PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elton John (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elton John has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rizzo
vs
John

185 cm
19
290 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Rizzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Elton John!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizzo drops John with a left right combo! Rizzo follows him down to the ground into side control.

John is rocked!

It looks like Elton John has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rizzo tries to stand but John is controlling his head.
John is still in real trouble! Can Rizzo finish him?
John seems to have recovered his senses.
John tries to improve position but can't.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Horrible takedown by John or perhaps it was just good defense by Rizzo which made him look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo is looking to clinch.
Rizzo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
John keeps the fight on the outside.
John misses with a takedown attempt - Rizzo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
John looks gassed!

John decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
John wants to take a breather but Rizzo is having none of it.
John prevents Rizzo from standing back up.
John tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Rizzo.
Rizzo is refusing to be controlled, as John sits in half guard.

Rizzo makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

John takes the fight into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rizzo is looking to break free of the clinch but John has double underhooks.
John stalling.

John breaks from the clinch.
John looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rizzo is fending him off so far but John persists. Nope, Rizzo circles away and we're back to standing.
James Rizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elton John.
Rizzo throws a right hand that John ducks under and follows up with a left that John also avoids with ease.
Rizzo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rizzo closes the distance looking to clinch

and John counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
John keeps control of Rizzo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
John landing knees to the body.
John wants a takedown but no success here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo can't break the clinch.
Rizzo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but John has him pressed against the cage.
Rizzo is trying to break free.

John breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rizzo wants to clinch up but John keeps it at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rizzo wants to break free but John has control.
John goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rizzo prevents it.
John tries to land knees in the clinch but Rizzo avoids the damage to the body.
John tries to work over Rizzo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rizzo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rizzo can't break the clinch.
The is referee keeping an eye on John - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
John tries to pull guard but Rizzo won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rizzo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

John manages to break the clinch.
Rizzo throws a series of punches but John avoids them all with ease.
Rizzo throws a nice looking combination but John bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

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

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
John stands and steps away. Rizzo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Rizzo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

John instigates a clinch.

John has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Rizzo regains guard immediately.
Rizzo wants to stand and escape but John is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rizzo throws a right and a left that both miss.
James Rizzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rizzo wants to clinch but John slips to the side

and John counters with a nice double leg into guard.
John's corner is telling him to maintain position.
John trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
John throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rizzo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
John trying to control but Rizzo is working from the bottom.
John pushing down on Rizzo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

John is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
John 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 knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for John on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John wants to pass the guard but Rizzo is defending well.

John is looking for a kimura but Rizzo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for John to get the leverage.

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

and John decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rizzo's guard.
John trying to control but Rizzo is working from the bottom.
John won't allow Rizzo to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rizzo keeping full guard, as John tries to pass.
Rizzo wants to get back to his feet but John is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

John decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
John rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rizzo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
James Rizzo is winning the standup battle so far.
Rizzo lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rizzo throws a series of punches but John moves out of range.

John moves into the clinch successfully.
John dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
John tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rizzo smiles and moves away.
John tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rizzo swivels and escapes.
Rizzo misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

John darts in and clinches Rizzo up against the cage.
John lands with a short punch from the clinch.
John pushes Rizzo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

John breaks the clinch.
Rizzo takes one to the chin there.
John fails to land the takedown.
James Rizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elton John.
Rizzo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by John.
John shoots in looking for a takedown. Rizzo tries to sprawl out of it but John 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 tries to clinch but John moves away

and John counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rizzo wants to get back to striking at distance but John won't allow it.

John breaks the clinch.
John showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rizzo.

Rizzo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

John breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
James Rizzo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rizzo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and John counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rizzo's knee momentarily.

John shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than John was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rizzo is squirming around, avoiding John's attempts to control the action.
John controlling his opponent.
Let's hope that John 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elton John showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Elton John's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Rizzo. No joy for John on that attempt.
Rizzo misses with a combination
and John counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rizzo wants to clinch

and John moves into the clinch.
John slowing the pace effectively.
Rizzo is trying to break free.
Rizzo has had enough of the clinch but John keeps him there for the moment.
John'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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
John has Rizzo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rizzo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
John content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
John drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rizzo pulls his leg out and moves away.
James Rizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elton John.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo tries to clinch

and John moves into the clinch.
Rizzo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
John doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rizzo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rizzo is trying to break free.
Rizzo tries to break the clinch but John is controlling the position.
John wants a takedown but no success here.
Rizzo can't break the clinch.
Rizzo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
John working some nice short punches in the clinch.

John drags the fight down to the ground.

John working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rizzo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rizzo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
John has a closed guard, preventing Rizzo from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
John strikes from his own guard.
Rizzo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
John is trying to control the position but Rizzo postures up.
John has a closed guard, preventing Rizzo from standing up.
Rizzo won't allow John to sweep him here.
Rizzo wants to stand but John has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
John shoots in looking for a takedown. Rizzo tries to sprawl out of it but John 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts John, as that shot connected.
Rizzo misses with a few strikes there.
John throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rizzo's waist but Rizzo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing John off to one side.

John clinches with his opponent.
John keeps control of Rizzo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rizzo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
John lands on the inside with an uppercut.
John lands an elbow inside that Rizzo shrugs off.
Rizzo tries to break the clinch but John is controlling the position.

John breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
John slips a jab and a cross from Rizzo.
No luck for John with that takedown attempt.
Rizzo misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Some wild striking there from Rizzo.
John fails to land the takedown.
John misses with a double jab.
Rizzo misses with a combination

and John counters by clinching up.
John stalls.
John missing with knees to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rizzo looking to stall.
Rizzo avoiding damage as John throws knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elton John comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think John 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elton John!