PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kasey Atkinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyson 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.

Atkinson
vs
Rizzo

151 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kasey Atkinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tyson Rizzo!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizzo shoots in looking for a takedown but Atkinson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rizzo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Atkinson misses with a wild combination.
Rizzo shoots for a double leg takedown but Atkinson sprawls well. He's pushed Rizzo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Rizzo clinches up with Atkinson and pushes him back against the cage.
Rizzo wants a takedown but no success here.
Kasey Atkinson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyson Rizzo.
Atkinson avoids the elbow strike from Rizzo, against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rizzo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Atkinson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown but Atkinson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Atkinson tries to clinch up but Rizzo circles away and keeps his distance.
Rizzo shoots for a takedown but Atkinson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkinson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rizzo circles away quickly and effectively.
Rizzo shoots in looking for a takedown. Atkinson tries to sprawl out of it but Rizzo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Atkinson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Atkinson moves into range and clinches up with Rizzo.
Rizzo jumps guard but Atkinson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Atkinson is stalling here.
Rizzo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Atkinson to work.
Atkinson prevents Rizzo from breaking the clinch.
Atkinson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Atkinson breaks the clinch.
Rizzo throws a right and a left that Atkinson avoids nicely.
Rizzo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Atkinson counters by clinching up.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Atkinson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Atkinson breaks the clinch.
Atkinson misses with a head kick.
Rizzo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Atkinson is fending him off so far but Rizzo persists. Nope, Atkinson circles away and we're back to standing.
Rizzo looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo dives in and grabs Atkinson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Atkinson pushes down on Rizzo's head and hops out.

Rizzo moves into the clinch.
Atkinson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rizzo taking a breather.
Atkinson lands a nice knee to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Atkinson.
Atkinson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rizzo has a couple of punches blocked by Atkinson.
Rizzo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Atkinson just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson swings wildly with an uppercut but Rizzo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Atkinson cracks Rizzo with a nice body shot.
Atkinson misses with a hook from the clinch.

Atkinson manages to break the clinch.

Rizzo rushes Atkinson and presses him up against the cage.
Rizzo is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Atkinson is defending well.
Rizzo is trying to pull guard but Atkinson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rizzo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head punch on the inside from Atkinson fails to land.
Atkinson lands a hook that snaps the head of Rizzo backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kasey Atkinson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Atkinson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Rizzo gets a clinch.
Atkinson tries a body shot but Rizzo blocks it.

Atkinson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Atkinson shoots for a takedown but Rizzo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Atkinson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rizzo avoids it really well and circles away.

Rizzo forces Atkinson back against the cage and clinches.

Atkinson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Atkinson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Atkinson wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo tries for a takedown but Atkinson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rizzo blocks a head kick by Atkinson.

Rizzo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Atkinson effectively controlling the action here.
Atkinson prevents Rizzo from breaking the clinch.
Atkinson avoiding damage.
Rizzo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rizzo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Atkinson walks away with a smile on his face. Rizzo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kasey Atkinson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyson Rizzo.
Rizzo shoots in looking for a takedown but Atkinson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rizzo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Rizzo closes the distance and clinches.
Rizzo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rizzo is breathing heavily.
Nice elbow from Atkinson.
Atkinson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rizzo up against the cage.
Atkinson lands a damaging elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson lands a damaging elbow.
Atkinson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rizzo is trying to break the clinch but Atkinson is controlling him.
Atkinson blocks an uppercut.
Atkinson lands an elbow inside that Rizzo shrugs off.
Knees in the clinch landing for Atkinson.
Atkinson trying to stall but Rizzo improves his position.
Atkinson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rizzo wants a takedown but no success here.
Rizzo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rizzo stalling in the clinch but Atkinson improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rizzo up against the cage.
Rizzo is trying to break the clinch but Atkinson has him pressed against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Atkinson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rizzo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Rizzo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Atkinson slows down the pace here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
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 Kasey Atkinson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

An inside leg kick from Rizzo misses.

Atkinson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Atkinson holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rizzo is trying to pull guard but Atkinson has him pressed against the cage.
Rizzo is working for takedown but Atkinson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Atkinson effectively controlling the action here.
Atkinson tries to work over Rizzo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rizzo wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkinson lands an elbow that stopped Rizzo in his tracks for a moment.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rizzo is looking to break free of the clinch but Atkinson has double underhooks.
Rizzo wants to take the fight to the mat but Atkinson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kasey Atkinson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyson Rizzo.
Rizzo jumps guard but Atkinson stands there with Rizzo around his waist. Rizzo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Atkinson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Atkinson.
Rizzo tries to pull guard but Atkinson won't allow it.
Rizzo jumps guard but Atkinson stands there with Rizzo around his waist. Rizzo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rizzo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo takes a knee to the side of the body.
Atkinson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rizzo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Atkinson smiles and moves away.

Atkinson moves into range and clinches up with Rizzo.

Atkinson manages to break the clinch.
Rizzo shoots in but Atkinson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Atkinson tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo shoots and misses
and Atkinson makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Rizzo really felt that one!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Atkinson.
Rizzo slips a jab and a cross from Atkinson.
Tyson Rizzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rizzo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rizzo misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Atkinson moves into the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Atkinson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Rizzo trying to control the position but instead, Atkinson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rizzo into the cage.
Rizzo is trying to break the clinch but Atkinson is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo tries to pull guard but Atkinson won't allow it.
Atkinson slowing the pace effectively.
Rizzo wants to break free but Atkinson has control.
Atkinson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Atkinson lands an elbow just above Rizzo 's eye.
Tyson Rizzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kasey Atkinson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rizzo fails to pull guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kasey Atkinson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Atkinson 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kasey Atkinson!