PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frank Rizzo (ranked 2214 p4p, 2456 weight class) and Patrick Slinger (ranked 231 p4p, 259 weight class). Slinger has chosen Hail Mary as his entrance music. Patrick Slinger will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Rizzo
vs
Slinger

150 cm
23
140
5 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
145
8 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Powerful

HELLBENT

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 5 - 2 - 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 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Patrick Slinger!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Phil Schofield and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizzo misses with an uppercut. Slinger saw that one coming.

Rizzo has closed the distance and engaged Slinger in a clinch.
Rizzo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rizzo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Slinger.

Rizzo decides to pull guard.
Slinger landing some decent shots from guard.
Rizzo has his hands on Slinger's head, controlling the position.
Slinger throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slinger postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Slinger is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Slinger.
Rizzo has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Rizzo keeping moving, preventing Slinger from controlling successfully.
Rizzo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Slinger trying to control but Rizzo is working from the bottom.

Slinger got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rizzo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Slinger has managed to get both his arms back between Rizzo's legs - danger averted.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Rizzo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Slinger lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rizzo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Slinger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Slinger trying to control but Rizzo is working from the bottom.
Rizzo has Slinger pulled in close to control his posture.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rizzo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Slinger working his ground and pound in the gym.
Rizzo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Slinger controls the pace.
Slinger cracks Rizzo with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slinger trying to control but Rizzo is working from the bottom.
Slinger is looking to work some ground and pound but Rizzo has wrist control.
Slinger trying to control the position from guard on top but Rizzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Slinger stopping the sweep attempt from Rizzo.
Slinger throws an elbow that misses. Rizzo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Slinger's guard. Nice move by Rizzo!

Slinger 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.
Slinger is trying to control the position but Rizzo postures up.
Slinger wants to sweep here but Rizzo controlling him for the moment.

Slinger looking for a guillotine here but Rizzo defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slinger keeping moving, preventing Rizzo from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Slinger is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rizzo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Slinger swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rizzo pushing down on Slinger's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rizzo is controlling the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rizzo seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Slinger for as long as he can get away with.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Rizzo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Slinger throws a leg kick but Rizzo sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rizzo throws a lazy right hand but Slinger sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rizzo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Slinger doesn't seem bothered though.
Rizzo throws a solid leg kick but Slinger takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Rizzo.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Slinger.
Rizzo throws a shot from downtown. Slinger moves away and avoids it.

Rizzo moves into the clinch.

Rizzo breaks the clinch.
Slinger shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Slinger looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Slinger.
Slinger will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Frank Rizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Slinger.
Slinger looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rizzo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Slinger moves away.
Slinger shoots in looking for a takedown but Rizzo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Slinger's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rizzo tries to clinch up.
And Slinger tries to counter it with a takedown but Rizzo pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Slinger throws a wild body kick that Rizzo sees coming a mile off.
Rizzo looks to score with a jab to the body but Slinger is just out of range.
Slinger drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Rizzo defends it well.
That kick from Slinger tenderised Rizzo's leg. Rizzo is trying to keep his angry face on.
Slinger throws a head kick that misses.
Rizzo blocks a head kick by Slinger.
Slinger is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rizzo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Slinger was well out of range. Poor timing from Rizzo.

Rizzo dives in and scores a takedown into Slinger's guard.
Rizzo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Slinger looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Slinger not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Slinger is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rizzo defends well.
Rizzo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slinger has momentary wrist control but Rizzo slips an elbow through the middle.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Slinger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rizzo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rizzo landing with the ground and pound.
Rizzo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Slinger is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Slinger manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rizzo manages to get himself to full guard.

Slinger avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slinger trying to control but Rizzo is working from the bottom.

Rizzo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Slinger doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Slinger manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Slinger looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Rizzo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Slinger can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Slinger cracks Rizzo with a solid left hand.

Rizzo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Slinger doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Rizzo is tightening it up a little... Slinger has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Slinger reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Slinger taps out! Nice BJJ there by Rizzo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Frank Rizzo!
Frank Rizzo decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
The defeated Patrick Slinger had this to say: 'Congratulations to my opponent. He got the better of me, and deserves all the credit in the world for his hard work. I hope we meet again.'.