PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jose Carlos Luciano (ranked 1434 p4p, 226 weight class) and Alessandro Rizzuto (ranked 1621 p4p, 255 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Carlos Luciano
vs
Rizzuto

180 cm
23
178 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
181 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Project Mayhem

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jose Carlos Luciano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alessandro Rizzuto!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luciano shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Rizzuto has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Luciano throws a head kick but Rizzuto moves out of range.

Rizzuto takes the fight into the clinch.
Rizzuto can't find room to land a body shot as Luciano controls the action.
Luciano lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Luciano swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Rizzuto fails to land.
Luciano blocking some punches.
Rizzuto misses with the head strike.
Luciano has a couple of punches blocked by Rizzuto.
Luciano misses with a punch to the body.
I was talking to Luciano's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot in the inside from Luciano.
Luciano scores with a shoulder strike.
Luciano tries to throw a body punch but Rizzuto avoids it by throwing Luciano back against the ropes.
Rizzuto tries to pull guard but Luciano won't allow it.
Rizzuto looking to throw knees to the head but Luciano is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luciano lands with a short head shot on the inside.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Luciano throws an elbow but misses.
Luciano misses with some punches.
Rizzuto drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A hook to the body from Luciano.
Luciano misses with a punch to the body.
Rizzuto tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Luciano misses with the head strike.
Luciano blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A right hand to the body from Luciano.
Luciano swings wildly with an uppercut but Rizzuto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rizzuto with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rizzuto tries a body shot but Luciano blocks it.
Luciano misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luciano swings wildly with an uppercut but Rizzuto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Luciano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rizzuto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Luciano struggles to land a body shot inside as Rizzuto controls his hands.
Luciano lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rizzuto.
Good body shot from Rizzuto.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Luciano.
Luciano blocking some punches.
Luciano presses Rizzuto against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rizzuto misses with some punches.
Rizzuto misses with a body punch.
Luciano lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rizzuto backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Luciano blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Luciano misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Luciano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Luciano working aggressively here.
Rizzuto tries to pull guard but Luciano won't allow it.
Jose Carlos Luciano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alessandro Rizzuto.
Luciano swings wildly with an uppercut but Rizzuto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Luciano misses with the head strike.
Luciano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rizzuto tries a body shot but Luciano blocks it.
Luciano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rizzuto working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rizzuto tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Luciano's elbow.
Luciano lands a shoulder strike.

It looks like Alessandro Rizzuto has been cut.
Luciano is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Luciano blocks an uppercut.
Rizzuto blocking some punches.
Luciano lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luciano swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Luciano lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rizzuto or not.
A head punch on the inside from Luciano fails to land.
Luciano tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Luciano presses Rizzuto against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Luciano scores with a shot to the side of Rizzuto's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Luciano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Luciano softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Luciano lands a body punch.
Luciano misses with a punch to the body.
Good body shot from Luciano.
Rizzuto has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Luciano avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Luciano lands a shoulder strike.
Luciano lands a left hand.
Rizzuto has a couple of punches blocked by Luciano.
Rizzuto jumps guard but Luciano stands there with Rizzuto around his waist. Rizzuto gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Carlos Luciano dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alessandro Rizzuto's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Luciano turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Luciano cracks Rizzuto with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rizzuto on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Rizzuto throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Luciano slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rizzuto is looking to clinch.
Luciano tried to score with a low kick but Rizzuto checks it.
Luciano throws the kick towards the body but Rizzuto avoids it.
Good exchange - Luciano coming out on top.
Luciano scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rizzuto doesn't seem bothered though.
Rizzuto tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rizzuto looks to score with a jab to the body but Luciano is just out of range.
Luciano lands a nice shot to the body.
Rizzuto throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Luciano throws a sloppy head kick and Rizzuto moves out of range easily.
Luciano scoring well with a low kick there.
Luciano finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Donk. Luciano catches Rizzuto right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzuto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Luciano as he avoids it easily.
Luciano chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rizzuto blocks a low kick nicely.
Luciano comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Luciano lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Luciano lands with a nice body kick.
Rizzuto checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Rizzuto closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rizzuto is just content to waste time from the top position. Luciano takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Luciano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rizzuto slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzuto is thwarting Luciano's attempts to control the position.
Luciano keeping hold of Rizzuto's head, controlling as best he can.
Rizzuto wants to take a breather but Luciano is having none of it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rizzuto seems to be looking for submissions.
Luciano pushes Rizzuto off looking to stand but Rizzuto dives back in and keeps control.
Luciano moves into full guard.
Rizzuto trying to control the position from guard on top but Luciano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzuto with a nice head shot there.
Luciano preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Luciano looking to control.
Luciano is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Luciano takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rizzuto is pressing down on Luciano's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rizzuto is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rizzuto is just content to waste time from the top position. Luciano takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luciano is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rizzuto sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Luciano is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Luciano is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rizzuto can do to turn this around?
Luciano tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Luciano bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rizzuto's guard.

Luciano slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Luciano wants to control but Rizzuto is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Carlos Luciano dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alessandro Rizzuto's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rizzuto on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Luciano. Luciano obviously looking to wear him down.
Rizzuto has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Luciano finds it's way round the side to connect with Rizzuto's head.
Luciano moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Jose Carlos Luciano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luciano moves away from the strike by Rizzuto.
Rizzuto on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Luciano. Luciano obviously looking to wear him down.
Luciano moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Rizzuto pushes Luciano away with a front kick.
Luciano keeps Rizzuto at a distance using the push kick.
Luciano lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Luciano connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rizzuto momentarily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Luciano swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rizzuto throws out a counter right but Luciano avoids it with no problem.
A low kick from Luciano is predictable there
and Rizzuto counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Luciano looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Luciano moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Rizzuto shoots in and drives through. Luciano sprawls well.
Rizzuto throws a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzuto takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rizzuto just misses with a punch to the body.
Rizzuto throws a lazy body kick
and Luciano counters with a left to the body.
Rizzuto thows a body kick. Luciano tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Luciano circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rizzuto has managed to clinch.
Rizzuto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Luciano misses with a punch to the body.
Rizzuto tries to throw a body punch but Luciano avoids it by throwing Rizzuto back against the ropes.
Rizzuto prevents a body shot from Luciano.
Luciano lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Luciano struggles to land a body shot inside as Rizzuto controls his hands.
Rizzuto's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rizzuto is working Luciano over against the ropes.
Rizzuto misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rizzuto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luciano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Luciano gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rizzuto.
Luciano stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Luciano throws a punch but it's blocked by Rizzuto.
Rizzuto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Alessandro Rizzuto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rizzuto tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rizzuto misses with a body punch.
Rizzuto struggles to land a body shot inside as Luciano controls his hands.
A short right from Luciano.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rizzuto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Luciano lands a hook to the side of the head.
Luciano pushes Rizzuto back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Luciano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luciano misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Rizzuto.
Luciano misses with a hook to the ribs.
Luciano gets through Rizzuto's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Luciano throws a head punch that misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rizzuto.
Luciano lands with a left to the head.
Rizzuto lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rizzuto blocks an uppercut.
Luciano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rizzuto's elbow.
Rizzuto working aggressively here.
Luciano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rizzuto's elbow.
Luciano throws an elbow but it misses.
Jose Carlos Luciano has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rizzuto working aggressively here.
Luciano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Luciano tries to throw a body punch but Rizzuto avoids it by throwing Luciano back against the ropes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzuto doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rizzuto looking to throw knees to the head but Luciano is blocking nicely.
Luciano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Luciano struggles to land a body shot inside as Rizzuto controls his hands.
Luciano tries to work over Rizzuto's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Luciano misses with a body punch.
Rizzuto misses with a punch on the inside.
Luciano struggles to land a body shot inside as Rizzuto controls his hands.
Luciano tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jose Carlos Luciano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A right handed body shot lands from Luciano.
Rizzuto misses with a punch to the body.
Luciano has a couple of punches blocked by Rizzuto.
Luciano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Luciano gets through Rizzuto's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rizzuto cracks Luciano with a nice body shot.
Rizzuto misses with a knee strike.
Rizzuto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Luciano struggles to land a body shot inside as Rizzuto controls his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Carlos Luciano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Luciano has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Jose Carlos Luciano!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Jose Carlos Luciano!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Jose Carlos Luciano!

Jose Carlos Luciano wins by unanimous decision!