PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Beetswatsi Longone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Santiago Rizzo has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rizzo
vs
Longone

225 cm
25
235 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
260 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Santiago Rizzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Beetswatsi Longone!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Longone manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rizzo on his heels. He'll look to pass Rizzo's guard now, I'm sure.
Rizzo controlling the position.

Rizzo pushes Longone off and scrambles back to his feet.
Rizzo lands a head kick!
No luck for Rizzo with that takedown attempt.

Longone looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rizzo!
Rizzo is trying to control Longone's posture but Longone avoids it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rizzo wants to get back to his feet but Longone drags him back down.
Rizzo parries the strikes from Longone easily there. Longone is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rizzo to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Longone scores with a couple of short elbows.
Rizzo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Longone's best efforts.
Rizzo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Longone.
Longone stops Rizzo from getting back to his feet.
Longone is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Longone prevents Rizzo from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rizzo is refusing to be controlled, as Longone sits in half guard.
Rizzo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Longone.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Longone trying to mount his opponent but Rizzo defends it.
Longone thows a huge punch but Rizzo dodges it nicely.
Longone sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rizzo defending well though.
Longone seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rizzo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Longone sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rizzo defending well though.
Rizzo looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rizzo is breathing heavily.
Longone stalling away here and it's allowed Rizzo to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Longone trying to control the position from guard on top but Rizzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Longone is in close to Rizzo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Longone throwing strikes from guard but Rizzo blocks nicely.
Longone postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Longone pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rizzo is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Longone cracks Rizzo with a solid left hand.

Rizzo is looking for a triangle but Longone pushes his legs off easily.
Longone trying to control but Rizzo is working from the bottom.
Longone is working Rizzo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Longone must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rizzo keeping moving, preventing Longone from controlling successfully.
Longone working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Longone engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Longone works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Beetswatsi Longone dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rizzo throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Longone's head.
Rizzo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Longone shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Longone was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Longone is looking to take a break and control but Rizzo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Longone throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Longone postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Longone scoring with punches from side control.
Rizzo defending against the ground and pound.
Longone tries to move into full mount but can't pass Rizzo's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Longone content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Longone lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Rizzo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Longone should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Longone trying to control the position but Rizzo is working away.
Rizzo stops Longone from passing to mount.
Longone landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Longone landing strikes.
Longone misses with the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rizzo is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Longone asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Longone is looking to take a break and control but Rizzo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Longone working the body and head with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Longone lands a nice forearm strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Longone working the ground and pound.
Longone in side control lands a decent elbow.
Longone working the ground and pound.
Longone working the ground and pound from side control.
Rizzo is working to avoid the ground and pound but Longone connects with a decent elbow.
Longone working away.
Longone creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Longone working the ground and pound from side control.
Check out the look on Longone's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The referee asks Longone politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Longone prefers to stall for the moment though.
Longone trying to control the position but Rizzo is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Longone cracks Rizzo with a big right hand but Rizzo just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Longone connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rizzo some visible discomfort.
Longone cracks Rizzo with an elbow. That is naaassty.
A lull in the action here.
Rizzo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Longone cracks Rizzo with a big elbow.
Longone has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Longone happy to just control the position for now.
Longone scores with a couple of short elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Beetswatsi Longone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Longone steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rizzo.
Rizzo scores with a spinning back kick!
Rizzo misses with a head kick.
Longone misses with a right hand
and Rizzo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The fighters circling - Longone throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rizzo doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Longone counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Longone trying to control the position from guard on top but Rizzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Longone passes Rizzo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Longone throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Longone trying to pass the guard but Rizzo defending well.
Rizzo is not content to let Longone control the position.
Longone throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Longone seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Longone prevents Rizzo from standing back up.
Longone wants to take a breather but Rizzo is having none of it.
Longone is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Longone trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Longone looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rizzo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Beetswatsi Longone is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Longone is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rizzo has hold of Longone's hands but Longone slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Longone wants to control but Rizzo is keeping him busy.
Rizzo pushes Longone off looking to stand but Longone dives back in and keeps control.
Longone is looking to advance position but Rizzo won't allow it.
Longone looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Longone working Rizzo over with strikes.
Longone lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Longone content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rizzo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rizzo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Longone thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Longone connects with a nice short shot to Rizzo's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Longone wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rizzo keeps working.
Longone not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Longone looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rizzo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Longone is nestled in close to Rizzo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Longone lands strikes from half guard.
Longone is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Longone not doing much here.
Longone wants to free his trapped foot but Rizzo is holding on for dear life with his legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Beetswatsi Longone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Longone 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 26:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Beetswatsi Longone!
A less than humble Beetswatsi Longone misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.