gets inside Rivera’s guard. Rivera tries the rubber guard again but Herb Dean is going to stand them up with just under a minute left. Rivera misses with a big left and Riddle gets another takedown and now has full mount with 20 seconds left. He throws in some punches as the fight draws to a close. SavSci scorecard is 30-27 Riddle. Decision coming up…

MATT RIDDLE WINS BY UNANIMOUS DECISION

Judges go 30-27, 30-27, 29-28. Riddle has the sort of look that could make him a star with a red ‘heat miser’ type haircut and an engaging personality. Sort of a thinking man’s Chris Leben with better technical skills and conditioning. Rivera says after the fight that he’s not retiring.