PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Comanche Todd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Comanche Todd has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Rizzo
vs
Todd

175 cm
22
186 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antonio Rizzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Comanche Todd!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Alyssa Summers and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Todd misses its intended target.
Rizzo throws a nice looking combination but Todd bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rizzo slips a straight right by Todd.
Rizzo avoids the body shot from Todd.
Rizzo tries to close the distance and clinch but Todd swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice defenses there by Rizzo.
Todd pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rizzo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rizzo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Todd.
Todd looks to land a combination but Rizzo avoids it well.
Rizzo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Todd circles away quickly and effectively.

Rizzo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Todd, pushing him back against the cage.
Rizzo has Todd pressed against the cage.
Rizzo stops a takedown attempt from Todd.
Rizzo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Todd avoiding damage as Rizzo throws knees to the body.
Todd avoids a wild elbow strike from Rizzo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todd wants a takedown but no success here.

Rizzo jumps into guard, dragging Todd to the mat.
Todd with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rizzo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Todd trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rizzo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Todd sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rizzo's guard.
Rizzo could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Todd looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Rizzo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rizzo kicks Todd off and gets back to his feet.

Rizzo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Todd can do anything to dispel that myth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rizzo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Todd gets back to full guard.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Todd is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Todd 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo tries to stand but Todd is controlling from the bottom.
Rizzo wants to pass the guard but Todd is keeping the position.

Rizzo has gone for a leg lock! Todd slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rizzo's guard.
Todd must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Todd loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Todd wants to pass the guard but Rizzo is keeping the position.
Rizzo is trying to control the position but Todd postures up.
Todd passes Rizzo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rizzo is breathing heavily.
Rizzo won't allow Todd to pass to mount.
Todd is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rizzo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Todd scores with a couple of nice shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Todd blocks the strikes from Rizzo.
Todd stops Rizzo from getting back to his feet.
Todd is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Comanche Todd will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Todd throws a hook but Rizzo blocks it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Todd. Rizzo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rizzo slips a jab from Todd.
Todd throws an overhand right that lands on Rizzo's shoulder, as Rizzo tries to avoid the shot.
Antonio Rizzo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rizzo misses with a low kick.
Rizzo throws a right hand that Todd ducks under and follows up with a left that Todd also avoids with ease.
Rizzo blocks a jab.
Rizzo is looking to clinch but Todd is avoiding it.
Rizzo tries to clinch there but Todd circles away.
Rizzo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Todd manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rizzo fails to land the takedown.
Todd swings for the body but Rizzo moves out of range.

Rizzo gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rizzo throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Rizzo moves into full mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Rizzo trying to control but Todd is having none of it.
Todd is looking to get to half guard.
Todd avoids a series of strikes thrown by Rizzo.

Rizzo moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Todd has worked his arm free - good work by Todd!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Todd keeps working.
Rizzo sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Todd is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Todd tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rizzo working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo working the ground and pound but Todd is defending the strikes.
Rizzo trying to control the action but Todd is working from the bottom.
Todd avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Rizzo.
Rizzo tries to stand but Todd controls the position and pulls Rizzo into his guard.
Todd is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Todd is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rizzo postures up in Todd's guard and throws a big left but Todd blocks it.
Rizzo trying to move into half guard but instead Todd has managed to sweep!
Todd trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Antonio Rizzo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Todd is in close to Rizzo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Todd lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
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!
Todd slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Antonio Rizzo will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Todd will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Todd swats away the attempt to clinch by Rizzo.
Todd throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rizzo.
Rizzo tries to bum rush Todd with a series of wild strikes but Todd uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rizzo tries to land a leg kick but Todd saw it coming and moves away.
Rizzo moves out of range as Todd strikes.
Todd lands a slapping body shot.
Todd throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rizzo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rizzo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rizzo moves in looking to clinch but Todd pushes him off.
Rizzo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Todd.

Todd lands a left and a right that send Rizzo crashing to the mat, dazed. Todd thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Rizzo is rocked!

It looks like Antonio Rizzo has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rizzo avoids the body shot from Todd.
Rizzo throws a leg kick but Todd checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo tries to bum rush Todd with a series of wild strikes but Todd uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Comanche Todd seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Todd swinging wildly here.
Todd changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Todd tries to keep at a distance but Rizzo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Todd has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rizzo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rizzo effectively controlling the action here.
Rizzo misses with a knee strike.

Rizzo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rizzo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Todd counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rizzo thinking.
Todd tries to bum rush Rizzo with a series of wild strikes but Rizzo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Todd does no damage.
Todd slips a jab from Rizzo.
Todd swings for the body but Rizzo moves out of range.
Todd leaves Rizzo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Todd misses.
Todd throws a nice looking combination but Rizzo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Todd throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Todd as he avoids it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rizzo misses with a double jab.
Todd throws a hook but Rizzo blocks it.
Rizzo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Todd missing with a left hand there. Rizzo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Comanche Todd is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A shot to the liver by Todd. Beautiful body shot.
Todd scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Todd scores with a jab to the head.
Todd tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rizzo was well out of range. Poor timing from Todd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todd looks to score with a jab to the body but Rizzo is just out of range.
A combination from Todd does no damage.
Todd throws a right and a left that Rizzo avoids nicely.
A decent looking cross lands there for Todd.
Nice jab there from Todd.
Todd throws a lazy right hand but Rizzo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jab from Todd.
Antonio Rizzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rizzo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Todd is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Todd misses with a series of wild punches.
Todd scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rizzo in his tracks.
Oh Rizzo is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Todd throws a hook but Rizzo blocks it.
Rizzo seems to have got his legs back now.
Todd moves away from the strike by Rizzo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Todd. Rizzo does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Todd keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Todd misses with a wild combination.
Todd scores with a nice right hand.
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!
Todd throws a right and a left that Rizzo avoids nicely.
Rizzo fails with an attempt to clinch.

Oooh a lovely combination from Todd sends Rizzo down but not out. Todd dives into side control looking to finish.
Comanche Todd is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Todd controls the position.
Todd advances to full mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rizzo flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Comanche Todd comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Todd has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight for Comanche Todd!
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight for Comanche Todd!
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight for Comanche Todd!

Comanche Todd wins by unanimous decision!