PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lance Storm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Storm comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Mainlining Murder kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Rizzo
vs
Storm

193 cm
23
260 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
231 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Magic Mushrooms
The Red Eye

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Michael Rizzo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lance Storm!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizzo throws a hook to the side of Storm's head but Storm sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Rizzo misses.
Rizzo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Storm is fending him off so far but Rizzo persists. Nope, Storm circles away and we're back to standing.
Rizzo throws a hook but Storm avoids it easily.
Rizzo misses with a hook. Storm ducked under it nicely.
Rizzo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Storm tries to clinch but Rizzo is having none of it.
Storm bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Storm slips under a jab from Rizzo.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Rizzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rizzo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

It looks like Lance Storm has been cut.
Rizzo shoots in for a double leg but Storm sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rizzo misses with a hook. Storm ducked under it nicely.
Storm blocks a jab.
Rizzo looks to land a right hand but Storm moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Rizzo as Storm shoots in.
Storm tries to clinch up.
Storm is looking to clinch but Rizzo is avoiding it.
Storm defending well as Rizzo loads up on a big left hand.
Rizzo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Storm moves out of range as Rizzo strikes.
Storm is looking to clinch.
Rizzo misses with a hook. Storm ducked under it nicely.
Rizzo shoots and misses

and Storm moves into the clinch.
Storm missing with knees to the body.
Storm drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rizzo lands a takedown into guard.
Rizzo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rizzo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Storm looking for a sweep. Not yet Storm, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Storm is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rizzo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Storm is trying to control the position but Rizzo postures up.
Rizzo won't allow Storm to sweep him here.
Rizzo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Storm is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rizzo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rizzo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Storm.
Storm moves out of range as Rizzo strikes.
Storm is looking to clinch.
Storm keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rizzo.
Rizzo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Storm counters by moving into the clinch.

Rizzo turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Storm wants to get back to full guard.
Storm looks gassed!
Rizzo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Storm defending well though.
Storm is concentrating on defense, preventing Rizzo from advancing position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rizzo lands strikes from half guard.
Storm avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rizzo.
Rizzo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rizzo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rizzo drops an elbow to the side of Storm's head.
Storm is trying to get back to full guard.
Rizzo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rizzo working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Storm's thigh. Storm counters though and makes it back to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Storm can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rizzo stopping the sweep attempt from Storm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo lands a couple of digs.
Storm has momentary wrist control but Rizzo slips an elbow through the middle.
Storm 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.
Rizzo throwing strikes from guard but Storm blocks nicely.
Storm preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rizzo tries to free his leg and advance position but Storm is retaining full guard.
Rizzo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rizzo postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rizzo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rizzo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rizzo scoring with some ground and pound.
Rizzo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Rizzo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lance Storm's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rizzo throws a hook to the side of Storm's head but Storm sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rizzo misses with a takedown attempt

and Storm counters by moving into the clinch.
Storm scores with a shoulder strike.

Rizzo gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Storm regains guard.
Rizzo preventing the sweep.
Rizzo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rizzo tries to free his leg and advance position but Storm is retaining full guard.
Rizzo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rizzo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Storm seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rizzo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rizzo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Storm works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Storm uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rizzo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rizzo looks to throw the jab but Storm is out of range.
Rizzo throws out a loose jab but Storm uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rizzo.
Rizzo with a poor takedown

and Storm counters by clinching up.
Rizzo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Storm breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rizzo looks to land a right hand but Storm moved out of range.
Rizzo throws a shot from downtown. Storm moves away and avoids it.
Rizzo misses with a straight right.
Rizzo misses the jab.
Rizzo is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Rizzo tries for a takedown but Storm circles away easily

and Storm holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Rizzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rizzo tries for a takedown but Storm manages to get underhooks.

Storm breaks the clinch.
Rizzo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Storm.
Storm tries to clinch up but Rizzo circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo misses with an uppercut.
Storm tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rizzo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Storm defending well as Rizzo loads up on a big left hand.
Rizzo throws a hook but Storm blocks it.
Storm tries to land a front kick but Rizzo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rizzo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Storm counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Storm using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rizzo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Storm wants to get back to striking at distance but Rizzo won't allow it.
Storm misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rizzo is pressed up against the cage. Storm has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rizzo down to the mat. Rizzo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Storm walks into a stiff left hand from Rizzo.
Storm moves out of range as Rizzo strikes.
Rizzo misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Rizzo misses the target.
Rizzo throws a big shot that misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Storm lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rizzo has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rizzo and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A big left from Rizzo misses.
Storm ducks under a wild hook from Rizzo.
Storm wants to clinch up but Rizzo keeps it at a distance.
Michael Rizzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Storm ducks under a wild hook from Rizzo.
Rizzo cracks Storm with a good jab.
Rizzo jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Storm has Rizzo up against the cage in a clinch.
A short uppercut from Storm.
Rizzo avoiding damage as Storm throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rizzo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice defenses there by Storm.
Rizzo missing with a left hand there. Storm was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rizzo throws the left hand but Storm avoids the punch easily.
Rizzo missing with a left hand there. Storm was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Storm looks for a takedown but Rizzo sprawls well.
Storm ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Storm tries to clinch but Rizzo moves out of range.
Storm fails with an attempt to clinch.
Storm shoots in looking for a takedown. Rizzo tries to sprawl out of it but Storm keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rizzo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rizzo loads up on a big right hand but Storm slips the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Rizzo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lance Storm's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rizzo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Storm's waist but Storm gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rizzo off to one side.
Storm bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Storm is looking to land body kicks.
Rizzo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rizzo misses with a straight right.
Rizzo misses with a straight left.
Rizzo looks to land a left hand but Storm moved out of range nicely.
Rizzo throws a shot from downtown. Storm moves away and avoids it.
Rizzo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Rizzo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Storm tries to close the distance and clinch but Rizzo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rizzo cracks Storm with a right hand to the side of the head.
Storm tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rizzo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A jab from Rizzo misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Storm moves away from the strike by Rizzo.
Rizzo misses with an uppercut.
Storm ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rizzo lands with an overhand left.
Storm takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rizzo sizes up Storm with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That has opened up Lance Storm's cut even more.
Storm uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rizzo.
Storm displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rizzo throws out the jab.
Storm slips under a jab.
Rizzo misses the jab.
Rizzo misses with a hook.
Rizzo is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Rizzo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Storm bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo loads up on a big right hand but Storm slips the punch.
Rizzo lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rizzo misses with an uppercut.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Storm as he avoids it easily.
Rizzo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Storm circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Rizzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Storm slips under a jab from Rizzo.
Storm steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rizzo.
Rizzo misses with a looping right.
Rizzo misses the jab.
Rizzo misses with a straight right.
A telegraphed right hand from Rizzo misses the target.
Rizzo looks for a takedown but Storm sprawls well.
Rizzo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm moves in looking to clinch but Rizzo pushes him off.
Storm tries to clinch there but Rizzo circles away.

Rizzo feints and as Storm raises his hands in defense, Rizzo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Storm is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Storm perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Storm passes to full mount!
Rizzo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Storm controlling the position easily from mount.
Michael Rizzo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rizzo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Storm trying to control but Rizzo is having none of it.
Rizzo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Storm with good strikes from the mount here!
Rizzo regains half guard.
Rizzo wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rizzo misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Rizzo won't allow Storm to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Rizzo clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Lance Storm's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rizzo misses with an uppercut.
Storm ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Michael Rizzo is winning the standup battle so far.
Rizzo throws a lazy right hand but Storm sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rizzo shoots and misses

and Storm moves into the clinch.
Storm tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rizzo smiles and moves away.
Storm moves in looking to clinch but Rizzo pushes him off.
Storm staying out of range there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rizzo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Storm looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Storm is looking for a sweep.
Storm manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Rizzo flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Rizzo tries to roll over but Storm keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo is working hard here to advance position.
Storm content to control rather than advance.
Rizzo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rizzo tries to get to full guard but Storm has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rizzo shoots in and bounces Storm off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rizzo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo stopping the sweep attempt from Storm.
Rizzo postures up and lands a big shot to Storm's brow.
Storm has momentary wrist control but Rizzo slips an elbow through the middle.
Storm looking to control.
Rizzo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rizzo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Storm utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rizzo cracks Storm with a solid left hand.
Rizzo connects with a couple of short punches.
Rizzo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rizzo chips away with some ground and pound.
Rizzo passes Storm's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm gets back to full guard.
Storm trying to control the position here.
Rizzo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Storm avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rizzo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Storm utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rizzo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rizzo preventing the sweep.
Rizzo keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Storm's head.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Rizzo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rizzo lands in his opponent's guard.
Rizzo preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Storm has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rizzo off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Rizzo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Storm can do to turn this around?

Rizzo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Storm!
Rizzo landing shots from mount.
Storm keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Storm wants to hold on but Rizzo pushes him away.
Rizzo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rizzo scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rizzo working Storm over with strikes here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Storm is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rizzo lands a big elbow.
Rizzo lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Rizzo had his way with Lance Storm in that round.
The cut man is working on Lance Storm's cut.
That's time! Rizzo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rizzo throws a lazy right hand but Storm sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rizzo uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rizzo missing with a left hand there. Storm was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Storm uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rizzo.
Rizzo with a poor takedown

and Storm counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Storm not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rizzo looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Storm puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Storm is keen to just control but Rizzo is a slippery customer.
Rizzo misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Rizzo misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Rizzo is not content to let Storm control the position.
Rizzo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rizzo fails with the takedown

and Storm counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rizzo doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Rizzo tries to strike from the bottom.
Rizzo 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.
Rizzo wants to hit a switch here but Storm passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Rizzo there!
Storm controlling his opponent.
Rizzo swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Rizzo can't escape the position.
Michael Rizzo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo is squirming around, avoiding Storm's attempts to control the action.
Rizzo is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rizzo is squirming around, avoiding Storm's attempts to control the action.
Rizzo throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Storm avoids the attempt from Rizzo to control.
Rizzo can't escape the position.
Storm landing shots from mount.
Rizzo wants to hold on but Storm pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Storm looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rizzo is desperately trying to improve his position but Storm has a good base and remains in mount.
Storm controlling his opponent.
Storm tries to control but Rizzo wriggling away.
Storm blocks Rizzo's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Rizzo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Storm avoids the attempt from Rizzo to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Storm tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rizzo throwing hammer fists to the chest of Storm. What's that going to do exactly?
Rizzo wants to hold on but Storm pushes him away.
Storm postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rizzo looks a forlorn figure.
Lance Storm has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rizzo working to try and regain half guard.
Rizzo flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Rizzo swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Storm postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rizzo looks a forlorn figure.
Storm dominating with strikes here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lance Storm comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rizzo 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Peck scores the fight 49:46
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 49:46
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Rizzo!
Michael Rizzo retains his heavyweight title!