PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lou Gotch (ranked 1407 p4p, 1015 weight class) and Frank Rizzo (ranked 83 p4p, 59 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Lou Gotch has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Lou Gotch seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Gotch
vs
Rizzo

165 cm
28
145
11 - 3 - 0

150 cm
25
140
9 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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Bondi MMA 🏝️

AVALON

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Lou Gotch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Rizzo!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Glass and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizzo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Gotch drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gotch trying to control but Rizzo is working from the bottom.
Gotch pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rizzo is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rizzo keeping moving, preventing Gotch from controlling successfully.
We've been hearing good reports from Gotch's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rizzo keeping full guard, as Gotch tries to pass.
Gotch advances to half 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rizzo is in trouble now - Gotch has advanced to mount!
Gotch trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rizzo tries to hold on but Gotch pushes him away.
Gotch tries to control but Rizzo wriggling away.
Rizzo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gotch can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rizzo is looking to escape.
Rizzo is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Gotch has hold of Rizzo's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rizzo manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Gotch takes Rizzo's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Rizzo is in trouble.
Rizzo looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Gotch goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Rizzo escapes and is now in half guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotch trying to control from the bottom.
Rizzo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rizzo trying to control from half guard but Gotch is working away.
Gotch is looking for a sweep. Rizzo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gotch is trying to maintain the position but Rizzo is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rizzo throws a strike but Gotch avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rizzo is fighting to break Gotch's control of his arms but Gotch is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Rizzo lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Gotch looking for a guillotine here but Rizzo defends easily.

Gotch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rizzo defends well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gotch has his foot on Rizzo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rizzo works his way back into a safe position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lou Gotch dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gotch slips a jab and a cross from Rizzo.
Gotch uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rizzo.
Gotch goes for a double leg but Rizzo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rizzo continues to drive forward.
A right hook to the body lands for Rizzo.
Gotch fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rizzo lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gotch or not.
Gotch tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rizzo smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lou Gotch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gotch takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rizzo stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Rizzo. No joy for Gotch on that attempt.

Rizzo has closed the distance and engaged Gotch in a clinch.
Gotch tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rizzo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Gotch tries to pull guard but Rizzo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Gotch jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rizzo walks away with a smile on his face. Gotch gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo throws a right hand that Gotch ducks under and follows up with a left that Gotch also avoids with ease.
Gotch is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Rizzo.
Gotch avoids a kick to the body.
Rizzo throws a leg kick but Gotch moved away.
Gotch changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A good leg kick by Rizzo.
Rizzo lands a lovely overhand right.

Rizzo moves into range and clinches up with Gotch.
Rizzo pushes Gotch back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rizzo lands a right hand.
Gotch tries to pull guard but Rizzo won't allow it.
Rizzo digs a right hand into Gotch's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gotch's gas tank.
Rizzo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Rizzo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rizzo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gotch's guard.
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's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gotch is looking for a triangle but Rizzo pushes his legs off easily.
Rizzo trying to control but Gotch is working from the bottom.

Rizzo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gotch has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rizzo has managed to get both his arms back between Gotch's legs - danger averted.
Lou Gotch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Gotch looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gotch looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rizzo passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo scoring with punches from side control.
Gotch takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
You can see the frustration on Gotch's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gotch is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rizzo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Gotch is letting Rizzo control him for a moment.
Rizzo landing strikes.
Gotch tries to buck Rizzo off but Rizzo is having none of it.
Rizzo throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo is staying tight to Gotch's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Rizzo scores with punches from side control.

Rizzo is trying to get an arm triangle but Gotch is defending well.
Rizzo trying to control the position but Gotch is working away.
Rizzo landing a few strikes.
Rizzo working away.
Gotch looks to move to half guard but instead Rizzo has passed into mount! Damn!
Rizzo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rizzo avoids the attempt from Gotch to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Rizzo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rizzo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gotch manages to avoid it.
Gotch will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rizzo misses with a wild body shot.
Gotch attempts a counter takedown but Rizzo avoids it well and moves away.
Gotch avoids the body shot from Rizzo.
Rizzo fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Gotch fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Rizzo closes the distance and pushes Gotch back into the cage.
Rizzo gets through Gotch's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gotch jumps guard but Rizzo stands there with Gotch around his waist. Gotch gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lou Gotch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rizzo has hold of one of Gotch's legs. Gotch is fighting the takedown attempt but Rizzo gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Gotch has control of Rizzo's left arm, preventing Rizzo from doing any damage.
Rizzo wants to control from the top but Gotch keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gotch is keeping the position for now.
Rizzo trying to control but Gotch is working from the bottom.
Rizzo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Rizzo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gotch has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rizzo has managed to get both his arms back between Gotch's legs - danger averted.
Rizzo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rizzo works over Gotch with some ground and pound from guard.
Rizzo wants to control from the top but Gotch keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gotch keeping full guard, as Rizzo tries to pass.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Gotch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rizzo looking to sit in guard and control but Gotch gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gotch looking to sit in guard and control but Rizzo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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

Gotch 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo lands a couple of digs.
Rizzo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rizzo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gotch preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Gotch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rizzo defends it easily.
Gotch trying to control the position.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Gotch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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 frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Gotch is looking for a triangle but Rizzo pushes his legs off easily.
Rizzo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gotch pulls Rizzo in to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rizzo works over Gotch with some ground and pound from guard.
Gotch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rizzo is working Gotch over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Rizzo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rizzo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Rizzo!
After the fight, Frank Rizzo was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.