PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frank Rizzo (ranked 756 p4p, 417 weight class) and Shigeru Otori (ranked 44 p4p, 22 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Rizzo
vs
Otori

150 cm
26
140
10 - 5 - 0

178 cm
27
145
14 - 10 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel
Conviction

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 10 - 5 - 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 14 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Shigeru Otori!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Otori lands with a slapping head kick.
Rizzo works the jab nicely.
Rizzo on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Otori cracks Rizzo with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rizzo looks to score with a jab to the body but Otori is just out of range.
Rizzo moves out of range of the strikes.
Rizzo throws a push kick but Otori slaps the foot to one side.
Otori misses with a hook.
Rizzo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Otori counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rizzo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Otori was well out of range. Poor timing from Rizzo.
Otori throws out a counter right but Rizzo avoids it with no problem.
Otori throws a nice head kick!
Rizzo misses with a wild combination.
Otori swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
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!
Otori connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rizzo. Rizzo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rizzo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The fighters circling - Otori throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Otori pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Otori lands the left hand.

Rizzo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Otori was covering up waiting for the punch and Rizzo finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Otori is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rizzo looking to pass the guard.
Rizzo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Otori working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rizzo.

Otori manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Otori moves out of range of the body kick from Rizzo.
Rizzo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Otori.
Rizzo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shigeru Otori is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo moves in looking to clinch but Otori pushes him off.
Otori cracks Rizzo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rizzo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rizzo slips a straight right by Otori.
Rizzo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Rizzo defending well as Otori loads up on a big left hand.
Otori throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shigeru Otori seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Otori connects with a looping right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A thudding body kick lands there by Otori!
Good shot there by Otori.
Rizzo misses with a right hand
enabling Otori to counter with a crisp jab.

Rizzo feints and as Otori raises his hands in defense, Rizzo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rizzo is stalling in the full guard.
Rizzo trying to control but Otori is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Otori is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rizzo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Otori manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Rizzo moves away from the strike by Otori.
Rizzo misses with a right hand
and Otori counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Otori looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Otori with a jab.
Otori chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Otori feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rizzos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Otori throws a head kick but Rizzo moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Otori throws an off balance right hand
and Rizzo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Otori pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rizzo half committed to a counter leg kick.
Rizzo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rizzo misses with a body punch
and Otori counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rizzo slips under a jab from Otori.
Otori is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Rizzo had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Otori throws a leg kick but Rizzo sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Rizzo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Otori on his heels. He'll look to pass Otori's guard now, I'm sure.

Otori has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Rizzo has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Rizzo lands with a right to the head.
Rizzo avoiding damage.
Otori scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rizzo.
Otori tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rizzo avoids it.
Otori softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Otori creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rizzo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Otori backwards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shigeru Otori dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rizzo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Rizzo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Frank Rizzo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rizzo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Otori has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Donk. Otori catches Rizzo right on the button with a cross.
Otori throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A low kick from Otori is predictable there
and Rizzo counters with a nice body shot.
Rizzo misses with a looping right.
Rizzo takes one to the chin there.
Otori scores with a head kick. Rizzo tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rizzo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Otori manages to avoid it.
Rizzo looks to land a combination. Otori sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Otori cracks Rizzo with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Otori looks to land a right hand but Rizzo moved out of range.
Rizzo feinted with a counter takedown.
Otori misses the jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rizzo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rizzo slips a jab from Otori.
Otori misses with a head kick.
Good exchange - Otori coming out on top.
Shigeru Otori seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo lands with an overhand left.

Otori gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Otori wants to get back to his feet but Rizzo passes into half guard.
Rizzo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Otori looks like he's trying to stand up.

Otori makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Rizzo moves out of range of the strikes.
It looked like Rizzo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo blocks a head kick by Otori.
Otori scores with the left hand. Rizzo knows he should have avoided that one.
Rizzo fails to land with a series of punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rizzo drives through and clinches with Otori against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Otori's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rizzo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Otori using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rizzo lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Otori or not.
Rizzo takes a shot to the head.

Rizzo lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Otori looks like he's trying to stand up.
Otori felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Rizzo stalling.
Shigeru Otori has got the better of the ground game so far.
Otori looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo is taking a breather. Otori says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Otori tries to kick Rizzo off but Rizzo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Otori kicks off Rizzo and gets to his feet.

Otori pushes Rizzo up against the cage in a clinch.

Rizzo turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Rizzo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Otori keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rizzo takes a little break here. Otori wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Rizzo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rizzo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo trying to control the position but Otori is working away.
Rizzo tries to advance to mount but Otori denies him.
Rizzo prevents Otori from escaping the position.
Otori wants to get back to his feet but Rizzo is dominant here and he's now got Otori's back!
Rizzo misses with punches from the back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Shigeru Otori will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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 gets a clinch.
Otori throws a punch but it's blocked by Rizzo.

Rizzo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Otori throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Otori looks to land a left hand but Rizzo moved out of range nicely.
Otori is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Otori is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rizzo.
A little feinted left hand from Rizzo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Rizzo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Otori moves away.
Rizzo cracks Otori with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rizzo misses with a wild body shot.
Otori tries to land a leg kick but Rizzo saw it coming and moves away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Rizzo darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Otori lands a lovely overhand right.
Otori dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rizzo. That did some damage!
Otori fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rizzo manages to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Rizzo.
As Otori looks to move away, Rizzo throws a big counter combo but Otori just gets out of the way.
Otori misses with a hook.
Otori takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rizzo duly obliges.
Rizzo avoids the body shot from Otori.
As Otori tries to get set, Rizzo tries to push him back and clinch up but Otori manages to avoid the attempt.
Otori lands the left hand.
Rizzo lands a head shot.
Rizzo avoids the head kick by Otori.
It appears Rizzo was looking to counter with a kick there.
Otori looks to land a left hand but Rizzo moved out of range nicely.
Otori throws a looping overhand right but Rizzo ducks down to avoid it.
Rizzo swings for the body but Otori moves out of range.
Otori misses with an uppercut. Rizzo saw that one coming.
A big right from Otori misses.
Otori throws an overhand right that lands on Rizzo's shoulder, as Rizzo tries to avoid the shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Otori. That's going to slow Rizzo down.
Rizzo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Otori.
Rizzo looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rizzo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Otori throws out the jab.
Otori uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Otori slips a jab and a cross from Rizzo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rizzo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Otori goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Otori tries a head kick but it misses.
Rizzo throws a good cross that connects.
Otori avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Otori throws a jab but it's blocked by Rizzo.

Rizzo has closed the distance and engaged Otori in a clinch.
Otori misses with a short punch on the inside.
Otori wants to break free but Rizzo has control.
Rizzo avoiding damage as Otori throws knees to the body.
Otori misses with a knee strike.
Rizzo scores with a nice hook to the head.
Otori with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rizzo blocking some punches.
Otori with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Otori missing with knees to the body.
Otori takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Otori gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rizzo.
Frank Rizzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Otori misses with a hook from the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rizzo.
Rizzo scores with a hook to the body.
Otori throws a head punch that misses.
Rizzo lands a hook that snaps the head of Otori backwards.
Good body shot from Rizzo.
Otori wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rizzo has him pressed against the cage.
Otori wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rizzo has him pressed against the cage.
A hook to the body from Rizzo.
Rizzo lands a left hand.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rizzo.
Rizzo tries to work over Otori's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rizzo wants a takedown.
Rizzo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Otori misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Otori looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rizzo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Otori.
Otori tries to land knees in the clinch but Rizzo avoids the damage to the body.
Otori missing with knees to the body.

Otori pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rizzo rushes Otori and presses him up against the cage.
Rizzo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rizzo.

Otori breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rizzo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Otori has had enough of the clinch but Rizzo keeps him there for the moment.
Rizzo scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Otori breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Otori lands with a straight right. Rizzo didn't see that one coming.
Otori fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rizzo manages to avoid it.
Otori avoids a punch combination nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Rizzo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Otori has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shigeru Otori!
Shigeru Otori thanked the fans post fight for their support.