PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Child (ranked 422 p4p, 60 weight class) and Sam Rinaldi (ranked 329 p4p, 49 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Child might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to VooDoo . Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Child
vs
Rinaldi

187 cm
38
198 lbs
23 - 17 - 1

187 cm
28
195 lbs
12 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

Destructive Striking Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 17 - 1, fighting out of New York, Marcus Child!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Rinaldi!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Child moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Marcus Child seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rinaldi slips under a jab.
Despite the aggression on Rinaldi's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Child lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Child scores with a leg kick.
Child moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Child with a jab.

Rinaldi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A lull in the action here.
Child is looking for a sweep.
Child is trying to control Rinaldi's posture but Rinaldi avoids it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Child is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Child is trying to escape the position but Rinaldi is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Child tries to bench press Rinaldi off him but Rinaldi keeps the position.
Rinaldi trying to control the position but Child is working away.
Child is looking to reverse the position.
Child struggling a bit here.
Rinaldi is working Child over with some ground and pound from side control.
Rinaldi looks up at the clock and then as Child takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rinaldi smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
A lull in the action here as Rinaldi stalls from top position.
Rinaldi working the head with strikes.
Rinaldi throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Child is pushing Rinaldi's head away, looking to escape. Rinaldi manages to hold on to the position though.
Rinaldi working the ground and pound.

Child sneaks out the side door and pushes Rinaldi away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Rinaldi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Child connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Child misses with a right hand
and Rinaldi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Child lands with an uppercut that bounces Rinaldi off the cage and back into range.
Child lands with a thumping leg kick.
Good leg kick by Child there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Child darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rinaldi moves out of range of the strikes.
Some wild striking there from Rinaldi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Child.
Rinaldi staying out of range there.
Child scores with a jab to the head.
Child looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Child lands a leg kick that knocks Rinaldi off balance momentarily.
Rinaldi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Child.
Rinaldi lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Child throws a jab but it's blocked by Rinaldi.
Child throws a right hand that misses
and Rinaldi counters with a one-two to the body.
Rinaldi moves forwards but Child connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rinaldi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Child.
Rinaldi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Child rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Rinaldi counters with a leg kick then a big left hand that sends Child down! Rinaldi is looking to finish but Child is intelligently defending himself.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Child is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Child works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rinaldi distracts Child with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Child has momentary wrist control but Rinaldi slips an elbow through the middle.
Rinaldi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rinaldi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rinaldi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rinaldi advances position into side control!
Rinaldi trying to control the position but Child is working away.
Rinaldi is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Child is pushing Rinaldi's head away, looking to escape. Rinaldi manages to hold on to the position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Marcus Child will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Some wild striking there from Rinaldi.
Child getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Child ducks under a wild hook from Rinaldi.
A swing and a miss from Rinaldi.
Sam Rinaldi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rinaldi fails to land with a series of punches.
Child half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Child getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Child misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Child keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rinaldi moves out of range of the strikes.
Rinaldi slips under a jab from Child.
Rinaldi slips a jab from Child.
Marcus Child is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Child thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rinaldi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Child lands a glancing blow to the side of Rinaldi's head.
Rinaldi scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Child thumps Rinaldi with a low kick.
Child looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rinaldi dodges the punch combination from Child.
Child ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rinaldi moves away.
Rinaldi misses with a hook. Child ducked under it nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Rinaldi. Those never looked like landing.
Child lands a body shot.
Child misses with an uppercut. Rinaldi saw that one coming.
Rinaldi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Rinaldi ducks under a wild hook from Child.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi ducks right into an uppercut from Child.
Child misses with a lunging right hand
and Rinaldi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rinaldi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Child throws out the jab.
Child looks to land a right hand but Rinaldi moved out of range.
Child connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rinaldi momentarily.
Child dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rinaldi. That did some damage!
Rinaldi connects with the punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Rinaldi misses the target.
Rinaldi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

It looks like Marcus Child has been cut.
Child throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rinaldi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A nice leg kick lands there from Child.
Child rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rinaldi counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi throws a right and a left that Child avoids nicely.
Child lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rinaldi moves forwards but Child connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rinaldi looks to land a right hand but Child moved out of range.
Child lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rinaldi circles away quickly and effectively.
A looping hook to the body misses from Child. Rinaldi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jab from Child.
Rinaldi might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Child dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rinaldi. That did some damage!
A chopping leg kick lands by Child.
Child misses with a hook
and Rinaldi counters with a nice uppercut.
Child loads up on a big right hand but Rinaldi slips the punch.
Child looks to land a left hand but Rinaldi moved out of range nicely.
Rinaldi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Child swings widly with a right hand
and Rinaldi counters with a left and a right that stings Child.
Child thumps Rinaldi with a low kick.
Child uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rinaldi.
Child throws a leg kick which misses Rinaldi's front leg but catches the back leg as Rinaldi tries to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Rinaldi.
Rinaldi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A chopping leg kick lands by Child.
Child throws a looping overhand right but Rinaldi ducks down to avoid it.
Rinaldi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rinaldi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Child throws a hook to the side of Rinaldi's head but Rinaldi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rinaldi throws an off balance right hand
and Child counters with a nice leg kick.
Rinaldi lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Child dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Child's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rinaldi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Child can pounce on him.
Child is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rinaldi.
Rinaldi throws a right and a left that Child avoids nicely.
That kick from Child tenderised Rinaldi's leg. Rinaldi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rinaldi slips a jab from Child.
Rinaldi looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rinaldi throws a body shot but no joy.
Child scores with a body shot.
Child lands a jab to the head.
Child cracks the inside of Rinaldi's front leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Child swings widly with a right hand
and Rinaldi counters with a stiff right hand.
Rinaldi throws a hook but Child avoids it easily.
Rinaldi shoots for a double leg takedown but Child sprawls well. He's pushed Rinaldi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rinaldi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinaldi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Child as he avoids it easily.
Child slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rinaldi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Child swings for the body but Rinaldi moves out of range.
Marcus Child is winning the standup battle so far.
Child jabs Rinaldi right on the nose. Rinaldi blinks but takes it well.
Child throws a series of punches but Rinaldi avoids them all with ease.
Child throws a hook but Rinaldi avoids it easily.
Child throws a poor cross that misses
and Rinaldi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Child displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rinaldi.
Marcus Child has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Rinaldi.
Child lands a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Child stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Child wants it to stay on the feet.
Child catches Rinaldi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rinaldi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Child.
Child connects with an inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Child.
Child throws a big shot that misses.
Rinaldi unleashes a big counter combination but Child bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Child. Rinaldi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rinaldi now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Child throws an off balance right hand
and Rinaldi counters with a one-two to the body.
Child missing with a left hand there. Rinaldi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rinaldi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sam Rinaldi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Child looks to land a right hand but Rinaldi moved out of range.
Rinaldi defending well as Child loads up on a big left hand.
Child throws a looping overhand right but Rinaldi ducks down to avoid it.
Rinaldi throws a jab when Child was well out of range.
Child throws a quick counter kick to the body but Rinaldi avoids it.
Child swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Child throws an off balance right hand

and Rinaldi counters with a leg kick then a big left hand that sends Child down! Rinaldi is looking to finish but Child is intelligently defending himself.

Child is rocked!
Child looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rinaldi trying to control the position from guard on top but Child is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Child working a defensive guard here.
Rinaldi scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rinaldi stops Child from standing up.
Rinaldi scoring with some ground and pound.
Rinaldi wants to control from the top but Child keeps moving.
Rinaldi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Marcus Child is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rinaldi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Child controlling the position.
Rinaldi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Child is on top in guard.

Rinaldi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Child wants to control from the top but Rinaldi keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marcus Child.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Child, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Child!
Marcus Child thanked the fans post fight for their support.