PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Maurits Assndrop (ranked 450 p4p, 1019 weight class) and Frank Rizzo (ranked 25 p4p, 53 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Assndrop
vs
Rizzo

168 cm
26
142
9 - 3 - 2

150 cm
24
140
7 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
HELLBENT

HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 2, fighting out of New York, Maurits Assndrop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Rizzo!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizzo throws a hook but Assndrop blocks it.
Rizzo tries to close the distance and clinch but Assndrop swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Rizzo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Assndrop, pushing him back against the cage.
Rizzo lands with a left to the head.
Assndrop wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rizzo has him pressed against the cage.
Assndrop is trying to force a seperation but Rizzo has the dominant position.

Assndrop pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Assndrop uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rizzo.
Assndrop lands a leg kick that knocks Rizzo off balance momentarily.
Rizzo blocks a low kick nicely.
Assndrop seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Rizzo just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Assndrop lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Assndrop throws a nice inside leg kick.
Assndrop misses with a body punch
and Rizzo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A big right from Rizzo misses.
Rizzo takes one on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo misses with a lunging right hand
and Assndrop connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Assndrop fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rizzo is out of range.
A jab from Assndrop misses.
Assndrop moves into range and connects with a jab.
Good work by Rizzo as he checks the leg kick.
Rizzo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Assndrop was well out of range. Poor timing from Rizzo.
As Rizzo backs away, Assndrop returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Rizzo moves out of range of the leg kick from Assndrop.
Maurits Assndrop is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Decent striking displayed by Assndrop there.
Assndrop is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rizzo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Assndrop manages to avoid it.
Rizzo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A jab from Assndrop does it's job there.
Rizzo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Assndrop paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Assndrop throws a quick inside leg kick.
Assndrop smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Assndrop throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A little jabbing left from Rizzo on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assndrop takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rizzo misses with a left hand
and Assndrop counters with a thumping low kick.
Assndrop misses with a looping right.
Assndrop jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rizzo steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Assndrop.
Maurits Assndrop seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Assndrop tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rizzo was well out of range. Poor timing from Assndrop.
Rizzo misses with a straight left.
Rizzo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Assndrop.
Assndrop clobbers Rizzo with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nice sprawl there from Assndrop as Rizzo shoots in.
Assndrop thuds his right hand into Rizzo's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Rizzo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Assndrop is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Assndrop ducks under a wild hook from Rizzo.
Rizzo misses with a straight left.
A jab from Assndrop misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assndrop throws a leg kick but Rizzo sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Assndrop avoids the body shot from Rizzo.
Some bone on bone action there as Rizzo checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rizzo moves away from the strike by Assndrop.

Rizzo takes the fight into the clinch.

Assndrop escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Assndrop throws a leg kick but Rizzo sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rizzo flicks out a counter leg kick but Assndrop steps away.
Assndrop tries to score with a low kick but Rizzo moves his leg out of the way.
Assndrop turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Assndrop is looking to score with low kicks.
Rizzo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Assndrop moves away.
Assndrop half committed to a counter leg kick.
Rizzo misses with a straight right.
Rizzo just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo misses the jab.
Assndrop throws a leg kick

and Rizzo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Assndrop won't be happy with that.
Rizzo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Assndrop keeps working.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
You can see the frustration on Assndrop's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rizzo throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Rizzo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rizzo trying to control the position but Assndrop is working away.
Rizzo throws a strike aimed at the side of Assndrop's head but Assndrop avoids it well.
Rizzo working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Assndrop being controlled for a moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maurits Assndrop dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rizzo looks to score with a jab to the body but Assndrop is just out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Assndrop misses the target.
Assndrop scores with a jab. Rizzo acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rizzo blocks a jab.
Assndrop displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rizzo throws out the jab.
Rizzo with a nice cross.
Good leg kick by Assndrop.
A solid leg kick lands there for Assndrop.
Assndrop cracks Rizzo with a good jab.
Assndrop is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rizzo can do to turn this around?
Rizzo is looking to clinch.
Assndrop fires out a quick counter leg kick but Rizzo just manages to avoid it.
Rizzo misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Assndrop misses with a low kick.
Assndrop throws a nice inside leg kick.
Assndrop uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rizzo.
Rizzo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rizzo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Assndrop.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assndrop pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rizzo is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Assndrop keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rizzo slips under a jab.
Assndrop shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
The fighters circling - Rizzo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Assndrop lands with a straight right. Rizzo didn't see that one coming.
Maurits Assndrop is winning the standup battle so far.

Assndrop gets tackled into the cage by Rizzo. Rizzo maintains the clinch.
Assndrop is trying to push Rizzo away but Rizzo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rizzo's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rizzo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Assndrop backwards.
Assndrop's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rizzo stalling against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Rizzo fails to land.
Assndrop is trying to break the clinch but Rizzo is controlling him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rizzo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rizzo breaks from the clinch.
Assndrop is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Rizzo misses with a takedown
and Assndrop makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Assndrop jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A right-left combo lands from Rizzo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A punch combination from Rizzo misses.
Rizzo throws a body shot but no joy.
Assndrop lands a leg kick that knocks Rizzo off balance momentarily.
Rizzo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Assndrop walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rizzo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rizzo looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Rizzo moves into the clinch.
Rizzo misses with a short punch on the inside.

Assndrop breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Assndrop catches Rizzo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Assndrop misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Rizzo misses.
Assndrop swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Assndrop throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Assndrop throws a chopping leg kick but Rizzo manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Assndrop throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rizzo looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Assndrop cracks Rizzo with an open hand slap.
Assndrop slips a jab from Rizzo.
Assndrop thows a leg kick but Rizzo checks it

so Rizzo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rizzo wants to control from the top but Assndrop keeps moving.
Assndrop preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Assndrop is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rizzo sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Assndrop swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rizzo has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at ubergym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Assndrop looking to control.
Rizzo preventing the sweep.
Rizzo with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Assndrop fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rizzo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rizzo moves out of range of the strikes.
Assndrop connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Assndrop finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Maurits Assndrop will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Assndrop buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Assndrop keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rizzo swings away with a body shot that misses
and Assndrop counters with a leg kick.
Assndrop cracks Rizzo with a good jab.
Assndrop takes a swing at Rizzo's ribcage but misses.
Rizzo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Assndrop scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Assndrop misses with an uppercut.
Rizzo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rizzo takes a swing at Assndrop's ribcage but misses.
Assndrop walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rizzo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Assndrop connects with a body shot that sends Rizzo's belly button to the back.
Assndrop walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rizzo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rizzo misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Assndrop counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Assndrop tests Rizzo's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assndrop lands with a cross.
Rizzo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Assndrop manages to avoid it.
Assndrop fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rizzo on the side of the head.
Assndrop takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Assndrop looks to score with a jab to the body but Rizzo is just out of range.
Assndrop throws a right hand that misses
and Rizzo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rizzo throws a hook but Assndrop blocks it.
Rizzo slips a jab from Assndrop.
Assndrop uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rizzo.
Rizzo misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rizzo. Assndrop does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rizzo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A leg kick checked by Rizzo.
Frank Rizzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Assndrop throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice body punch from Assndrop.
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!

Rizzo rushes Assndrop and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Assndrop's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A low kick from Assndrop misses
and Rizzo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rizzo throws out a leg kick but Assndrop moves out of range and Rizzo only half commits.
Rizzo digs a good hook to Assndrop's body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Assndrop.
Rizzo misses the shot to the body.
Rizzo checks a low kick from Assndrop.
Assndrop throws a leg kick
and Rizzo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
An inside leg kick from Assndrop misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rizzo! But no joy.
Rizzo slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rizzo looks to land a combination. Assndrop sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Assndrop throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rizzo stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Assndrop lands a really nice looking cross but Rizzo seems unphased.
Rizzo throws a looping overhand right but Assndrop ducks down to avoid it.
Rizzo just misses with a punch to the body.
Rizzo throws a hook but Assndrop blocks it.
It looked like Assndrop wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Maurits Assndrop is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A shot to the liver by Assndrop. Beautiful body shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Rizzo as he connects with a hook.
Assndrop scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Assndrop connects with a solid leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Assndrop avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Assndrop ducks under a wild hook from Rizzo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assndrop wants to land a leg kick but Rizzo is out of range.
Rizzo with the counter takedown but Assndrop avoids it easily.
Assndrop misses the shot to the body.
Donk. Assndrop catches Rizzo right on the button with a cross.
Assndrop moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rizzo is looking to clinch but Assndrop is avoiding it.
The fighters circling - Assndrop throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The crowd cheers as Assndrop lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rizzo doesn't seem phased though.
Assndrop uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rizzo has time to react.
Assndrop works the jab nicely.
Rizzo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Assndrop. Assndrop obviously looking to wear him down.
Assndrop on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Assndrop turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Assndrop moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maurits Assndrop showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Assndrop, 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maurits Assndrop!
Maurits Assndrop decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.