PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alessandro Rizzuto (ranked 2184 p4p, 322 weight class) and Kevin Siembieda (ranked 3059 p4p, 418 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Rizzuto
vs
Siembieda

185 cm
23
181 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

179 cm
27
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Alessandro Rizzuto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin Siembieda!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, David Schapiro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Siembieda lands with a cross.
Siembieda lands with a cross.
Siembieda throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Siembieda has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Rizzuto is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Siembieda moves out of range as Rizzuto throws a body kick.
Rizzuto stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Siembieda.
Siembieda misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Siembieda clinches up with Rizzuto and pushes him back against the cage.
Rizzuto blocks an uppercut.
Siembieda struggles to land a body shot inside as Rizzuto controls his hands.
Rizzuto misses with a hook from the clinch.
I was talking to Rizzuto's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Siembieda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Siembieda obliges.
Siembieda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rizzuto's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rizzuto.
Siembieda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Siembieda struggles to land a body shot inside as Rizzuto controls his hands.
Rizzuto managing to block the knees to the body from Siembieda.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzuto lands a left hand.
Siembieda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rizzuto.
Siembieda has Rizzuto pressed against the cage.
Siembieda lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rizzuto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Siembieda's elbow.
Siembieda misses with a punch on the inside.
Rizzuto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Siembieda blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Siembieda pushes off an throws an elbow but Rizzuto leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Siembieda tries a body shot but Rizzuto blocks it.
Siembieda misses with a body punch.
Rizzuto trying to land knees to the body.
Rizzuto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Siembieda's elbow.
Rizzuto can't find room to land a body shot as Siembieda controls the action.
Siembieda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rizzuto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzuto lands a left hand that snaps the head of Siembieda backwards.
Rizzuto lands with a light punch inside.
A shot in the inside from Siembieda.
Rizzuto throws a punch but it's blocked by Siembieda.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Siembieda.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rizzuto.
Rizzuto avoiding damage as Siembieda throws knees to the body.
Rizzuto misses with some punches.
Rizzuto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rizzuto scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rizzuto blocks an uppercut.
Siembieda leaning against his opponent.
Siembieda missing with knees to the body.
Rizzuto tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rizzuto misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rizzuto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzuto stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Siembieda blocks a body shot from Rizzuto.
A short left from Siembieda.
Rizzuto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rizzuto misses with a punch on the inside.
Siembieda takes a shot to the head.
Siembieda is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Siembieda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rizzuto's elbow.
Siembieda is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Siembieda misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Siembieda.
Rizzuto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Siembieda struggles to land a body shot inside as Rizzuto controls his hands.
Siembieda swings wildly with an uppercut but Rizzuto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rizzuto tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Siembieda trying to land knees to the body.
Rizzuto tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rizzuto swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Siembieda lands an elbow inside that Rizzuto shrugs off.

It looks like Alessandro Rizzuto has been cut.
Rizzuto misses with a knee to the head.
Rizzuto tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Siembieda smiles and moves away.
Siembieda misses with a body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Siembieda throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rizzuto tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Siembieda manages to circle out of the way.
A big right from Siembieda misses.
Siembieda thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Siembieda dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alessandro Rizzuto's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Siembieda turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Rizzuto closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Siembieda quickly recovers to half guard.

Siembieda has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Rizzuto is on him like a limpet, forcing Siembieda back against the cage.
Siembieda putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rizzuto in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Siembieda trying to stall but Rizzuto improves his position.
Rizzuto managing to block the knees to the body from Siembieda.
Siembieda tries to work over Rizzuto's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Siembieda has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rizzuto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rizzuto misses with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rizzuto.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short body shot lands from Rizzuto as the two fighters clinch.
Rizzuto lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Siembieda backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Rizzuto fails to land.
Rizzuto avoids a wild elbow strike from Siembieda.
Siembieda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kevin Siembieda seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzuto digs a right hand into Siembieda's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Siembieda's gas tank.
Siembieda misses with some punches.
Rizzuto with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rizzuto lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Siembieda missing with knees to the body.
Siembieda is looking to control Rizzuto's arms but Rizzuto gets an underhook and turns him. Now Siembieda has his back to the cage.
Rizzuto lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rizzuto lands with a right to the head.
Rizzuto working aggressively here.
A short left from Rizzuto.
A head punch on the inside from Rizzuto fails to land.
Siembieda looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Siembieda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rizzuto is defending well for now.
Rizzuto tries to throw a body punch but Siembieda avoids it by throwing Rizzuto back against the cage.
Siembieda throws a punch but it's blocked by Rizzuto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Siembieda has a couple of punches blocked by Rizzuto.
Siembieda misses with some punches.
Siembieda lands a nice knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rizzuto on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rizzuto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Siembieda tries to stall but Rizzuto uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Siembieda lands with a right to the head.
Siembieda swings wildly with an uppercut but Rizzuto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Siembieda misses with a punch to the body.
Rizzuto lands a left hand that snaps the head of Siembieda backwards.
Siembieda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Siembieda lands with a right to the head.
Rizzuto can't find room to land a body shot as Siembieda controls the action.
Rizzuto misses with a body punch.
Siembieda throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rizzuto blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Siembieda wants to stall.
Rizzuto lands a body punch in the clinch.
A short right from Siembieda.
Rizzuto jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Siembieda walks away with a smile on his face. Rizzuto gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rizzuto takes a kick to the side of the head.
A head kick misses from Rizzuto.
Rizzuto takes a jab right on the kisser.
Siembieda displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rizzuto throws out the jab.
Siembieda takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rizzuto connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Siembieda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rizzuto avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Siembieda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Siembieda landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Siembieda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rizzuto's elbow.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rizzuto.
Rizzuto prevents a body shot from Siembieda.
Siembieda blocks a body shot from Rizzuto.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rizzuto.
Siembieda is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rizzuto is defending well for now.
Siembieda misses with the head strike.
Siembieda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rizzuto.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rizzuto.
Rizzuto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Siembieda misses with a body punch.
Siembieda lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Siembieda goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kevin Siembieda will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Alessandro Rizzuto's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Siembieda throws a push kick but Rizzuto slaps the foot to one side.

Rizzuto clinches with his opponent.
Rizzuto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short left from Rizzuto.
Siembieda goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rizzuto misses with a body punch.
Siembieda misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Siembieda misses with an elbow strike.
Siembieda working aggressively here.
A shot in the inside from Rizzuto.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Siembieda misses with a punch on the inside.
Siembieda misses with a punch to the body.
Rizzuto tries to throw a body punch but Siembieda avoids it by throwing Rizzuto back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Siembieda.
Rizzuto blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Siembieda lands a hook that snaps the head of Rizzuto backwards.
Siembieda softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Siembieda misses with the head strike.
Siembieda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rizzuto avoids it.
Siembieda missing with knees to the body.
Rizzuto managing to block the knees to the body from Siembieda.
Siembieda has a couple of punches blocked by Rizzuto.
Siembieda tries to throw a body punch but Rizzuto avoids it by throwing Siembieda back against the cage.
Rizzuto misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rizzuto has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Siembieda after a bit of a struggle.
Rizzuto misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rizzuto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Siembieda's elbow.
Rizzuto gets through Siembieda's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Siembieda lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Siembieda throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rizzuto blocks an uppercut.
Alessandro Rizzuto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rizzuto.
Rizzuto on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Rizzuto.
Siembieda is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Siembieda takes a shot to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rizzuto is trying to pull guard but Siembieda has him pressed against the cage.
Siembieda using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rizzuto has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rizzuto lands a right hand.
Rizzuto lands a hook to the side of the head.
Siembieda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right from Siembieda.
Rizzuto misses with some punches.
Rizzuto lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Siembieda.
Siembieda tries a body shot but Rizzuto blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Siembieda has a couple of punches blocked by Rizzuto.
Siembieda blocks a body shot from Rizzuto.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Siembieda.
Siembieda pushes off an throws an elbow but Rizzuto leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rizzuto misses with some punches.
Siembieda swings wildly with an uppercut but Rizzuto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Siembieda tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kevin Siembieda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Siembieda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rizzuto's elbow.
Rizzuto digs a right hand into Siembieda's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Siembieda's gas tank.
Rizzuto working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rizzuto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rizzuto swings wildly with an uppercut but Siembieda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rizzuto lands with a light punch inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Siembieda lands a nice shot to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Siembieda.
Rizzuto drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alessandro Rizzuto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rizzuto lands a right hand that snaps the head of Siembieda backwards.
Siembieda blocks an uppercut.
Siembieda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rizzuto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Siembieda blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rizzuto misses with a hook to the ribs.
Siembieda lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rizzuto backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kevin Siembieda.
Well Siembieda 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Siembieda!
Kevin Siembieda decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.