PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Red Cup (ranked 2912 p4p, 387 weight class) and Alessandro Rizzuto (ranked 2929 p4p, 388 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cup
vs
Rizzuto

190 cm
26
183 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

185 cm
23
181 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Red Cup!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Alessandro Rizzuto!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Steve Montenegro and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cup closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rizzuto's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Cup postures up.
Cup works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rizzuto is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Cup controlling the pace.
Cup trying to control from half guard but Rizzuto is working away.
Cup uses his free foot to push down on Rizzuto's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rizzuto.
Rizzuto is trying desperately to improve position.
The referee warns Rizzuto that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rizzuto is working to get back to half guard.
Cup wants to control the pace but Rizzuto is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cup controlling his opponent.
Rizzuto is squirming around, avoiding Cup's attempts to control the action.
Cup controlling the position easily from mount.
Rizzuto regains half guard.
Rizzuto won't allow Cup to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cup is looking to take a break and control but Rizzuto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cup trying to control from Rizzuto's half guard. Rizzuto has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Cup pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rizzuto is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cup trying to control but Rizzuto is working from the bottom.
Cup wanted to stand there but Rizzuto had control of the position.
Cup controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rizzuto is trying to keep Cup in close.
Rizzuto wants to sweep here but Cup controlling him for the moment.
Rizzuto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rizzuto keeping moving, preventing Cup from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cup lands with a right hand.
A combination from Cup does no damage.
Cup looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rizzuto wants to clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Cup on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rizzuto stuffs the takedown.
Cup misses with a body shot.
Rizzuto moves out of range as Cup strikes.
Cup throws a looping overhand right but Rizzuto ducks down to avoid it.
Rizzuto tries a head kick but it misses.
Rizzuto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Cup fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rizzuto, pushing him back against the cage.
Cup fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Rizzuto lands a takedown into guard.
Cup working a defensive guard here.
Rizzuto trying to control but Cup is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cup trying to keep a closed guard but Rizzuto is proving a slippery customer.
Rizzuto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cup is keeping the position for now.
Rizzuto trying to control the position from guard on top but Cup is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cup can't keep his opponent in guard - Rizzuto advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cup is staying active underneath Rizzuto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Red Cup dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cup wants to clinch
letting Rizzuto counter with a right hand.
A thudding body kick lands there by Rizzuto!
Cup misses with a body shot.
Cup is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A little jabbing left from Rizzuto on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cup takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rizzuto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cup manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cup avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cup throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cup tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab lands there for Cup.
Cup tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rizzuto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Red Cup is winning the standup battle so far.
Rizzuto jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Cup will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cup swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cup tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cup throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rizzuto uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cup.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cup darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cup is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rizzuto.
A punch combination from Cup misses.
Cup throws a combination that misses
and Rizzuto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rizzuto avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cup falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rizzuto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rizzuto.
Rizzuto thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Cup if he has to take too many more of those.
Red Cup is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cup throws a poor cross that misses
and Rizzuto connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cup will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Red Cup seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cup fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rizzuto manages to avoid it.
Rizzuto moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Cup misses with a double jab
and Rizzuto counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cup misses with a takedown attempt
and Rizzuto counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Cup is rocked!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Red Cup. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rizzuto shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Oh Cup is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rizzuto works his way into side control.
Rizzuto wants to control but Cup is keeping him busy.
Cup seems to have got his legs back now.
Cup sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rizzuto is keen to just control but Cup is a slippery customer.
Cup taking some punishment here, with Rizzuto in his half guard.
Rizzuto wants to pass to mount but Cup is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rizzuto is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Cup to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Rizzuto trying to control the position from guard on top but Cup is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cup is looking for a triangle but Rizzuto pushes his legs off easily.
Rizzuto makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rizzuto throws a big elbow that misses.

Cup working for a triangle but Rizzuto defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rizzuto sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rizzuto looking to pass the guard.
Cup wants to get back to his feet but Rizzuto is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Cup working a defensive guard here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rizzuto trying to control the position from guard on top but Cup is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alessandro Rizzuto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rizzuto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rizzuto is looking to land body kicks.
Cup throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Alessandro Rizzuto has been cut.
Rizzuto ducks under a wild hook from Cup.
Cup misses with a wild body shot.
Cup throws out a loose jab but Rizzuto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cup throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Cup thows a left - swing and a miss!

Rizzuto closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Cup quickly recovers to half guard.
Cup won't allow Rizzuto to pass to mount.
Cup moves into full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rizzuto lands a couple of digs.
Cup is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzuto with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rizzuto is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rizzuto looking to pass the guard.
Rizzuto trying to control but Cup is working from the bottom.
Rizzuto looking to pass the guard.
Rizzuto trying to control the position from guard on top but Cup is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Rizzuto drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Cup dives on top into guard.

Cup trying to control but Rizzuto is working from the bottom.
Cup stays in close to Rizzuto's body and controls the position.
Rizzuto keeping moving, preventing Cup from controlling successfully.
Cup tries to free his leg and advance position but Rizzuto is retaining full guard.
Cup controlling from the top position.
Rizzuto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rizzuto manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cup manages to get himself to full guard.

Rizzuto is looking to work some ground and pound but Cup has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzuto slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rizzuto won't allow Cup to get back to his feet.
Rizzuto trying to control but Cup is working from the bottom.
Rizzuto is working Cup over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Cup looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rizzuto chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rizzuto trying to control the position from guard on top but Cup is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rizzuto pushes down on Cup's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rizzuto is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Cup on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cup is looking to control Rizzuto's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cup avoid being mounted?
Rizzuto uses his free foot to push down on Cup's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Cup.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alessandro Rizzuto.
I think Rizzuto has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alessandro Rizzuto!
Red Cup spoke after the fight, saying 'That wasn't fun.'.