PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ivor Ivanovic (ranked 637 p4p, 664 weight class) and Frank Rizzo (ranked 46 p4p, 47 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Ivanovic
vs
Rizzo

179 cm
28
145
20 - 7 - 0

150 cm
33
140
18 - 11 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel
NARCOS

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 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ivor Ivanovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Rizzo!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizzo tries to score with a low kick but Ivanovic moves his leg out of the way.
Rizzo's coach down at St Petersburg MMA Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Rizzo's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
A low kick from Ivanovic misses
and Rizzo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rizzo moves out of range of the body kick.
Rizzo tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Rizzo swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ivanovic counters with a good, hard body kick but Rizzo shrugs it off.
Ivanovic swings for the body but Rizzo moves out of range.
Ivanovic throws a leg kick but Rizzo checks it.
Rizzo misses with a looping right.
It looked like Ivanovic was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Rizzo.
Rizzo lands a really nice looking cross but Ivanovic seems unphased.
Ivanovic swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ivanovic looks to land a combination but Rizzo avoids it well.
Ivanovic looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ivanovic dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ivanovic misses with a left hand
and Rizzo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
No joy there for Rizzo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanovic scores with a jab to the body.
Rizzo stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ivanovic throws a jab when Rizzo was well out of range.
Ivanovic throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A nice side step and Rizzo releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A left lands for Ivanovic.
Rizzo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ivanovic throws a low kick, looking for Rizzo's leg but Rizzo calmly moves out of range.
Rizzo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ivanovic defends it well.
Ivanovic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rizzo.
Ivanovic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ivanovic misses with a straight right.

Rizzo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rizzo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ivanovic tries to bench press Rizzo off him but Rizzo keeps the position.
Ivanovic holds on to Rizzo's head and controls the position momentarily.
Rizzo lands a nice forearm strike.
Ivanovic is trying to control Rizzo's posture but Rizzo avoids it.
Rizzo with the ground and pound but Ivanovic regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Ivanovic regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Rizzo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanovic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rizzo is one step ahead there.
Rizzo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rizzo is looking to work some ground and pound but Ivanovic has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rizzo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rizzo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rizzo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rizzo with a nice head shot there.
Rizzo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rizzo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ivanovic has his hands on Rizzo's head, controlling the position.
Rizzo looking to sit in guard and control but Ivanovic gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rizzo is looking for a triangle here but Ivanovic uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Frank Rizzo will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rizzo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ivanovic moves out of range of the leg kick from Rizzo.
A little feinted left hand from Ivanovic on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Rizzo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ivanovic keeping his opponent close.

Rizzo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ivanovic is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rizzo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ivanovic, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo cracks Ivanovic with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Rizzo misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Rizzo with the ground and pound but Ivanovic regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

Ivanovic is defending against the submission attempts here by Rizzo.
Frank Rizzo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rizzo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ivanovic slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rizzo preventing the sweep.
Rizzo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ivanovic is controlling Rizzo's posture.
Rizzo looking to sit in guard and control but Ivanovic gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ivanovic is one step ahead there.
Ivanovic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rizzo is keeping the position for now.
Rizzo is adopting a defensive guard.
Rizzo is trying to control the position but Ivanovic postures up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rizzo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A swing and a miss from Ivanovic.
Rizzo lands with a shot to the body.
Ivanovic scores with a spinning back kick!
Rizzo throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Nice sprawl there from Ivanovic as Rizzo shoots in.
Rizzo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ivanovic looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ivanovic looks to land a body kick but Rizzo moved away.
Ivanovic takes a swing at Rizzo's ribcage but misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ivor Ivanovic will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ivanovic blocks a jab.
Ivanovic swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rizzo shoots for a takedown but Ivanovic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ivor Ivanovic is winning the standup battle so far.
Ivanovic misses with a body shot.
Ivanovic takes a swing at Rizzo's ribcage but misses.
Ivanovic connects with the punch.
Rizzo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rizzo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ivanovic circles away.
Ivor Ivanovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Rizzo.

Rizzo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ivanovic's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rizzo trying to control but Ivanovic is working from the bottom.
Ivanovic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rizzo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanovic wants to sweep but no luck.
Rizzo throws an elbow that misses. Ivanovic uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rizzo's guard. Nice move by Ivanovic!

Ivanovic is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Rizzo looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ivanovic has picked Rizzo up and slammed him! Rizzo can't keep hold of the triangle and Ivanovic manages to pass to side control!
Ivanovic controls the position from side control.
Rizzo is looking to regain half guard here but Ivanovic keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo is still trying to improve position.
Rizzo manages to get back to half guard.
Well, if Ivanovic is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rizzo tries to roll over but Ivanovic keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Ivanovic moves into full mount! Rizzo won't be happy about that!
Rizzo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rizzo is squirming around, avoiding Ivanovic's attempts to control the action.
Rizzo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ivanovic tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ivanovic will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ivanovic controlling the pace for now.
Ivanovic trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ivanovic looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivor Ivanovic showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ivanovic has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ivor Ivanovic!
A very excited looking Ivor Ivanovic made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.