PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frank Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Waldo Claudiano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Rizzo
vs
Claudiano

162 cm
22
143 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

160 cm
23
149 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Machine Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Frank Rizzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Waldo Claudiano!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Colin Fray and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rizzo darts in and clinches Claudiano up against the cage.
Claudiano lands with a short shot to the head.

Rizzo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Rizzo stopping the sweep attempt from Claudiano.
Claudiano is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Claudiano looking for a sweep. Not yet Claudiano, not yet.
Claudiano pulls Rizzo in to control the position.
Claudiano utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Claudiano keeping moving, preventing Rizzo from controlling successfully.
Rizzo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Claudiano tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rizzo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Claudiano pulls Rizzo in close to his closed guard and prevents Rizzo from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo stopping the sweep attempt from Claudiano.
Rizzo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rizzo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Claudiano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rizzo won't allow Claudiano to sweep him here.
Rizzo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Claudiano's guard.
Claudiano is trying to get back to full guard.
Claudiano trying to control but Rizzo postures up.
Rizzo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
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. Rizzo connects with a nice short shot to Claudiano's temple.
Claudiano tries to get to full guard but Rizzo has control of the leg.

Claudiano actively working from the bottom here.
Rizzo throwing shots but Claudiano is blocking nicely.
Rizzo prevents Claudiano from improving his position.
Claudiano is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Claudiano trying to control here.
Claudiano is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rizzo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rizzo's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo breaks Claudiano's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Claudiano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rizzo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Claudiano has Rizzo pulled in close to control his posture.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Claudiano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Claudiano lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Claudiano controlling from the top position.
Claudiano throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Claudiano is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Claudiano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rizzo is keeping the position for now.
Claudiano wants to control from the top but Rizzo keeps moving.
Claudiano content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Claudiano's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Claudiano wants to control from the top but Rizzo keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Claudiano won't allow Rizzo to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Claudiano loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Claudiano working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Frank Rizzo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Claudiano lands a slapping body shot.
A jab lands there for Claudiano.
Claudiano stuffs the takedown.
Frank Rizzo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Claudiano connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rizzo. Rizzo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rizzo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Claudiano dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Claudiano smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rizzo swats away the attempt to clinch by Claudiano.
Rizzo looks for a takedown but Claudiano sprawls well.
Rizzo tries for a takedown but Claudiano sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Rizzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rizzo takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Rizzo gets a clinch.
Claudiano presses Rizzo against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A hook to the body from Claudiano.
Rizzo just leaning against Claudiano, taking a breather.

Claudiano gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Rizzo is staying active underneath Claudiano, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rizzo trying to control here.
Claudiano has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claudiano with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Let's hope that Claudiano has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Claudiano passes to side control.
Claudiano trying to control the position but Rizzo is working away.
Rizzo tries to buck Claudiano off but Claudiano is having none of it.
Rizzo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Claudiano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rizzo is not content to let Claudiano control the position.
Claudiano might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rizzo haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Claudiano in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Claudiano connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rizzo some visible discomfort.
Rizzo takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Claudiano in side control, throwing shots but Rizzo defends.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo sneaks back into half guard.
Claudiano 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.
Rizzo gets back to full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Claudiano's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Claudiano stays in close to Rizzo's body and controls the position.
Rizzo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Claudiano is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Claudiano wants to control from the top but Rizzo keeps moving.
Claudiano scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano throws a big right hand that misses.
Claudiano with a flurry of punches that miss.
Claudiano landing some decent shots from guard.
Claudiano loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Claudiano advances to half guard.
Rizzo is staying active underneath Claudiano, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Claudiano working over Rizzo with some ground and pound. Rizzo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Claudiano missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Claudiano lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rizzo is not content to let Claudiano control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Waldo Claudiano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Claudiano tries to keep at a distance but Rizzo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rizzo blocks an uppercut.
Claudiano throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rizzo.
Claudiano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Claudiano blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rizzo scores with a shoulder strike.

Claudiano gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Rizzo has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Claudiano is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Claudiano scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Claudiano.
Claudiano has a couple of punches blocked by Rizzo.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Claudiano.
A shot in the inside from Claudiano.
Claudiano lands with a left to the head.
Claudiano gets underhooks to prevent Rizzo's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claudiano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rizzo stalling the fight.
Claudiano cracks Rizzo with a nice body shot.
Claudiano tries to work over Rizzo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Claudiano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rizzo's elbow.

Claudiano gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Rizzo is looking for a triangle here but Claudiano uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Claudiano connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rizzo some visible discomfort.
Claudiano scores with punches from side control.
Claudiano fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rizzo struggling a bit here.
Claudiano creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano throws an elbow but Rizzo slips to the side and avoids it well.
Claudiano working the head with strikes.
Claudiano misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Claudiano cracks Rizzo with a big right hand but Rizzo just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Rizzo takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Claudiano passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Rizzo!
Claudiano looking to finish Rizzo with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rizzo!
Rizzo in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rizzo can't escape the position.
Claudiano unloading with bombs!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Claudiano cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rizzo is bucking up trying to escape but Claudiano cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Claudiano landing shots from mount.
Rizzo working to try and regain half guard.
Claudiano looking to control and managing it successfully.
Claudiano scoring with strikes but Rizzo is staying in there.
Rizzo bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Claudiano wants to sweep here but Rizzo controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Claudiano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rizzo won't allow Claudiano to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Claudiano is on top in guard.

Rizzo trying to control the position.

Claudiano avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Claudiano has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Claudiano is working Rizzo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Waldo Claudiano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Claudiano has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Josh West scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Waldo Claudiano!