PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frank Rizzo (ranked 1077 p4p, 1347 weight class) and Tiaoali Lvavatai (ranked 71 p4p, 93 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Lvavatai 's choice of entrance music: You Can Get It If You Really Want. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Rizzo
vs
Lvavatai

150 cm
26
140
10 - 6 - 0

171 cm
29
144
12 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

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 - 6 - 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 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tiaoali Lvavatai !
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Paul Tew and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lvavatai misses with a hook. Rizzo ducked under it nicely.
Rizzo throws a right and a left that both miss.
A nice inside leg kick there by Lvavatai . That's going to slow Rizzo down.
Lvavatai throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Rizzo counters by clinching up.
Rizzo misses with a body punch.
Rizzo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lvavatai tries to circle away but Rizzo has him pinned against the cage.
Rizzo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lvavatai 's elbow.
Lvavatai letting Rizzo take a breather here.

Lvavatai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lvavatai misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rizzo feinted with a counter takedown.
Lvavatai looks to land a combination but Rizzo avoids it well.
Lvavatai misses with a body kick.
A quick step to the side and Rizzo tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lvavatai lands a nice looking body kick.
Rizzo ducks under a wild hook from Lvavatai .
Tiaoali Lvavatai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rizzo swings for the body but Lvavatai moves out of range.
Lvavatai looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Lvavatai missing with a left hand there. Rizzo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lvavatai misses with a straight left.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Lvavatai has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Jab, jab by Lvavatai - just one landing.
A swing and a miss from Lvavatai .
The fighters circle momentarily. Lvavatai darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Rizzo darts in and clinches Lvavatai up against the cage.
Rizzo misses with a knee to the head.

Rizzo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rizzo moves out of range as Lvavatai strikes.
Jab, jab by Lvavatai - just one landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Lvavatai misses.
Lvavatai is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Rizzo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lvavatai .
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lvavatai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Rizzo closes the distance and clinches.
A right hand to the body from Rizzo.
Lvavatai wants to get back to striking at distance but Rizzo won't allow it.
Rizzo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lvavatai 's efforts to push away.
Rizzo tries to throw a body punch but Lvavatai avoids it by throwing Rizzo back against the cage.
Lvavatai wants to get back to striking at distance but Rizzo won't allow it.
Rizzo avoiding damage.
Lvavatai is trying to break the clinch but Rizzo is controlling him.
Lvavatai wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo pushes Lvavatai back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rizzo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rizzo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lvavatai is defending well for now.
Lvavatai has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rizzo stalls.
Lvavatai wants to break free but Rizzo has control.

Lvavatai 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rizzo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lvavatai is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Lvavatai looks to land a combination but Rizzo avoids it well.
Lvavatai throws a poor cross that misses
and Rizzo counters with a leg kick.
Rizzo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lvavatai throws out the jab.
Lvavatai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rizzo.
Rizzo tries to counter by clinching up but Lvavatai breaks away and moves out of range.

Lvavatai gets caught napping as Rizzo dives in and scores a takedown. Lvavatai manages to retain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lvavatai is trying to control the position but Rizzo postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rizzo preventing the sweep.
Lvavatai pulls Rizzo in close to prevent any damage.
Rizzo stands up over Lvavatai , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lvavatai bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rizzo'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!
Lvavatai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rizzo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rizzo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lvavatai is looking to advance position but Rizzo has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

The referee warns Lvavatai that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tiaoali Lvavatai will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rizzo drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lvavatai keeping moving, preventing Rizzo from controlling successfully.
Lvavatai keeping full guard, as Rizzo tries to pass.
Lvavatai is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rizzo throwing strikes but missing.
Rizzo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lvavatai trying to keep a closed guard but Rizzo is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rizzo misses with a series of wild punches.
Rizzo lands with a right hand.
Lvavatai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rizzo.
Tiaoali Lvavatai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rizzo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lvavatai scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lvavatai throws a leg kick but Rizzo checks it.
Lvavatai missing with a left hand there. Rizzo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lvavatai looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fighters circling - Lvavatai throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lvavatai throws a leg kick but Rizzo sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Lvavatai throws a wild body kick that Rizzo sees coming a mile off.
Lvavatai throws a series of punches but Rizzo moves out of range.
Rizzo feinted with a counter takedown.
Rizzo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nice takedown defense from Lvavatai . No joy for Rizzo on that attempt.
Lvavatai swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A combination from Rizzo does no damage.
Lvavatai rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rizzo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
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!
Lvavatai checks a leg kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo takes one on the button.
Nice defenses there by Rizzo.
Rizzo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Lvavatai jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lvavatai misses with a series of wild punches.
Rizzo walks into a left hand.
Lvavatai cracks Rizzo with a good jab.
Lvavatai throws an overhand right that lands on Rizzo's shoulder, as Rizzo tries to avoid the shot.
Lvavatai scores with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lvavatai feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rizzos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rizzo shoots for a double leg takedown but Lvavatai sprawls well. He's pushed Rizzo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rizzo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lvavatai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lvavatai scores with a nice strike.
Lvavatai buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Lvavatai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rizzo.
Lvavatai looks to land a right hand but Rizzo moved out of range.
Lvavatai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A cross from Lvavatai lands.
Rizzo takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rizzo moves out of range as Lvavatai strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tiaoali Lvavatai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Lvavatai fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rizzo on the side of the head.
Rizzo ducks under a wild hook from Lvavatai .

Rizzo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rizzo scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Lvavatai to see if he's OK.
Rizzo wants to control but Lvavatai is keeping him busy.
Lvavatai is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lvavatai is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rizzo is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lvavatai takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
You can see the frustration on Lvavatai 's face as Rizzo controls the position.
Lvavatai is looking for a sweep.
Rizzo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Lvavatai is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lvavatai is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rizzo grinds an elbow into Lvavatai 's temple.
Rizzo working away.
Lvavatai is looking for a sweep.
Rizzo scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Lvavatai to see if he's OK.
Rizzo scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Lvavatai to see if he's OK.
Lvavatai seems a little lost for a moment, as Rizzo dominates the positioning.
Rizzo in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo cracks Lvavatai with a big elbow.
Rizzo working the body and head with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Lvavatai 's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rizzo 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.
Rizzo is staying tight to Lvavatai 's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Rizzo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Lvavatai tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rizzo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Lvavatai takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Lvavatai is not content to let Rizzo control the position.
You can see the frustration on Lvavatai 's face as Rizzo controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo trying to control the position but Lvavatai is working away.
Frank Rizzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rizzo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Rizzo working the body and head with strikes.
Rizzo lands an elbow.
Rizzo working away.
Rizzo cracks Lvavatai with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Lvavatai manages to get back to half guard.
Rizzo trying to control the action but Lvavatai is working from the bottom.
Lvavatai wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rizzo connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rizzo raining down hammerfists from mount.
Lvavatai really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tiaoali Lvavatai is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rizzo controlling from the full mount.
Lvavatai is working to get back to half guard.
Rizzo lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Rizzo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lvavatai 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!