PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zack Rize (ranked 823 p4p, 1105 weight class) and Paulius Zurauskas (ranked 91 p4p, 118 weight class). Rize comes to the cage accompanied by Luke Combs - When It Rains It Pours. Zack Rize could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Paulius Zurauskas's chin.

Rize
vs
Zurauskas

197 cm
29
260
22 - 11 - 0

195 cm
33
239
18 - 15 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 11 - 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 18 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Paulius Zurauskas!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Kavanagh and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zurauskas takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rize cracks a nice hook into Zurauskas's ribs.
Rize connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Zurauskas momentarily.
Zurauskas has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Rize swinging wildly here.
Zurauskas ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rize 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.
Zurauskas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zurauskas takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rize waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zurauskas.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rize. That's going to slow Zurauskas down.
Rize ducks under a wild hook from Zurauskas.
Zurauskas with a nice cross.
Rize misses with a low kick as Zurauskas jumps back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rize misses with a low kick.
Rize scores with a hook.
Zurauskas checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Zurauskas throws an overhand right that lands on Rize's shoulder, as Rize tries to avoid the shot.
Rize fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Zurauskas checks it well.
A little jabbing left from Zurauskas on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rize with a hook.

Zurauskas drops his shoulder and cracks Rize with a huge uppercut! Rize goes down! Can Zurauskas finish him?

It looks like Zack Rize has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zurauskas tries to free his leg and advance position but Rize is retaining full guard.
Zurauskas preventing the sweep.
Zurauskas trying to control but Rize is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rize looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Zurauskas forces his way into half guard.

Zurauskas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Zurauskas is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zurauskas controlling the pace.

Zurauskas is looking for a kimura but Rize is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zurauskas to get the leverage.
Rize is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Zurauskas controlling the action here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zurauskas looks to land a left hand but Rize moved out of range nicely.

Rize drops Zurauskas with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Zurauskas looks back up at him and smiles so Rize waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

It looks like Paulius Zurauskas has been cut.
Rize misses with a hook to the body
and Zurauskas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rize swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Zurauskas counters with a series of strikes. Rize will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rize throws a leg kick but Zurauskas checks it.
Zurauskas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rize was well out of range. Poor timing from Zurauskas.
Rize scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Zurauskas drops his hands momentarily and Rize takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Zurauskas is rocked!
Rize knocks out Zurauskas with a massive right hand! The ref tackles Rize before he can follow up with any more strikes and that's it everyone. Rize picks up the big W with a huge KO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Zack Rize!
Zack Rize decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.