PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gustav Rinaldi (ranked 22864 p4p, 659 weight class) and Chris Omega (ranked 22578 p4p, 657 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rinaldi
vs
Omega

198 cm
24
205 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

187 cm
22
214 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gustav Rinaldi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 1, fighting out of London, Chris Omega!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Omega darts in and clinches Rinaldi up against the cage.

Omega has picked Rinaldi up - he's going for a ride! Omega dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Omega stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Omega tries to close the distance and clinch but Rinaldi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Omega gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Omega working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rinaldi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Omega is defending well.
Rinaldi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Omega is defending well.
Rinaldi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Omega avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gustav Rinaldi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rinaldi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Omega is defending well.
Omega putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rinaldi in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rinaldi is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Omega is defending well.
Omega pressing his opponent against the cage.
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!

Omega manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We've been hearing that Rinaldi has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Omega controls Rinaldi momentarily but Rinaldi frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinaldi stopping the sweep attempt from Omega.

Omega looking for a guillotine here but Rinaldi defends easily.

Omega looking for a guillotine here but Rinaldi defends easily.
Rinaldi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Omega looking to control.
Omega throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Rinaldi preventing the sweep.
Rinaldi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Omega bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rinaldi's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Omega is trying to control the position but Rinaldi postures up.
Rinaldi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Omega working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Omega looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rinaldi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Omega tries to clinch up.

Omega gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Omega manages to pull guard.
Omega throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rinaldi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Omega dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Omega closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Rinaldi's guard.

Rinaldi pushes Omega off and gets back to his feet.

Rinaldi feints and as Omega raises his hands in defense, Rinaldi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rinaldi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rinaldi forces his way into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Omega tries to roll over but Rinaldi keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Rinaldi is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Omega looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Omega desperately trying to maintain half guard.

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.
Omega wants to control the action here but instead Rinaldi manages to pass to full mount!
Rinaldi controlling the pace for now.
Omega is working to get back to half guard.
Rinaldi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Omega keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rinaldi controlling from mount.
Omega keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

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.

Rinaldi is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Omega has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Rinaldi scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Rinaldi working for a guillotine from mount but Omega is in no mood to give up.
Gustav Rinaldi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Omega tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Omega tries to lock up and control but Rinaldi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rinaldi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustav Rinaldi dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. 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.

Omega wants to clinch up but Rinaldi keeps it at a distance.
Rinaldi changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Omega rushes Rinaldi and presses him up against the cage.
Rinaldi is looking for a takedown.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Omega prevents the takedown attempt.
Rinaldi tries to score a body lock takedown but Omega shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gustav Rinaldi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rinaldi is working for takedown but Omega is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rinaldi is trying to drag Omega to the mat but Omega just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hook to the body lands for Omega.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Omega prevents a takedown attempt there.
Omega lands with a light punch inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Omega jumps into guard, dragging Rinaldi to the mat.

Omega looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Omega escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rinaldi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Omega is trying to control the position but Rinaldi postures up.
Rinaldi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rinaldi looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Omega working a defensive guard here.
Rinaldi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rinaldi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Omega has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rinaldi has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Omega sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rinaldi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rinaldi sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Omega is trying to stand.
Well, if Rinaldi is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rinaldi is thwarting Omega's attempts to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Omega closes the distance and clinches.
Omega stalls.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Omega obliges.

Omega manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Omega is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rinaldi defends well.
Omega 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Omega throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rinaldi escapes and throws Omega's legs to the side, diving into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Omega comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Omega 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Omega!