PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zack Rize (ranked 1645 p4p, 2777 weight class) and John Paul (ranked 49 p4p, 100 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rize might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Luke Combs - When It Rains It Pours. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rize
vs
Paul

197 cm
31
260
25 - 17 - 0

200 cm
33
255
11 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

KOMBAT KLOTHING

NARCOS
30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zack Rize!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Paul!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rize staying out of range there.
Paul throws a solid leg kick but Rize takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Paul.
Rize swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rize tries to clinch but Paul is having none of it.
Rize is looking to clinch.
Rize has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Roosters Coop in the buildup to the fight.
Zack Rize seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rize looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rize gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rize doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Rize 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.
Rize looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rize striking off his back but it's not causing Paul any problems.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rize throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rize looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Paul trying to control the position from guard on top but Rize is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rize striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Rize will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Rize throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Paul engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rize looking to hit a scissor sweep but Paul is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rize throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Rize trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Rize thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rize throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Rize throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rize trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rize tries to clinch there but Paul circles away.
Paul wants to counter the offense by Rize and move into the clinch position.
Rize tries to close the distance and clinch up but Paul swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Paul thows a left - swing and a miss!
A little feinted left hand from Rize on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Rize fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Paul, pushing him back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Rize.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rize.
Rize prevents a body shot from Paul.
Rize lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rize blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rize tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Paul blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul throws a punch but it's blocked by Rize.
Rize throws a punch but it's blocked by Paul.
Paul blocks an uppercut.
Rize misses with a hook from the clinch.
Paul blocks an uppercut.
Rize throws a head punch that misses.
Paul lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right from Paul on the inside.
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!
Rize misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rize swings wildly with an uppercut but Paul uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rize misses with a punch on the inside.
Paul swings wildly with an uppercut but Rize uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rize throws a punch but it's blocked by Paul.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rize.
Paul blocks an uppercut.
Rize working aggressively here.
Paul blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rize misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul scores with a nice hook to the head.
Paul lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rize backwards.
Paul is leaning against Rize and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rize misses with some punches.
Paul blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Paul fails to land.
Rize lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Paul backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Paul.
Paul tries to throw a body punch but Rize avoids it by throwing Paul back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rize.
Paul misses with some punches.
Paul blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rize throws a punch but it's blocked by Paul.
Paul blocks an uppercut.
Rize lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Paul misses with a punch to the body.
Rize tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Paul fails to land.
Paul struggles to land a body shot inside as Rize controls his hands.
Paul lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rize backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rize blocking some punches.
A short uppercut from Rize.
Rize lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Paul lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Paul.
Rize working aggressively here.
Paul blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Paul fails to land.
Rize throws a head punch that misses.
Paul working aggressively here.
Paul throws a head punch that misses.
Rize lands a nice uppercut.
Paul misses with the head strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rize.
Paul tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rize tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rize fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rize misses with a hook from the clinch.
Paul lands with a light punch inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Zack Rize will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Paul's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Paul throws out a loose jab but Rize uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rize tries to close the distance and clinch up but Paul swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rize tries to close the distance and clinch but Paul swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rize fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rize tries to clinch up but Paul circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rize looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Paul throws a shot from downtown. Rize moves away and avoids it.
Decent striking displayed by Paul there.
Paul circles away from the clinch attempt.
Paul fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rize on the side of the head.
Rize tries to clinch up but Paul circles away and keeps his distance.
Paul throws a jab when Rize was well out of range.
Rize tries to clinch up but Paul circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rize tries to clinch but Paul is having none of it.
Paul wants to counter the offense by Rize and move into the clinch position.

Paul manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rize on his heels. He'll look to pass Rize's guard now, I'm sure.
Rize tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rize trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Rize trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Paul wants to control from the top but Rize keeps moving.
Paul with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rize trying to strike off his back.
Paul trying to control but Rize is working from the bottom.
Rize looking for a sweep. Not yet Rize, not yet.
Rize striking off his back but it's not causing Paul any problems.
Paul content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rize scores with a nice shot.
Rize trying to strike off his back.
Rize keeping moving, preventing Paul from controlling successfully.
Paul must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Paul is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Let's hope that Paul has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rize trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Rize keeping moving, preventing Paul from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rize wants to clinch up but Paul keeps it at a distance.
Paul scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul keeps the fight on the outside.
Paul circles away from the clinch attempt.
Paul swats away the attempt to clinch by Rize.
Rize wants to clinch.
Paul throws a combination. Rize tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Paul avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rize moves in looking to clinch but Paul pushes him off.
Rize doesn't manage to clinch there - Paul circles away.
John Paul seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rize gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rize moves in looking to clinch but Paul pushes him off.
Rize tries to clinch up but Paul circles away and keeps his distance.
Paul keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Paul throws a body kick that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Paul scoring well with a low kick there.
Paul jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul throws a leg kick which misses Rize's front leg but catches the back leg as Rize tries to avoid it.
Rize tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Paul paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Paul tries to counter with a clinch but Rize shakes him off and moves away.
Paul keeps the fight on the outside.
Paul circles away from the clinch attempt.
Paul tries to counter by closing the distance.
Paul lands with a right hand.
Paul scores with a decent looking hook.
Rize wants to clinch up but Paul keeps it at a distance.
Paul is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rize looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rize looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Paul misses with a looping right.
Rize gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Paul.
Rize wants to clinch.
Rize fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zack Rize is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Paul is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rize.
Rize wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paul shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paul thows a huge punch but Rize dodges it nicely.
Rize punching from the bottom.
Rize is looking for a sweep. Paul is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rize misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Paul looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Paul is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Paul thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Paul working the head and body with strikes.
Rize blocking the ground and pound attempt from Paul.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Rize misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Rize is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Paul's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Paul's back!
John Paul has got the better of the ground game so far.
Paul avoids the strikes from Rize.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Paul showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Paul's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rize is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rize ducks under a wild hook from Paul.
Paul misses with a hook. Rize ducked under it nicely.
Paul misses with a two punch combination.
Paul misses with a straight left.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rize enables Paul to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rize manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rize trying to strike off his back.
Rize keeping full guard, as Paul tries to pass.
Rize will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Rize trying to strike off his back.
Rize throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Rize throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paul wants to control from the top but Rize keeps moving.
Rize throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rize keeping moving, preventing Paul from controlling successfully.
Rize doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rize striking off his back but it's not causing Paul any problems.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Paul tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rize gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Paul.
Rize tries to close the distance and clinch but Paul swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Paul throws a big shot that misses.
Rize fails with an attempt to clinch.
Paul swats away the attempt to clinch by Rize.
Paul feints the counter takedown.
Rize tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Paul manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Paul tries to counter with a clinch but Rize shakes him off and moves away.
Rize bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rize tries to clinch but Paul is having none of it.
Rize tries to clinch but Paul moves out of range.
Paul misses with a looping right.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rize misses with a punch on the inside.
Rize misses with some punches.
Rize has a couple of punches blocked by Paul.
Rize working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Rize fails to land.
A short left from Paul.
Good body shot from Paul.
Nice body punch from Paul - that landed with a thud.
Rize working aggressively here.
Paul pushes Rize back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rize swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Rize fails to land.
Rize fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Paul misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Paul has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rize working aggressively here.
Rize misses with a short punch on the inside.
Paul lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rize fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Paul misses with a punch on the inside.
Rize misses with the head strike.
Paul misses with a punch on the inside.
Paul blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Paul - that landed with a thud.
Rize misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rize working aggressively here.
Rize working aggressively here.
Paul lands a body punch in the clinch.
Paul is working Rize over against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Paul.
Rize fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Paul scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Paul makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Paul tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Paul swings wildly with an uppercut but Rize uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rize fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rize blocks a body shot from Paul.
Rize takes a shot to the head.
Rize misses with some punches.
Paul lands a body punch.
Rize blocks a body shot from Paul.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rize backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Paul.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Paul throws a head punch that misses.
Paul tries to throw a body punch but Rize avoids it by throwing Paul back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rize.
Paul misses with a punch on the inside.
Rize fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Paul makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Paul working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Paul doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Paul tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rize swings wildly with an uppercut but Paul uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rize's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rize.
Rize lands a left hand that snaps the head of Paul backwards.
Rize misses with a short punch on the inside.
Paul lands a hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Paul comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Paul 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

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