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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Makana Berzebal (ranked 2828 p4p, 3515 weight class) and Frank Rizzo (ranked 233 p4p, 284 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
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| 170 cm
27
150
5 - 5 - 0 |
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172 cm
20
149
3 - 1 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Makana Berzebal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Frank Rizzo!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Joseph Jones and Russell Pearce.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizzo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Berzebal.
Rizzo throws a leg kick but Berzebal checks it.
Rizzo sizes up Berzebal with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rizzo throws a chopping leg kick but Berzebal manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Berzebal gets a double leg takedown into Rizzo's guard.
Berzebal advances to half guard.
Berzebal seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Berzebal seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rizzo for as long as he can get away with.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rizzo is looking to control Berzebal's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rizzo avoid being mounted?
Berzebal tries to pass to full mount but Rizzo defends it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo trying to control but Berzebal postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Berzebal is trying to control. Rizzo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rizzo trying to control from the bottom.
Rizzo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Berzebal pulls his head out easily.
Rizzo trying to hold on to Berzebal's head to control him but Berzebal postures up.
Rizzo is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Berzebal is staying active.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Berzebal tries to clinch but Rizzo is having none of it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rizzo scores with a hook.
Rizzo pushes Berzebal up against the cage in a clinch.
Berzebal is trying to pull guard but Rizzo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Berzebal is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rizzo to keep the fight standing.
Rizzo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
It looks like Makana Berzebal has been cut.
Berzebal makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Berzebal is looking to break free of the clinch but Rizzo has double underhooks.
Berzebal has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rizzo after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Makana Berzebal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rizzo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Berzebal.
Berzebal tries for a takedown. No joy.
Berzebal tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rizzo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rizzo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rizzo.
Berzebal tries to score a body lock takedown but Rizzo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Berzebal gets control of Rizzo's arms and successfully pulls guard. Berzebal will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Berzebal working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rizzo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rizzo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Berzebal is breathing heavily.
Berzebal keeping full guard, as Rizzo tries to pass.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berzebal has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rizzo's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rizzo looking to pass the guard.
Berzebal tries to land a sweep but no joy.
That's four 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.
Rizzo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rizzo trying to control but Berzebal is working from the bottom.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rizzo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rizzo connects with a leg kick.
Berzebal walks into a left hand.
Nice takedown defense from Rizzo. No joy for Berzebal on that attempt.
Rizzo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rizzo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Berzebal has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rizzo is looking to slow Berzebal down with leg kicks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Berzebal changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rizzo tries to avoid it but Berzebal manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rizzo to the ground. Rizzo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rizzo only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Rizzo's jab looks to have found its range, popping Berzebal under the eye.
Rizzo tries to clinch up but Berzebal circles away and keeps his distance.
Rizzo throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Frank Rizzo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Makana Berzebal's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!
A chopping leg kick lands by Rizzo.
Berzebal darts in looking for a takedown but Rizzo gets double underhooks and turns Berzebal into the cage.
Rizzo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Berzebal has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rizzo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rizzo pushes off an throws an elbow but Berzebal leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rizzo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
I was talking to Berzebal's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Berzebal is looking to break free of the clinch but Rizzo has double underhooks.
Knees to the body from Rizzo.
Rizzo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rizzo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rizzo lands an elbow just above Berzebal 's eye.
Rizzo lands a nice elbow.
Rizzo presses Berzebal against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rizzo lands a nice knee to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rizzo.
Rizzo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rizzo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rizzo.
Makana Berzebal's cut is getting worse.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo lands an elbow inside that Berzebal shrugs off.
Rizzo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Nice elbow from Rizzo.
Rizzo lands an elbow inside that Berzebal shrugs off.
Makana Berzebal's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Rizzo lands an elbow that stopped Berzebal in his tracks for a moment.
The referee calls the doctor in to look at Makana Berzebal's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Frank Rizzo!
After winning the bout, Frank Rizzo thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
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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
32% |
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