PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Koscheck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Koscheck
vs
Rizzo

200 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aaron Koscheck!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Antonio Rizzo!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizzo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Koscheck closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rizzo is trying to get back to full guard.
Koscheck takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Koscheck decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Rizzo has his takedown stuffed

and Koscheck counters with a single leg into guard. Rizzo didn't expect that.
Koscheck looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rizzo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo is pulling down on Koscheck's head. It's preventing any offense from Koscheck, at least for the moment.
Koscheck showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rizzo keeping moving, preventing Koscheck from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rizzo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Koscheck!
Koscheck is squirming around, avoiding Rizzo's attempts to control the action.
Rizzo content just to control the position here.
Rizzo trying to control but Koscheck is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo controlling the pace for now.
Koscheck is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Koscheck on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Koscheck tries to get out of the position.
Koscheck manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rizzo tries to stand and escape but Koscheck is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Koscheck manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Rizzo misses with a takedown

and Koscheck counters with a takedown into side control.
Aaron Koscheck has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Rizzo.
Rizzo wants to control but Koscheck postures up.
Koscheck throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Koscheck wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rizzo keeps working.
Koscheck controlling from side mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rizzo is looking to regain half guard here but Koscheck keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Koscheck dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Koscheck fails with a takedown attempt.
Rizzo misses with a takedown attempt

and Koscheck counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rizzo's guard now.
Koscheck is fighting to break Rizzo's control of his arms but Rizzo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Rizzo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Koscheck is one step ahead there.
Koscheck trying to control the position from guard on top but Rizzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rizzo has Koscheck pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koscheck trying to control but Rizzo is working from the bottom.
Koscheck looking to sit in guard and control but Rizzo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Koscheck striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Rizzo thows a big elbow that misses.

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 stands up and waves to Koscheck to follow him.
Rizzo with a poor takedown

and Koscheck decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rizzo's guard.
Koscheck trying to control the position from guard on top but Rizzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rizzo managing to control the position.
Koscheck wants to control from the top but Rizzo keeps moving.
Rizzo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rizzo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koscheck pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rizzo is keeping the position for now.
Rizzo wants to sweep here but Koscheck controlling him for the moment.
Koscheck wants to control from the top but Rizzo keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rizzo has his takedown stuffed

and Koscheck counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Koscheck.
Aaron Koscheck has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Rizzo.
Koscheck sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rizzo has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rizzo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Koscheck is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koscheck looking to pass the guard.
Rizzo looking for a sweep. Not yet Rizzo, not yet.
Rizzo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Koscheck tries to hold on but Rizzo postures up.
Rizzo throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Koscheck dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rizzo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Koscheck decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rizzo's guard.
Koscheck passes Rizzo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rizzo wants to improve his position but Koscheck is controlling well.
Rizzo wants to get back to full guard but Koscheck has mounted him!
Koscheck content just to control the position here.
Koscheck wants to control the pace but Rizzo is squirming around nicely.
Aaron Koscheck overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo is looking to improve his position but Koscheck isn't that keen on the idea.
Koscheck controlling from mount.
Koscheck pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Koscheck content just to control the position here.
Antonio Rizzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rizzo wants to hold on but Koscheck pushes him away.
Rizzo regains half guard.
Koscheck is trying to control the action in half guard but Rizzo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rizzo moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo wants to get back to his feet but Koscheck is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rizzo wants to sweep here but Koscheck controlling him for the moment.
Rizzo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Koscheck looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Aaron Koscheck just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Rizzo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rizzo lands in his opponent's guard.
Rizzo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Koscheck is trying to keep Rizzo in close.
Aaron Koscheck is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rizzo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Koscheck works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Koscheck showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Koscheck has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Koscheck!