PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gora Sammo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alessandro Rizzuto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rizzuto has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sammo
vs
Rizzuto

185 cm
26
228 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

215 cm
24
275 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Gora Sammo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Alessandro Rizzuto!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sammo checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sammo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rizzuto pinned against the cage. Rizzuto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sammo slips under a jab.
Rizzuto thows a body shot but no joy.
Rizzuto throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Good work by Sammo as he checks the leg kick.
Rizzuto thumps Sammo with a low kick.
Rizzuto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rizzuto's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sammo connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rizzuto scrambles back to his feet.
Rizzuto throws a body punch but Sammo moves out of range.
Rizzuto uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Alessandro Rizzuto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rizzuto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sammo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzuto misses the shot to the body.
Sammo misses with a hook.
Rizzuto thows a body shot but no joy.
Rizzuto throws a big shot that misses.
Rizzuto is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sammo rather than just go for the knockout.
Rizzuto swings for the body but Sammo moves out of range.
Rizzuto stuffs the takedown.
Sammo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rizzuto sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gora Sammo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rizzuto stuns Sammo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sammo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sammo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rizzuto defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzuto connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rizzuto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sammo was well out of range. Poor timing from Rizzuto.
Rizzuto scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Alessandro Rizzuto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rizzuto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sammo moves away.
Rizzuto thumps Sammo with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rizzuto looks to throw the jab but Sammo is out of range.
Rizzuto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sammo moves away.

Sammo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sammo postures up in Rizzuto's guard and throws a big left but Rizzuto blocks it.
Sammo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sammo distracts Rizzuto with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rizzuto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sammo is looking to work some ground and pound but Rizzuto has wrist control.
Sammo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Rizzuto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sammo is aware though and is defending well.
Rizzuto looks gassed!

Sammo is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rizzuto is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rizzuto has escaped and now he's on top!
Rizzuto prevents Sammo from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sammo trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sammo is wriggling around but Rizzuto manages to pass to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alessandro Rizzuto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alessandro Rizzuto's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rizzuto misses with a body shot

and Sammo counters with a shoot takedown. Rizzuto fights it but they end up in guard.
Rizzuto manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sammo manages to get himself to full guard.
Rizzuto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sammo is keeping the position for now.
Rizzuto won't allow Sammo to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Gora Sammo.
Rizzuto slaps away a takedown attempt from Sammo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rizzuto misses the body punch

and Sammo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sammo.

Rizzuto working for a triangle but Sammo defends it easily.
Sammo throwing strikes but missing.

Sammo has gone for a leg lock! Rizzuto slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sammo's guard.
Rizzuto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzuto trying to control the position from guard on top but Sammo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sammo being controlled here, momentarily.

Alessandro Rizzuto has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nice jab there from Rizzuto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzuto looks to score with a jab to the body but Sammo is just out of range.
Sammo closes the distance and clinches up with Rizzuto, looking for a takedown. Sammo pushes Rizzuto against the cage but Rizzuto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rizzuto stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gora Sammo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sammo defending well as Rizzuto loads up on a big left hand.
Sammo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rizzuto. Sammo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gora Sammo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rizzuto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sammo moves away.
Rizzuto is breathing heavily.
Sammo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rizzuto.

Rizzuto pushes Sammo up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sammo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sammo jumps guard but Rizzuto stands there with Sammo around his waist. Sammo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sammo is working for takedown but Rizzuto is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sammo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rizzuto walks away with a smile on his face. Sammo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rizzuto stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rizzuto wants it to stay on the feet.
Sammo fails with a takedown attempt.
Rizzuto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sammo was well out of range. Poor timing from Rizzuto.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sammo tries to clinch up.
Rizzuto is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gora Sammo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alessandro Rizzuto's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sammo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Rizzuto.

Rizzuto gets caught flat footed, as Sammo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rizzuto controls Sammo momentarily but Sammo frees himself.
Rizzuto controlling Sammo's posture.
Sammo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sammo landing strikes.
Rizzuto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Rizzuto's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sammo in side control, throwing shots but Rizzuto defends.

Sammo is trying to get an arm triangle but Rizzuto is defending well.
Gora Sammo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sammo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rizzuto, who protects the arm well.

Sammo is trying to get an arm triangle but Rizzuto is defending well.
Rizzuto manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzuto trying to control the pace.
Sammo tries to kick Rizzuto off but Rizzuto keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rizzuto performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rizzuto is looking to advance position but Sammo won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alessandro Rizzuto.
Rizzuto tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rizzuto thows a body shot but no joy.
Alessandro Rizzuto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rizzuto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sammo was well out of range. Poor timing from Rizzuto.
Rizzuto just misses with a punch to the body.
Sammo avoids the body shot from Rizzuto.
Sammo ducks under a wild hook from Rizzuto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzuto misses with a low kick as Sammo jumps back.
Rizzuto stuffs the takedown attempt from Sammo. Sammo gets slowly back to his feet.
Sammo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rizzuto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sammo manages to avoid it.

Sammo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Sammo goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rizzuto has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sammo but great work by Rizzuto.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rizzuto wants to control but Sammo is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sammo is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rizzuto has just dragged him back down to the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gora Sammo.
I think Sammo 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!