PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alessandro Rizzuto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Cage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rizzuto
vs
Cage

185 cm
21
181 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alessandro Rizzuto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tyler Cage!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Damien Edna and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cage lands with a good body shot.
Cage stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Rizzuto slips under a jab.
Rizzuto misses the jab.
Cage throws a body punch but Rizzuto moves out of range.
Rizzuto thinks about countering with a head kick.
Cage keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Cage swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rizzuto closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rizzuto scores with a jab to the body.
Rizzuto throws a lazy right hand but Cage sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rizzuto moves out of range as Cage strikes.
We've been hearing reports that Rizzuto has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
A left lands for Cage.

It looks like Alessandro Rizzuto has been cut.
Cage scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rizzuto in his tracks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rizzuto misses with a wild body shot.
Cage cracks Rizzuto with an open hand slap.
Rizzuto just misses with a punch to the body.
Cage misses with an uppercut
and Rizzuto counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage connects with a single shot there.
Rizzuto throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Cage checks a leg kick.
Rizzuto feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cage's calf.
Rizzuto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cage.
Cage takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Cage misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rizzuto.
Cage misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cage tests Rizzuto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rizzuto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cage.
Cage blocks a leg kick.
Cage throws a body punch but Rizzuto moves out of range.
Rizzuto attempts a counter takedown but Cage avoids it well and moves away.
Rizzuto throws a leg kick which misses Cage's front leg but catches the back leg as Cage tries to avoid it.
Tyler Cage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rizzuto catches Cage with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cage misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage throws out a powerful jab.
Cage throws out a powerful jab.
Cage thuds a left hand into Rizzuto's body.
Rizzuto misses the jab.
Cage tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rizzuto was well out of range. Poor timing from Cage.

Rizzuto shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cage manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rizzuto is looking to work some ground and pound but Cage has wrist control.
Rizzuto has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rizzuto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rizzuto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rizzuto passes Cage's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rizzuto tries to pass to full mount but Cage defends it.
Cage tries to roll over but Rizzuto keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Poor strikes thrown by Rizzuto there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Cage told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

Rizzuto working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Cage looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Rizzuto! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Alessandro Rizzuto!