PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cyriel Clancy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rizzo
vs
Clancy

190 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brandon Rizzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Cyriel Clancy!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good leg kick by Clancy there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Clancy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Clancy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A cross from Clancy lands.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Clancy.
Rizzo has a takedown stuffed.

Clancy rushes Rizzo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Clancy trying to stall but Rizzo improves his position.

Rizzo successfully pulls guard.
Rizzo wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Clancy is now in half guard.
Rizzo wants to improve his position but Clancy is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rizzo flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Clancy throwing shots but Rizzo is blocking nicely.
Rizzo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Clancy.
Rizzo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rizzo tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo keeping hold of Clancy's head, controlling as best he can.
Rizzo tries to roll over but Clancy keeps him under control.
Clancy wants to stand up but Rizzo has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Clancy throws a body punch but Rizzo moves out of range.
Rizzo throws a wild body kick that Clancy sees coming a mile off.

Rizzo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Clancy sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rizzo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Clancy knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rizzo trying to control from Clancy's half guard. Clancy has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Clancy is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rizzo is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo is looking to work some ground and pound but Clancy has wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Clancy is on top in guard.

Clancy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Clancy looks gassed!
Clancy missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Rizzo throws his legs up looking for a submission but Clancy uses it to pass to side control.
Clancy wants to control but Rizzo is keeping him busy.
Rizzo tries to buck Clancy off but Clancy is having none of it.
Rizzo is trying to control Clancy's posture but Clancy avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rizzo tries to clinch up.
Clancy lands with a nice combination. Rizzo backs away looking to recover.
Clancy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Clancy clinches up against the cage.
Clancy wants a takedown but no success here.
Clancy is trying to break free.
Rizzo prevents Clancy from breaking the clinch.
Rizzo lands a knee to the head.
Clancy wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Clancy wants to break free but Rizzo has control.
Clancy takes an elbow to the temple.
Clancy wants to break the clinch but can't.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rizzo.

Clancy manages to break the clinch.
Clancy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rizzo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rizzo.
Brandon Rizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cyriel Clancy.
Clancy wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clancy keeping moving, preventing Rizzo from controlling successfully.

Clancy had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rizzo is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Clancy Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rizzo's back instead.
Clancy struggling to land strikes to the head as Rizzo covers up.
You can see the frustration on Rizzo's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Clancy throwing strikes and Rizzo squirms under the pressure, ending up mounted.
Rizzo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rizzo bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rizzo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rizzo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Brandon Rizzo will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Clancy tries to clinch but Rizzo moves out of range.
Rizzo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Clancy but Clancy pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Clancy throws a right and a left that both miss.

Rizzo takes the fight into the clinch.
Clancy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rizzo has him pressed against the cage.
Rizzo keeps control of Clancy as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Rizzo gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Clancy is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rizzo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rizzo's back!
Even with his hooks in, Clancy manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Rizzo has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Clancy gets his hands free as Rizzo looks to control.
Rizzo covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Clancy controlling the position well here. Rizzo rolled but Clancy kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Clancy is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clancy scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Clancy tries to keep control of the position but Rizzo is staying busy.
Clancy not allowing Rizzo to control his hands.
Clancy controlling well, preventing Rizzo from escaping the position.
Rizzo staying busy and making it hard for Clancy to control.
Rizzo turns into Clancy and is now in his guard.
Rizzo wants to control from the top but Clancy keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Clancy throws a nice outside leg kick.
Clancy clinches but Rizzo breaks the clinch

and Rizzo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Clancy with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Clancy moves into full guard.
Clancy manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rizzo is squirming around, avoiding Clancy's attempts to control the action.
Rizzo regains half guard.
Clancy is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rizzo scores with a few weak punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clancy wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo wants to improve his position but Clancy is controlling well.
Rizzo gets full guard.
Rizzo trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Rizzo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Clancy postures up.
Rizzo throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Rizzo is looking for a triangle but Clancy pushes his legs off easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Clancy as he jumps to the side.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Clancy as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Rizzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clancy stuffs the takedown.
Rizzo takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clancy looks for a takedown but Rizzo sprawls well.

Rizzo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Rizzo stands up out of the half guard.

Rizzo shoots in and bounces Clancy off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rizzo controlling from the top position.
Clancy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rizzo.
Clancy has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rizzo with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clancy wants to sweep here but Rizzo controlling him for the moment.
Rizzo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Rizzo dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Clancy throws an off balance right hand

and Rizzo counters with a takedown into side control.
Rizzo tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Clancy wants to control but Rizzo postures up.
Rizzo working the ground and pound.
Rizzo trying to control the position but Clancy is working away.

Rizzo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rizzo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Clancy on the ground.
Clancy is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rizzo wants to control but Clancy is keeping him busy.
Clancy takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Clancy is pushing Rizzo's head away, looking to escape. Rizzo manages to hold on to the position though.
Clancy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Clancy is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rizzo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Clancy regains full guard. Nicely done.
Clancy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Clancy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Clancy manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Clancy wants to control the pace but Rizzo is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clancy pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Clancy scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Clancy breaks from Rizzo's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Rizzo is rocked!
Clancy sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Oh Rizzo is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Clancy blocks Rizzo's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Rizzo is desperately trying to improve his position but Clancy has a good base and remains in mount.
Rizzo seems to have got his legs back now.
Clancy tries to control but Rizzo wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo tries to hold on but Clancy pushes him away.
Rizzo regains half guard.
Rizzo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rizzo is looking to improve his position.
Rizzo is working hard here to advance position.
Rizzo is refusing to be controlled, as Clancy sits in half guard.
Rizzo preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Clancy escapes and gets back to his feet.
Rizzo throws a series of punches but Clancy moves out of range.
Cyriel Clancy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clancy shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rizzo counters with a shoot takedown. Clancy fights it but they end up in guard.
Clancy wants to stand but Rizzo is controlling the position.
Clancy 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.
Clancy wants to stand but Rizzo is controlling the position.
Rizzo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rizzo throws a strike but Clancy rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Brandon Rizzo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brandon Rizzo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rizzo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Rizzo!