PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Lalakis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rizzo has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Lalakis
vs
Rizzo

180 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Lalakis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Rizzo!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizzo swats away the attempt to clinch by Lalakis.

Rizzo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lalakis was covering up waiting for the punch and Rizzo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rizzo looks gassed!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Lalakis keeping moving, preventing Rizzo from controlling successfully.
Rizzo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Rizzo drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lalakis manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rizzo has Lalakis in his guard.
Lalakis tries to stand but Rizzo is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo wants to sweep here but Lalakis controlling him for the moment.
Lalakis wants to control from the top but Rizzo keeps moving.
Lalakis throwing strikes from guard but Rizzo blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lalakis trying to control but Rizzo is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Lalakis tries to close the distance and clinch but Rizzo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick from Lalakis lands but Rizzo takes it in his stride.

It looks like Tony Rizzo has been cut.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lalakis.
Lalakis wants to clinch.
Rizzo shoots in but Lalakis avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lalakis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rizzo as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lalakis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Lalakis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lalakis looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rizzo is fending him off so far but Lalakis persists. Nope, Rizzo circles away and we're back to standing.
Lalakis throws a nice head kick!

Rizzo gets a double leg takedown into Lalakis's guard.

Rizzo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rizzo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rizzo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lalakis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rizzo wants to control from the top but Lalakis keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rizzo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rizzo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rizzo landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tony Rizzo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tony Rizzo's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lalakis doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Rizzo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rizzo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rizzo wants to control from the top but Lalakis keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rizzo won't allow Lalakis to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tony Rizzo wasn't active enough on the ground.

Rizzo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rizzo scoring with punches from side control.
Rizzo wants to control but Lalakis is keeping him busy.
Rizzo creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Rizzo scoring with punches and elbows.
Lalakis on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo trying to control the action but Lalakis is working from the bottom.
Rizzo throwing strikes but Lalakis manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Lalakis lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Lalakis goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rizzo has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Lalakis but great work by Rizzo.
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 lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Lalakis down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Rizzo are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Lalakis takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Rizzo staying calm.
Tony Rizzo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lalakis is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo wants to control but Lalakis is keeping him busy.

Rizzo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lalakis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rizzo misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Rizzo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tony Rizzo's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Lalakis keeps the fight on the outside.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lalakis as he jumps to the side.
Lalakis throws a head kick that half lands.
Tony Rizzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lalakis closes the distance and clinches up with Rizzo, looking for a takedown. Lalakis pushes Rizzo against the cage but Rizzo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lalakis.
Lalakis fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Lalakis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rizzo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rizzo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lalakis as he avoids it easily.
Lalakis dives in and grabs Rizzo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rizzo pushes down on Lalakis's head and hops out.
Horrible takedown by Lalakis or perhaps it was just good defense by Rizzo which made him look bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lalakis has a takedown stuffed.
Lalakis fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Rizzo. No joy for Lalakis on that attempt.
Lalakis dives in and grabs Rizzo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rizzo pushes down on Lalakis's head and hops out.
Lalakis tries a head kick but it misses.
Lalakis is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rizzo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lalakis shoots in for a double leg but Rizzo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rizzo stuffs the takedown attempt from Lalakis. Lalakis gets slowly back to his feet.
Lalakis slaps away a takedown attempt from Rizzo, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lalakis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rizzo slaps away a takedown attempt from Lalakis, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lalakis throws a nice head kick!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Lalakis, right into the meat.
Mike Lalakis is winning the standup battle so far.
Lalakis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rizzo but Rizzo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rizzo slaps away a takedown attempt from Lalakis, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Rizzo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Lalakis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rizzo.
Lalakis wants to sweep here but Rizzo controlling him for the moment.
Rizzo controls from within his opponent's guard.

Rizzo stands and steps away. Lalakis gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Rizzo as Lalakis shoots in.
Mike Lalakis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rizzo looking to score a takedown here. Lalakis is defending well but Rizzo drives through and ends up in Lalakis's guard.
Rizzo throwing strikes from guard but Lalakis blocks nicely.
Mike Lalakis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Rizzo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lalakis trying to strike off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Rizzo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rizzo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Rizzo!
Tony Rizzo was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.