PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Don Johns (ranked 2227 p4p, 2519 weight class) and Jake Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Johns
vs
Rizzo

191 cm
42
220
23 - 18 - 0

195 cm
28
207
11 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 18 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Don Johns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jake Rizzo!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johns bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rizzo's head backwards.
Don Johns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rizzo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Johns has Rizzo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rizzo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rizzo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rizzo has a couple of punches blocked by Johns.
Johns lands an elbow inside.
Johns tries to land knees in the clinch but Rizzo avoids the damage to the body.
Rizzo displaying some good clinch control by pressing Johns up against the cage.
Rizzo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rizzo pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rizzo wants to take the fight to the mat but Johns manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rizzo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rizzo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Johns has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Johns postures up and lands a big shot to Rizzo's brow.
Johns loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Our spies down at at kill or be killed F boring Fights inform us that Rizzo has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Rizzo is looking for a triangle but Johns pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johns stands up and waves to Rizzo to follow him.

Johns fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rizzo, pushing him back against the cage.
Rizzo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Johns blocks an uppercut.
Johns tries to stall but Rizzo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Come on Rizzo - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Johns's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Johns is trying to stall.
Rizzo scores with a shoulder strike.
Johns missing with knees to the body.
Johns is trying to drag Rizzo to the mat but Rizzo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rizzo scores with a shot to the side of Johns's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo scores with a shot to the side of Johns's head.

Rizzo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Johns uses from the top position.

Rizzo has his foot on Johns's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Johns works his way back into a safe position though.

Rizzo working for a triangle but Johns defends it easily.
Rizzo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rizzo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Johns defends well.
Johns has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Johns sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Johns trying to control the position from guard on top but Rizzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rizzo is working an open guard so Johns takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A left lands for Johns.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rizzo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Johns drives through and clinches with Rizzo against the cage.
Johns scores a nice knee to the body.
Rizzo tries to work over Johns's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rizzo lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johns trying to land knees to the body.
Rizzo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johns is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Johns. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rizzo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Johns is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rizzo is keeping busy.
Johns putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rizzo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Johns blocking some punches.
Rizzo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Johns tries for a takedown. No joy.
Johns blocks a body shot from Rizzo.
Johns taking a breather.
Rizzo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Johns backwards.
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 looking to stall.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rizzo as Johns tries to tie him up.
Rizzo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Johns fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rizzo manages to avoid it.

Rizzo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johns, pushing him back against the cage.

Johns manages to pull guard.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Johns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Johns looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rizzo has picked Johns up and slammed him! Johns can't keep hold of the triangle and Rizzo manages to pass to side control!
Johns is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rizzo trying to control the position but Johns is working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A lull in the action here.

Rizzo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Johns, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rizzo is trying to get an arm triangle but Johns is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johns is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Johns is looking to escape.
Rizzo wants to pass to mount but Johns is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Rizzo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Johns doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rizzo.
Johns is looking to escape.

Rizzo is looking for submissions but instead, Johns has regained full guard.
Rizzo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Johns working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Rizzo has passed into half guard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo trying to pass the guard but Johns defending well.
Rizzo is trying to control the action in half guard but Johns is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Johns is trying to stand back up but Rizzo is controlling him

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rizzo slips under a jab.
Rizzo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rizzo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Johns has Rizzo up against the cage in a clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rizzo.
Rizzo is leaning against Johns and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rizzo blocking some punches.
Johns tries to pull guard but Rizzo holds him up against the cage and eventually Johns drops back down to his feet.
Rizzo managing to block the knees to the body from Johns.
Johns drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stalling in the clinch from Rizzo.
Rizzo lands a nice uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Rizzo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Rizzo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

It looks like Don Johns has been cut.
Johns swinging wildly here.
Rizzo doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Johns ducks under a wild hook from Rizzo.
Johns avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Johns misses the shot to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rizzo! But no joy.

Rizzo darts in and clinches Johns up against the cage.
Johns stalls.
Rizzo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rizzo controlling the action here for a moment.
Rizzo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Johnss head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rizzo works on Johns's body with a couple of short punches.
Rizzo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johns's elbow.
Johns tries to pull guard but Rizzo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rizzo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rizzo taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo wants to stall.
A short right from Rizzo.
Rizzo is looking to control Johns's arms but Johns gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rizzo has his back to the cage.
Johns is leaning against Rizzo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Johns lands a good knee to the midsection. Rizzo won't want to take too many of those.
A short uppercut from Rizzo.
Rizzo taking a breather.
Rizzo has Johns pushed against the cage.
Johns is trying to pull guard but Rizzo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Johns is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rizzo is defending well for now.
Rizzo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Rizzo slows down the pace here.
Rizzo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rizzo manages to pull guard.
Rizzo has a closed guard, preventing Johns from standing up.
Johns in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Don Johns has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Rizzo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Johns wants to control from the top but Rizzo keeps moving.
Rizzo wants to sweep but no luck.
Johns in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johns avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Rizzo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Johns working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jake Rizzo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rizzo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jake Rizzo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johns scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four 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.
Rizzo has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Johns decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rizzo, up you get!
Johns fails in his attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Johns.
Rizzo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Johns.
Johns misses with a body kick.
Johns misses with a hook
and Rizzo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A leg kick checked by Rizzo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jab by Rizzo.

Rizzo has managed to clinch.
Johns tries to pull guard but Rizzo holds him up against the cage and eventually Johns drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Don Johns. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rizzo lands a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Rizzo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rizzo 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 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Rizzo!
Jake Rizzo bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.