PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tony Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nepobedimiy Udarnik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Rizzo
vs
Udarnik

195 cm
22
255 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Rivers Edge Nutrition
Deadly Clothing

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tony Rizzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nepobedimiy Udarnik!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Kavanagh and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Udarnik as he avoids it easily.

Udarnik moves into range and clinches up with Rizzo.
Rizzo is working for takedown but Udarnik is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rizzo throws a head punch that misses.
Udarnik tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Udarnik's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rizzo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Udarnik tries to avoid it but Rizzo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Udarnik to the ground. Udarnik escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Rizzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rizzo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Udarnik paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rizzo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Udarnik swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Udarnik drives through and clinches with Rizzo against the cage.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Udarnik has eaten all the pies!
Rizzo working hard to break the clinch.

Udarnik breaks from the clinch.

Udarnik has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short left from Udarnik.
Rizzo trying to stall but Udarnik improves his position.

Udarnik pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Udarnik tries to clinch but Rizzo moves away
and Rizzo counters with a left to the body.
Udarnik tries to clinch up

so Rizzo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Udarnik tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Udarnik is working an open guard so Rizzo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Udarnik closes the distance but Rizzo moves to the side
and Rizzo counters with a left and a right that stings Udarnik.
Rizzo shoots in looking for a takedown. Udarnik tries to sprawl out of it but Rizzo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Udarnik manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nepobedimiy Udarnik is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rizzo fails with a takedown attempt.
Rizzo is breathing heavily.
Udarnik looks to clinch

and Rizzo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Udarnik won't be happy with that.

Rizzo stands up and beckons Udarnik to his feet.
Udarnik clinches but Rizzo breaks the clinch

and Rizzo counters by moving into the clinch.
Rizzo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Udarnik smiles and moves away.
Udarnik tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Rizzo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Udarnik can do anything to dispel that myth.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Udarnik wriggles free and stands up.
Udarnik tries to clinch up

and Rizzo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rizzo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Udarnik doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rizzo.
Udarnik wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rizzo looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Udarnik is defending against the submission attempts here by Rizzo.

Rizzo is working for a kimura but Udarnik is defending it quite comfortably.

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.

Udarnik kicks off Rizzo and gets to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Udarnik tries a head kick but it misses.
Rizzo fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Rizzo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rizzo tries to pull guard but Udarnik won't allow it.
Rizzo wants a takedown.
Udarnik slows down the pace here.
Udarnik lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Udarnik.
Rizzo tries to pull guard but Udarnik won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Rizzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Udarnik using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Udarnik stalling the fight.

Udarnik breaks the clinch.
Udarnik tries to clinch there but Rizzo circles away.
Udarnik slaps away a takedown attempt from Rizzo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Udarnik as Rizzo shoots in.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rizzo keeps the fight on the outside.
Udarnik swats away the attempt to clinch by Rizzo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo swats away the attempt to clinch by Udarnik.
Udarnik tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Udarnik tries to clinch but Rizzo is having none of it.
Udarnik doesn't manage to clinch there - Rizzo circles away.
Udarnik tries to clinch but Rizzo moves out of range.
Rizzo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Udarnik swivels and escapes.
Udarnik looks to clinch
and Rizzo counters with a straight right hand.
Udarnik wants to clinch up but Rizzo keeps it at a distance.
A punch combination from Rizzo misses.

Udarnik closes the distance and clinches.
Udarnik avoiding damage.

Udarnik pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nepobedimiy Udarnik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rizzo fails with a takedown attempt.
Udarnik moves in looking to clinch but Rizzo pushes him off.

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.
Udarnik moves in looking to clinch but Rizzo pushes him off.
Udarnik fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tony Rizzo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rizzo keeps the fight on the outside.
Rizzo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Udarnik paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Udarnik tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rizzo paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Udarnik moves into the clinch.

Udarnik breaks the clinch.
Rizzo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Udarnik avoids it really well and circles away.
Udarnik tries a head kick but it misses.

Udarnik has closed the distance and engaged Rizzo in a clinch.
Udarnik will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rizzo up against the cage.
Udarnik lands a knee to the head.

Rizzo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Udarnik uses from the top position.
Rizzo trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Udarnik stopping the sweep attempt from Rizzo.

Rizzo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Rizzo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Udarnik defends well.
Udarnik preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rizzo trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Udarnik wants to stand and escape but instead Rizzo has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Rizzo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Udarnik dives on top into guard.
Udarnik preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nepobedimiy Udarnik showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Udarnik scores with a head kick.
Udarnik tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Udarnik gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rizzo tries to pull guard but Udarnik holds him up against the cage and eventually Rizzo drops back down to his feet.
Rizzo tries to circle away but Udarnik has him pinned against the cage.

Udarnik breaks the clinch.

Rizzo tries to keep at a distance but Udarnik has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Udarnik obliges.
Udarnik stops a takedown attempt from Rizzo.
Udarnik is struggling to control the position.

Udarnik manages to break the clinch.
Rizzo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Udarnik tries to avoid it but Rizzo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Udarnik to the ground. Udarnik escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Rizzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Udarnik tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rizzo counters with a shoot takedown. Udarnik fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rizzo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rizzo trying to control but Udarnik is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Udarnik wants to stand but Rizzo is controlling the position.
Rizzo chips away with some ground and pound.
Rizzo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Udarnik really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rizzo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Udarnik keeping full guard, as Rizzo tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rizzo wants to control from the top but Udarnik keeps moving.
Udarnik wants to stand up but Rizzo is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rizzo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Udarnik circles away.
Udarnik is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Udarnik tries to clinch but Rizzo is having none of it.
Udarnik moves in looking to clinch but Rizzo pushes him off.
Rizzo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Udarnik defends it nicely.
Udarnik fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Udarnik is looking to clinch but Rizzo is avoiding it.
Udarnik doesn't manage to clinch there - Rizzo circles away.

Udarnik clinches.
Rizzo fails to pull guard.
Udarnik is pressed up against the cage. Rizzo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Udarnik down to the mat. Udarnik avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rizzo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rizzo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Udarnik is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Udarnik tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Rizzo to counter with a crisp jab.
Rizzo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Udarnik's waist but Udarnik gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rizzo off to one side.

Udarnik drives through and clinches with Rizzo against the cage.

Udarnik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rizzo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Udarnik sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Udarnik moves in looking to clinch but Rizzo pushes him off.
Rizzo circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rizzo counters with a single leg into guard. Udarnik didn't expect that.
Udarnik can't keep his opponent in guard - Rizzo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Udarnik wants to control but Rizzo is keeping busy.

Rizzo is working for a submission of some sort.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tony Rizzo.
I think Rizzo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Rizzo!