PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zac Rinaldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drew Iverson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rinaldo
vs
Iverson

185 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
22
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zac Rinaldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Drew Iverson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iverson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rinaldo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Rinaldo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Iverson, pushing him back against the cage.
Iverson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Rinaldo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zac Rinaldo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Iverson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rinaldo moves into the clinch.

Rinaldo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rinaldo misses with a wild combination.
Rinaldo swats away the attempt to clinch by Iverson.
Iverson scores with a jab to the head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Iverson is defended easily by Rinaldo.
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!
Iverson checks the leg kick.

Rinaldo darts in and clinches Iverson up against the cage.
Iverson taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iverson is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Rinaldo working hard to break the clinch.
Iverson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rinaldo is trying to break the clinch but Iverson has him pressed against the cage.
Iverson is trying to break free.
Rinaldo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rinaldo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Iverson landing knees to the head.
Rinaldo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Iverson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Iverson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rinaldo smiles and moves away.

Rinaldo pushes Iverson up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iverson connects with a knee to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Iverson wants to get back to striking at distance but Rinaldo won't allow it.
Rinaldo blocks an uppercut.
Iverson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Iverson misses with a knee strike.
Rinaldo wants to get back to striking at distance but Iverson won't allow it.

Rinaldo breaks the clinch.

Rinaldo has Iverson up against the cage in a clinch.
Iverson tries to pull guard but Rinaldo holds him up against the cage and eventually Iverson drops back down to his feet.
Zac Rinaldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Drew Iverson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iverson tries to break free but Rinaldo pushes him back against the cage.
Iverson is trying to pull guard but Rinaldo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Iverson.
Iverson has Rinaldo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rinaldo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Iverson keeps control of Rinaldo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rinaldo takes an elbow to the temple.
Iverson prevents Rinaldo from breaking the clinch.
Rinaldo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Rinaldo has Iverson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rinaldo pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Iverson tumbling to the mat - Rinaldo dives into Iverson's guard.

Iverson is working an open guard so Rinaldo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Iverson looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rinaldo clinches.
Rinaldo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rinaldo is trying to pull guard but Iverson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rinaldo is looking to break free of the clinch but Iverson has double underhooks.
Iverson scores with a knee to the head.
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!
Iverson throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Rinaldo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rinaldo clinches up with Iverson and pushes him back against the cage.
Iverson tries a body shot but Rinaldo blocks it.
Rinaldo is trying to push Iverson away but Iverson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rinaldo blocks a body shot from Iverson.
Rinaldo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Iverson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rinaldo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
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 Zac Rinaldo will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rinaldo forces Iverson back against the cage and clinches.
Rinaldo stops a takedown attempt from Iverson.
Iverson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Drew Iverson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Iverson fails to pull guard.
Iverson lands a damaging elbow.
Rinaldo keeps control of Iverson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Iverson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Rinaldo jumps guard and drags Iverson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Iverson gets to his feet - Rinaldo follows without any prompting.
Iverson moves out of range of the body kick from Rinaldo.
Rinaldo misses with a head kick.
Rinaldo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Iverson connects with a high kick.
Rinaldo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Iverson is breathing heavily.

Rinaldo clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iverson tries to land knees in the clinch but Rinaldo avoids the damage to the body.
Rinaldo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Iverson is trying to force a seperation but Rinaldo has the dominant position.
Iverson keeps control of Rinaldo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Iverson is trying to push Rinaldo away but Rinaldo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rinaldo prevents Iverson from breaking the clinch.
Iverson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rinaldo's defenses.
Iverson throws a head punch that misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Iverson fails to pull guard.
Zac Rinaldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Drew Iverson.
Rinaldo is trying to force a seperation but Iverson has the dominant position.
Rinaldo wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rinaldo prevents Iverson from breaking the clinch.
Iverson looking to throw knees to the head but Rinaldo is blocking nicely.
Rinaldo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Rinaldo gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rinaldo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rinaldo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Rinaldo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Iverson, up you get!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A jab from Rinaldo does it's job there.
Rinaldo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Rinaldo darts in and clinches Iverson up against the cage.
Rinaldo is trying to push Iverson away but Iverson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Iverson tries to land a knee to the head but Rinaldo blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rinaldo manages to break the clinch.
Rinaldo throws a 1-2 combo that connects squarely on Iverson's jaw, knocking him onto his back! Rinaldo dives in looking to finish as Iverson flails his arms in a desperate attempt to block Rinaldo's strikes! Rinaldo is raining down hammerfists and the ref stops it! Iverson's desperate flailing just didn't constitute intelligent defence. Some people will probably question the ref's decision but Iverson was definitely hurt and the ref saved him from taking unnecessary punishment. A fighter's safety is paramount in this sport.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:15 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zac Rinaldo!