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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frank Rizzo (ranked 4008 p4p, 4129 weight class) and Satoshi Ekaku (ranked 354 p4p, 360 weight class). Satoshi Ekaku will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.
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| 150 cm
21
140
2 - 1 - 0 |
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173 cm
23
147
2 - 1 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Rizzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Satoshi Ekaku!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and James Glass.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Ekaku.
Rizzo attempts a counter takedown but Ekaku avoids it well and moves away.
The fighters circling - Rizzo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ekaku takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Rizzo blocks a low kick nicely.
Rizzo walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ekaku tries a low kick but Rizzo avoids it.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rizzo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ekaku is not content to let Rizzo control the position.
Rizzo looking to control but instead Ekaku has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Rizzo trying to control the action but Ekaku is working from the bottom.
Rizzo throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ekaku to regain full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ekaku works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ekaku being controlled here, momentarily.
Rizzo postures up in Ekaku's guard and throws a big left but Ekaku blocks it.
Rizzo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rizzo throws an elbow that misses. Ekaku uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rizzo's guard. Nice move by Ekaku!
Rizzo trying to keep a closed guard but Ekaku is proving a slippery customer.
My spies in Tosen's Home for Lost Boys inform me that Ekaku has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Rizzo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ekaku gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku stopping the sweep attempt from Rizzo.
Ekaku being controlled here momentarily.
Rizzo trying to keep a closed guard but Ekaku is proving a slippery customer.
Ekaku sitting in guard here, content to control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rizzo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ekaku's guard.
Rizzo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rizzo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Ekaku keeping moving, preventing Rizzo from controlling successfully.
Rizzo is really struggling to control Ekaku but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
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.
A low kick from Ekaku is predictable there
and Rizzo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rizzo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rizzo throwing strikes from guard but Ekaku blocks nicely.
Ekaku avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rizzo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rizzo wants to control from the top but Ekaku keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rizzo tries to free his leg and advance position but Ekaku is retaining full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Frank Rizzo dominated that round.
That's time! Rizzo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Ekaku lands a head kick. Rizzo smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rizzo blocks a leg kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Rizzo misses the target.
Ekaku walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rizzo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Satoshi Ekaku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ekaku throws a leg kick
and Rizzo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rizzo ducks under a wild hook from Ekaku.
Rizzo misses with a looping left.
Rizzo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ekaku tries to score with a low kick but Rizzo moves his leg out of the way.
Ekaku throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ekaku goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ekaku's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rizzo connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ekaku scrambles back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekaku throws a leg kick that is checked
and Rizzo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ekaku looking to control.
Rizzo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Ekaku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rizzo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ekaku can do to turn this around?
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekaku looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ekaku can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rizzo controls the pace.
Rizzo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ekaku looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rizzo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rizzo looking to sit in guard and control but Ekaku gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rizzo is trying to keep Ekaku in close.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ekaku is stalling in the full guard.
Rizzo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ekaku is aware though and is defending well.
Rizzo working for submissions but it's allowed Ekaku to get to half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rizzo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Rizzo here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Ekaku sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ekaku's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ekaku throws a low kick but Rizzo avoids it.
Ekaku looks to land a body kick but Rizzo moved away.
Rizzo appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rizzo throws a good cross that connects.
Nice body punch from Rizzo.
Rizzo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ekaku.
Ekaku delivers a nice body kick.
Ekaku misses with a leg kick
and Rizzo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ekaku's guard.
Rizzo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rizzo wants to pass the guard but Ekaku is keeping the position.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Ekaku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ekaku tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rizzo throwing strikes from guard but Ekaku blocks nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Frank Rizzo dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Rizzo moves out of range as Ekaku throws a body kick.
Rizzo throws a series of punches but Ekaku moves out of range.
Ekaku feints a counter leg kick.
Rizzo avoids a kick to the body.
Ekaku moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ekaku takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ekaku throws a lazy right hand but Rizzo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rizzo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rizzo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ekaku misses with a low kick as Rizzo jumps back.
Ekaku swings for the body but Rizzo moves out of range.
Rizzo half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Rizzo throws a body punch but Ekaku moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekaku throws a leg kick which misses Rizzo's front leg but catches the back leg as Rizzo tries to avoid it.
Rizzo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ekaku fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Satoshi Ekaku seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rizzo tries to clinch up.
Ekaku only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Ekaku connects with a solid leg kick.
Rizzo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ekaku's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ekaku pulls Rizzo in close to prevent any damage.
Ekaku keeping moving, preventing Rizzo from controlling successfully.
Ekaku avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rizzo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rizzo trying to control but Ekaku is working from the bottom.
Rizzo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Frank Rizzo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rizzo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Ekaku throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ekaku is looking to score with low kicks.
Ekaku throws a leg kick but Rizzo checks it.
Ekaku uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rizzo.
Ekaku thinks about the counter body kick.
Ekaku throws a leg kick but Rizzo checks it.
Ekaku throws a leg kick
and Rizzo counters with a single leg into guard. Ekaku didn't expect that.
Rizzo wants to control from the top but Ekaku keeps moving.
Rizzo tries to free his leg and advance position but Ekaku is retaining full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekaku wants to sweep here but Rizzo controlling him for the moment.
Ekaku controlling the position.
Rizzo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ekaku swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ekaku working a defensive guard here.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rizzo swings for the body but Ekaku moves out of range.
Ekaku throws a nice inside leg kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ekaku misses with a low kick.
Ekaku throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
An inside leg kick lands from Ekaku.
Ekaku goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rizzo is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Rizzo catches Ekaku with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rizzo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ekaku moves away.
Rizzo throws a body punch but Ekaku moves out of range.
Frank Rizzo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nice defenses there by Ekaku.
The fighters circling - Ekaku throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A slow jab from Rizzo misses its intended target.
Ekaku tries a quick counter leg kick but Rizzo is wise to it.
Rizzo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ekaku keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Satoshi Ekaku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ekaku is staying active underneath Rizzo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Rizzo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rizzo, 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Rizzo!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
36% |
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