PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Rolston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rizzo's choice of entrance music: .. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Rolston
vs
Rizzo

194 cm
24
215 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

190 cm
29
209 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Charlie Wang's Nutrition and 95 % Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Rolston!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mauricio Rizzo!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizzo throws a push kick but Rolston slaps the foot to one side.
Rolston misses with the combination.
Rolston misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rolston avoids the body shot from Rizzo.
Rizzo throws a leg kick but Rolston sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rolston tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rizzo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rolston takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rizzo throws a low kick, looking for Rolston's leg but Rolston calmly moves out of range.
Rizzo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rolston tries to avoid it but Rizzo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rolston to the ground. Rolston escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rizzo lands a nice looking body shot.
Rolston fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rolston misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab from Rolston.
Rizzo blocks a low kick nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rizzo.
Rolston misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rizzo punishes Rolston's body with a nice straight punch.
Rizzo throws out a leg kick but Rolston moves out of range and Rizzo only half commits.
Nice defenses there by Rolston.
No joy there for Rolston, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The fighters circling - Rizzo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rizzo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rizzo misses with a hook. Rolston ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo takes one to the side of the head.
Rolston feints and then cracks Rizzo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rizzo down.

Rolston closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rolston breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rizzo tests Rolston's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rizzo throws a body punch but Rolston moves out of range.
Rizzo throws a body kick that misses.
Rizzo misses with a body kick.
Rizzo misses with a wild body shot.
Rolston throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rizzo.
Rizzo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rolston scores with a leg kick.
Rizzo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rolston takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rizzo.
Rizzo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
An inside leg kick from Rizzo misses.
Rizzo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rolston's waist but Rolston gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rizzo off to one side.
Rolston fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rizzo motions for Rolston to come forward. Rizzo throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rolston tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rizzo was well out of range. Poor timing from Rolston.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rolston fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rizzo, pushing him back against the cage.
Rizzo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rolstons head.
Rizzo working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rizzo.
Rolston trying to land knees to the body.
Rolston wants to get back to striking at distance but Rizzo won't allow it.
Rizzo has Rolston pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rolston manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
James Rolston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rizzo.
Rolston with a knee to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rizzo misses with a punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Rizzo.
Rizzo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rolston blocks an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rizzo throws a head punch that misses.
Rizzo lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rizzo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rolston prevents it.
Rizzo tries to throw a body punch but Rolston avoids it by throwing Rizzo back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mauricio Rizzo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rolston keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
James Rolston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rolston misses with a wild combination.
Good exchange - Rizzo coming out on top.
Rolston fails to land with a series of punches.
Good leg kick by Rolston there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rizzo scores with a nice right hand.
Rolston rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rizzo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rizzo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rolston looks to land a combination. Rizzo sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rolston.
Rolston checks a low kick from Rizzo.
Rizzo scores with a decent looking hook.

Rolston closes the distance and clinches.
Rolston working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rolston has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Rolston pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rolston tries to clinch there but Rizzo circles away.
Rolston doesn't manage to clinch there - Rizzo circles away.
Rolston scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Rolston closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rizzo avoiding damage as Rolston throws knees to the body.
Rolston tries to break free but Rizzo pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Rizzo fails to land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rizzo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rolston tries to land a knee to the head but Rizzo blocks with his arms.

Rolston manages to break the clinch.
Rizzo has a takedown stuffed.
Rolston takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rizzo avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rolston swinging wildly here.

Rolston pushes Rizzo up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rolston gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rizzo.
James Rolston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rizzo.
Rizzo lands a nice uppercut.
Rizzo tries a body shot but Rolston blocks it.
Rolston blocks a body shot from Rizzo.

Rolston breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rolston shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rizzo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
James Rolston is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rolston works over Rizzo's head and body with a nice combination.
Rizzo blocks a head kick by Rolston.

Rolston clinches up with Rizzo and pushes him back against the cage.
Rizzo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rizzo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rizzo keeps control of Rolston as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo tries to work over Rolston's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rolston.
Rolston leaning against his opponent.
Rizzo throws a punch but it's blocked by Rolston.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rizzo misses with some punches.
Rizzo misses with a hook from the clinch.

Rolston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rolston throws a head kick that misses.
Rizzo scores with a jab to the body.
Rolston tried to score with a low kick but Rizzo checks it.
Rolston throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rizzo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rolston looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rizzo working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Rolston dominated that second 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.

Rolston keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Rolston throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rizzo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rolston moves forwards but Rizzo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rizzo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rolston steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rizzo.
Rolston does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Rolston shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Rizzo eats them both and turns towards Rolston to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Rizzo throws a sloppy body shot
and Rolston counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rolston tries to clinch but Rizzo is having none of it.
Rizzo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rolston defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James Rolston is winning the standup battle so far.
Rolston is looking to clinch.
Rolston swinging wildly here.
Rizzo tests Rolston's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rolston throws a hook but Rizzo blocks it.
Rolston on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rolston throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A head kick misses from Rolston.
Rolston misses with an uppercut.
Rizzo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rolston throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rolston as he jumps to the side.
Rizzo checks the leg kick.
Rizzo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rizzo scores with a jab to the head.
A clash of legs there as Rolston blocks the low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rolston sprawls well. Rolston wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rizzo gets slowly back to his feet.
James Rolston has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Rizzo.
Rizzo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rolston.
Rolston looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rizzo keeps the fight on the outside.
Rolston on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rizzo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rolston throws a combination. Rizzo tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rizzo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Rolston both land. Nice combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rolston lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rolston throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rizzo.
Rizzo throws a leg kick that misses.
Rolston connects with a high kick.
Rolston tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rizzo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rolston moves out of range as Rizzo throws a body kick.
Rizzo looks to land a body kick but Rolston moved away.
Nice body punch from Rizzo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Rolston clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rolston throws a head kick that misses.
A big right from Rizzo misses.

Rizzo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rolston to the mat! Rolston manages to get full guard.
Rolston keeping moving, preventing Rizzo from controlling successfully.
Rizzo postures up in Rolston's guard and throws a big left but Rolston blocks it.
Rolston is pulling down on Rizzo's head to control his posture.
Rolston utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rolston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rolston is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rizzo won't allow Rolston to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rolston wants to control the position but Rizzo says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Rizzo with the ground and pound but Rolston uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rizzo wants to control from the top but Rolston keeps moving.
Rolston avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rizzo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Rizzo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rolston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo throwing strikes but missing.
Rolston preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rolston keeping moving, preventing Rizzo from controlling successfully.
Rizzo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rolston wants to stand up but Rizzo is controlling him.
Rizzo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rolston avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rolston wants to sweep here but Rizzo controlling him for the moment.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Rizzo working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo throwing strikes but missing.
Rizzo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Rolston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rolston is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rizzo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rolston is keeping the position for now.
Rizzo is looking to work some ground and pound but Rolston has wrist control.
Rizzo is in close to Rolston's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rizzo thows a big elbow that misses.
Rizzo throws and elbow that misses. Rolston uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rizzo's guard. Nice move by Rolston!
Rolston slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rolston wants to stand but Rizzo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rizzo pulls Rolston in close to his closed guard and prevents Rolston from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Rizzo dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rolston falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rizzo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Rizzo swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Rolston to counter with a crisp jab.
Rolston throws a right and a left that Rizzo avoids nicely.
Rizzo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rizzo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rolston takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Jab, jab by Rizzo - just one landing.
Rolston avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rolston bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo lands a nice hook to Rolston's body. Rolston takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rolston falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rolston takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rolston misses with a head kick.
Rizzo misses with a body shot.

Rizzo pushes Rolston up against the cage in a clinch.
Rolston wants to get back to striking at distance but Rizzo won't allow it.
Rizzo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rizzo can't break the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rolston.
Rolston blocks a body shot from Rizzo.
Rizzo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rolston.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo is trying to stall.

Rolston breaks from the clinch.
Rizzo is looking to score with low kicks.
Good leg kick by Rolston there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rizzo misses with the combination.
Rizzo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A shot to the body from Rizzo misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rizzo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rolston's calf.
Rolston tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rolston throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rolston checks a low kick from Rizzo.
Rizzo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rolston checks a leg kick nicely.
Rolston goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Rizzo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rizzo throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rolston ducks under a wild hook from Rizzo.
Rolston throws a nice looking combination but Rizzo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rolston throws a head kick but Rizzo moves out of range.
Rizzo scores with a jab.
Rizzo takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rizzo cracks Rolston with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rizzo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rizzo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rolston's hands.
Rizzo avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rizzo avoids the head kick by Rolston.

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 James Rolston.
I think Rolston 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 48:47
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 48:47
Judge James Glass scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Rolston!
James Rolston retains his light heavyweight title!