PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Udo Dirkschneider (ranked 3929 p4p, 441 weight class) and Ernesto Rizzari (ranked 4017 p4p, 449 weight class). Udo Dirkschneider has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Dirkschneider
vs
Rizzari

181 cm
24
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Udo Dirkschneider!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ernesto Rizzari!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Illya Tyunina and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dirkschneider takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

It looks like Ernesto Rizzari has been cut.
Rizzari has a takedown stuffed.
A head kick by Dirkschneider misses

and Rizzari counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rizzari drops an elbow to the side of Dirkschneider's head.
Rizzari controlling the action here.
Dirkschneider definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Rizzari stops Dirkschneider from getting back to his feet.
Rizzari is controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rizzari stops Dirkschneider from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzari stalling.
Dirkschneider is trying to escape back to his feet but Rizzari uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dirkschneider pushes Rizzari away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rizzari gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Dirkschneider tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Rizzari content just to control the position here.
Dirkschneider is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Rizzari wants to finish this one by submission but Dirkschneider is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rizzari.

Rizzari has hold of Dirkschneider's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Dirkschneider manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzari controlling from mount.
Dirkschneider is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Rizzari landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rizzari content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dirkschneider is bucking up trying to escape but Rizzari cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rizzari controlling the position easily from mount.
Dirkschneider squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Rizzari looking to finish Dirkschneider with some ground and pound. This is bad for Dirkschneider!
Rizzari controlling from mount.
Rizzari fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzari content just to control the position here.
Dirkschneider is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Rizzari controlling from mount.
BOOM! Rizzari connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rizzari content just to control the position here.
Rizzari landing strikes from the mount and Dirkschneider is in trouble!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rizzari controlling from the full mount.
Rizzari lands a couple of good shots and Dirkschneider has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rizzari avoids the head kick by Dirkschneider.
Dirkschneider will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Dirkschneider rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rizzari moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rizzari with the counter takedown but Dirkschneider avoids it easily.

Dirkschneider fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rizzari to the ground. Dirkschneider is now in Rizzari's guard.

Rizzari scrambles and gets back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dirkschneider is defended easily by Rizzari.
Dirkschneider tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rizzari sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dirkschneider somewhat.
Rizzari is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Rizzari shoots in looking for a takedown but Dirkschneider manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rizzari's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
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!
Dirkschneider plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dirkschneider misses with a takedown attempt

and Rizzari counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Udo Dirkschneider. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rizzari is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Rizzari seems to be looking for submissions.
Still in half guard, Rizzari seems content to control.
Dirkschneider is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rizzari in particular looking to stall.

Rizzari looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Dirkschneider pushes Rizzari off looking to stand but Rizzari dives back in and keeps control.
Rizzari controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dirkschneider is looking to escape.
Rizzari content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Rizzari fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dirkschneider to the ground. Rizzari is now in Dirkschneider's guard.
Rizzari is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzari forces his way into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rizzari in particular looking to stall.
Rizzari frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rizzari won't let Dirkschneider get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rizzari has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Dirkschneider's face.
Rizzari looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rizzari content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernesto Rizzari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ernesto Rizzari's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dirkschneider throws a head kick that misses

and Rizzari counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rizzari works his foot free and advances to mount.
Rizzari looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rizzari lands a heavy elbow.
Dirkschneider is trying to stand up.
Rizzari controlling from mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dirkschneider takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Rizzari controlling from mount.

Rizzari is working for a guillotine from mount but Dirkschneider frees his head quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzari controlling the position easily from mount.
Rizzari is continuing to stall.
Dirkschneider's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Rizzari working the ground and pound effectively.
You get the feeling that Dirkschneider really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's two 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.
Rizzari is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Dirkschneider tries to buck Rizzari off but he can't manage it.
Rizzari raining down shots from the mount!
Rizzari controlling the pace for now.
Ernesto Rizzari has got the better of the ground game so far.
Let's hope that Rizzari 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.
Rizzari is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rizzari is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Dirkschneider can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Dirkschneider is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rizzari lands a heavy elbow.
Dirkschneider working to try and regain half guard.
Rizzari takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rizzari has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rizzari with shots to the head and body - Dirkschneider looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rizzari postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Dirkschneider looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzari controlling his opponent.
Rizzari landing strikes from the mount and Dirkschneider is in trouble!
Rizzari unloading with bombs!
Rizzari has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dirkschneider really wants to buck Rizzari off and get back to his feet.
Dirkschneider working to try and regain half guard.
Udo Dirkschneider has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ernesto Rizzari is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dirkschneider throwing hammer fists to the chest of Rizzari. What's that going to do exactly?

And that's the end of the fight!
Ernesto Rizzari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rizzari winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 26:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ernesto Rizzari!