PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alfa Rizi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cody Gardbrandt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cody Gardbrandt has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rizi
vs
Gardbrandt

170 cm
20
137 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
135 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alfa Rizi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cody Gardbrandt !
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizi cracks Gardbrandt with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rizi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gardbrandt .
Rizi stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gardbrandt .

Gardbrandt clinches up with Rizi and pushes him back against the cage.
Rizi is trying to break the clinch but Gardbrandt is controlling him.
Gardbrandt content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Gardbrandt tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gardbrandt lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Alfa Rizi has been cut.

Gardbrandt manages to break the clinch.
Rizi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rizi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rizi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rizi throws a sloppy head kick and Gardbrandt moves out of range easily.
Gardbrandt stuffs the takedown attempt from Rizi. Rizi gets slowly back to his feet.
Gardbrandt throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rizi on the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rizi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardbrandt misses with a body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Gardbrandt . No joy for Rizi on that attempt.
Gardbrandt doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Rizi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Gardbrandt has closed the distance and engaged Rizi in a clinch.
Rizi wants to get back to striking at distance but Gardbrandt won't allow it.
Gardbrandt has Rizi pressed against the cage, preventing Rizi from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gardbrandt keeps control of Rizi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gardbrandt creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gardbrandt just leaning against Rizi, taking a breather.
Gardbrandt controlling the action here for a moment.

Gardbrandt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rizi swats away the attempt to clinch by Gardbrandt .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gardbrandt pinned against the cage. Gardbrandt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alfa Rizi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gardbrandt lands with a nice combination. Rizi backs away looking to recover.
Gardbrandt scores with a jab to the head.

Rizi is rocked!
Gardbrandt just misses with a punch to the body.
Rizi is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Gardbrandt lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rizi backs up against the cage.
Oh Rizi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rizi avoids a punch combination nicely.
A combination from Gardbrandt does no damage.
Gardbrandt throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rizi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rizi seems to have got his legs back now.
Gardbrandt throws a right and a left that Rizi avoids nicely.
Gardbrandt sizes up Rizi with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardbrandt looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Some wild striking there from Rizi.

Rizi moves into the clinch.
Rizi being controlled against the cage.
Rizi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gardbrandt tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rizi's elbow.
Gardbrandt letting Rizi take a breather here.
Rizi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gardbrandt fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rizi misses with a low kick.
Rizi has a takedown stuffed.
Rizi takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Gardbrandt rushes Rizi and presses him up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Gardbrandt .
Rizi fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rizi tries to pull guard but Gardbrandt forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Gardbrandt tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rizi's elbow.

Gardbrandt breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gardbrandt stuffs the takedown.

Gardbrandt instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Gardbrandt dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alfa Rizi's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gardbrandt lands a knee to the body.
Rizi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gardbrandt walks away with a smile on his face. Rizi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gardbrandt uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rizi has time to react.
Gardbrandt tries to bum rush Rizi with a series of wild strikes but Rizi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gardbrandt lands a slapping body shot.
Gardbrandt lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rizi circles away quickly and effectively.
Gardbrandt looks to land a combination but Rizi avoids it well.

Rizi clinches with his opponent.
Rizi wants to break the clinch but can't.
We've been informed that Gardbrandt has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Gardbrandt lands a nice uppercut.
Gardbrandt '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.
Gardbrandt stalls.
The crowd are getting on Gardbrandt 's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardbrandt stalls.
Gardbrandt has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gardbrandt is pressed up against the cage. Rizi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gardbrandt down to the mat. Gardbrandt avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Gardbrandt moves out of range as Rizi throws a body kick.
Rizi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gardbrandt defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alfa Rizi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gardbrandt is looking to clinch.
Rizi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gardbrandt sprawls well. Gardbrandt wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rizi gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rizi tries to close the distance and clinch but Gardbrandt swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cody Gardbrandt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rizi tries to keep at a distance but Gardbrandt has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gardbrandt stalls.

Gardbrandt successfully pulls guard.
Gardbrandt controls Rizi momentarily but Rizi frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gardbrandt holds on and takes a little breather.
Rizi postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardbrandt looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rizi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Rizi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gardbrandt keeps working.
Gardbrandt is trying to stand up here but Rizi is controlling him well.
Gardbrandt blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rizi.
Gardbrandt has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rizi is working away from the top position though.
Gardbrandt is looking to improve his position.
Rizi trying to control the action but Gardbrandt is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Gardbrandt tries to keep at a distance but Rizi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rizi jumps guard but Gardbrandt stands there with Rizi around his waist. Rizi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Gardbrandt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gardbrandt keeps the fight on the outside.
Gardbrandt swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gardbrandt keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rizi has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Gardbrandt tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rizi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gardbrandt tries to clinch up.
Rizi feinted with a counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Gardbrandt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alfa Rizi's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gardbrandt misses with a wild combination.
Gardbrandt leaves Rizi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gardbrandt swings widly with a right hand
letting Rizi counter with a right hand.
Rizi shoots in for a takedown but Gardbrandt shows good takedown defense.
A nice side step and Gardbrandt releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Gardbrandt throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alfa Rizi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Gardbrandt has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cody Gardbrandt seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gardbrandt lands with a left to the head.
Gardbrandt lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rizi or not.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rizi breaks the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Gardbrandt . No joy for Rizi on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alfa Rizi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gardbrandt rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rizi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Rizi instigates a clinch.
Rizi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gardbrandt fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizi goes for a double leg but Gardbrandt avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gardbrandt continues to drive forward.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Oooooh!!! Gardbrandt has knocked Rizi down with a huge combo! Gardbrandt steps away and waves a wobbly Rizi back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Gardbrandt forces Rizi back against the cage and clinches.
Rizi is trying to maintain a safe position but Gardbrandt gets an underhook and turns Rizi into the cage.
Rizi tries to pull guard but Gardbrandt won't allow it.
Gardbrandt using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rizi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rizi prevents a takedown attempt there.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rizi is trying to pull guard but Gardbrandt turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gardbrandt creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rizi can't break the clinch.
Gardbrandt misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gardbrandt pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gardbrandt tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gardbrandt lands a knee to the body.
Gardbrandt stalling the fight.
Gardbrandt tries to work over Rizi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rizi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gardbrandt to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rizi jumps guard and drags Gardbrandt to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Gardbrandt sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gardbrandt pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rizi is keeping the position for now.
Gardbrandt stopping the sweep attempt from Rizi.
Rizi keeping moving, preventing Gardbrandt from controlling successfully.
Gardbrandt controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rizi keeping full guard, as Gardbrandt tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rizi has his hands on Gardbrandt 's head, controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Gardbrandt drives through and clinches with Rizi against the cage.
Gardbrandt throws a punch but it's blocked by Rizi.

Gardbrandt breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gardbrandt swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gardbrandt misses with the combination.
Gardbrandt is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rizi.
Alfa Rizi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cody Gardbrandt is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rizi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gardbrandt backs up against the cage.
Rizi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cody Gardbrandt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gardbrandt 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cody Gardbrandt !