PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rikkard Hanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Puzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Puzo has chosen Speak Softly Love as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hanson
vs
Puzo

185 cm
21
198 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

185 cm
23
187 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rikkard Hanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Puzo!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Bruno Lombardi and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanson misses with an uppercut.
Hanson misses with a combination
and Puzo counters with a left to the body.
Hanson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Puzo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hanson, as that shot connected.
Puzo has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hanson clinches with his opponent.

Puzo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hanson seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Hanson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Puzo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Despite the aggression on Puzo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Rikkard Hanson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanson throws a sloppy head kick
and Puzo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hanson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Puzo.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Puzo! But no joy.

Hanson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Puzo is refusing to be controlled, as Hanson sits in half guard.
Hanson trying to pass the guard but Puzo defending well.
Puzo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hanson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Puzo is looking for a sweep. Hanson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanson wants to pass to mount but Puzo is defending the position.
Puzo trying to control here.
Still in half guard, Hanson seems content to control.
Hanson is trying to control the action in half guard but Puzo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hanson trying to control the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Puzo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hanson throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanson has his takedown stuffed
and Puzo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hanson fails with the takedown
and Puzo counters with a nice uppercut.
Hanson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Puzo tries to avoid it but Hanson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Puzo to the ground. Puzo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rikkard Hanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hanson closes the distance and pushes Puzo back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Puzo manages to break the clinch.
Hanson throws an overhand right that lands on Puzo's shoulder, as Puzo tries to avoid the shot.
Hanson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hanson misses with a hook
and Puzo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hanson shoots in looking for a takedown. Puzo tries to sprawl out of it but Hanson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Puzo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Puzo is looking for the big counter here.
Mario Puzo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hanson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Puzo defends well and Hanson ends up having to push Puzo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Puzo now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Puzo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Puzo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Puzo was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Hanson shoots in for a double leg but Puzo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Hanson gets a double leg takedown into Puzo's guard.
Hanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Puzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hanson wants to pass the guard but Puzo is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puzo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hanson controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Puzo is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hanson fails with the takedown
and Puzo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hanson misses with a leg kick
and Puzo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hanson moves to clinch but Puzo breaks away
and Puzo counters with an outside leg kick.
Hanson tries to clinch but Puzo is having none of it.

Hanson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Puzo is not content to let Hanson control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Puzo tries to roll over but Hanson keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanson moves nicely into side control.

Hanson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Puzo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hanson is looking to take a break and control but Puzo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Puzo is looking to regain half guard here but Hanson keeps moving and retains side control.
Hanson taking a breather here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
You can see the frustration on Puzo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rikkard Hanson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hanson throws out a loose jab but Puzo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Despite the aggression on Puzo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Hanson gets a takedown into half guard.
Hanson stops Puzo from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanson wants to pass to mount but Puzo is defending the position.
Hanson trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hanson controlling the position easily from mount.
Hanson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hanson prevents Puzo from getting the reversal.
Hanson looking to control but Puzo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hanson controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanson is trying to take his opponent's back.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Puzo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hanson is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Puzo is in real trouble.
Hanson biding his time, controlling Puzo.
Puzo trying to control the position but Hanson manages to sink in the hooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Puzo right now.

Hanson looking to break Puzo's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Puzo remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Hanson will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Hanson is hanging on to Puzo's back as he tries to escape.
Hanson is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Puzo defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Will Hanson go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Puzo is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Hanson.

Puzo defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Hanson controlling well, preventing Puzo from escaping the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
What can Puzo do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

And that's the end of the fight!
Rikkard Hanson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hanson 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rikkard Hanson!
In his post fight interview, Rikkard Hanson started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.