PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Koos Van Asch (ranked 538 p4p, 605 weight class) and Frank Rizzo (ranked 36 p4p, 42 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Van Asch
vs
Rizzo

167 cm
30
143
16 - 9 - 1

150 cm
28
140
12 - 7 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Conviction

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, Koos Van Asch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Rizzo!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A bone on bone clash there as Van Asch blocks the leg kick.
It looked like Van Asch was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Rizzo.
An inside leg kick from Van Asch misses.
Rizzo jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rizzo, as that shot connected.
A decent looking cross lands there for Van Asch.
Van Asch has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Brooklyn Mixed Martial Arts in the buildup to the fight.
Frank Rizzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch lands to the side of Rizzo 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rizzo scores with a shot to the body.
Rizzo misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Asch on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Rizzo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Van Asch!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rizzo takes a little break here. Van Asch wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Asch can't do much from the bottom here.
Van Asch tries to buck Rizzo off but Rizzo is having none of it.
Rizzo landing a few strikes.
Rizzo throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Van Asch works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Rizzo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two 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.
Rizzo controlling the action here.
Van Asch is trying to maintain the position but Rizzo is very close to passing his half guard.
Van Asch manages to get to full guard.
Rizzo distracts Van Asch with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Asch has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Van Asch controls Rizzo momentarily but Rizzo frees himself.
Rizzo is looking to work some ground and pound but Van Asch has wrist control.
Rizzo scoring with some ground and pound.
Rizzo postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rizzo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rizzo darts in looking for a takedown but Van Asch gets double underhooks and turns Rizzo into the cage.
Rizzo ducks under a wild hook from Van Asch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Van Asch keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rizzo misses with a leg kick
and Van Asch counters with an inside leg kick.

Rizzo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Van Asch is pressing down on Rizzo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Van Asch trying to control the position here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rizzo controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Rizzo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Van Asch thows a leg kick but Rizzo checks it
and Rizzo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rizzo shoots for a double leg takedown but Van Asch sprawls well. He's pushed Rizzo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Van Asch checks a leg kick nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Van Asch misses the target.
Van Asch scores with a head kick.
Rizzo cracks Van Asch with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Van Asch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Van Asch moves out of range as Rizzo strikes.
A little feinted left hand from Van Asch on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Van Asch throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rizzo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Asch manages to avoid it.
Van Asch throws a push kick but Rizzo slaps the foot to one side.
Van Asch takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rizzo. Van Asch does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rizzo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rizzo steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Van Asch. That one must have hurt.
Van Asch rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rizzo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rizzo swings away with a body shot that misses
and Rizzo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Van Asch takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Van Asch doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rizzo just misses with a punch to the body.
Van Asch takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Van Asch as he checks the leg kick.
Rizzo tries to work over Van Asch's front leg with a kick but Van Asch checks it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rizzo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rizzo takes a swing at Van Asch's ribcage but misses.
Rizzo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Van Asch misses the jab.
Rizzo is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Van Asch misses with a leg kick.
Van Asch lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rizzo's sensitive parts.
Van Asch throws a hook but Rizzo avoids it easily.
Rizzo scores with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rizzo cracks Van Asch with an open hand slap.
A low kick from Rizzo misses
and Van Asch counters with a thumping low kick.
The fighters circling - Rizzo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It looked like Van Asch wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Van Asch takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rizzo misses with a low kick as Van Asch jumps back.

Rizzo closes the distance and pushes Van Asch back into the cage.
Van Asch can't find room to land a body shot as Rizzo controls the action.
Van Asch misses with a punch to the body.
Rizzo blocking some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rizzo.

Van Asch breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Rizzo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rizzo moves in looking to clinch but Van Asch pushes him off.
A counter left hand to the body from Van Asch misses its target.
Van Asch avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice body punch from Rizzo.
Van Asch takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Van Asch looks to score with a jab to the body but Rizzo is just out of range.
Frank Rizzo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rizzo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rizzo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Van Asch avoids the body shot from Rizzo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Rizzo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Rizzo has closed the distance and engaged Van Asch in a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Van Asch creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Van Asch misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rizzo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Van Asch scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Van Asch.
Van Asch lands a nice shot to the body.
Rizzo lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rizzo lands a hook that snaps the head of Van Asch backwards.
Van Asch tries to throw a body punch but Rizzo avoids it by throwing Van Asch back against the cage.
Rizzo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rizzo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rizzo has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Van Asch seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Rizzo can turn it around.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Asch tries to work over Rizzo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Van Asch misses with a punch on the inside.
Rizzo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rizzo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Frank Rizzo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Van Asch can't find room to land a body shot as Rizzo controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Asch misses with a hook to the ribs.
Van Asch throws a punch but it's blocked by Rizzo.
Rizzo lands a left hand.
A right hook to the body lands for Van Asch.
Van Asch goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rizzo has a couple of punches blocked by Van Asch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Van Asch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Van Asch misses with a wild body shot.
Rizzo now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Rizzo connects with a body shot.
Rizzo wants to clinch but Van Asch slips to the side
and Van Asch counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rizzo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Asch takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Asch with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rizzo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Van Asch stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rizzo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Van Asch looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rizzo lands with a good body shot.
Van Asch throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Van Asch takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rizzo misses the shot to the body.
Rizzo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Van Asch is out of range and Rizzo settles back down.
Rizzo misses with a low kick.
Rizzo is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Van Asch rather than just go for the knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Van Asch on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Koos Van Asch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Van Asch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rizzo moves away.
Van Asch just misses with a punch to the body.
Rizzo digs a good hook to Van Asch's body.
Rizzo throws a body shot but no joy.
A quick step to the side and Van Asch tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rizzo connects with a looping right hand.

Rizzo instigates a clinch.

Rizzo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rizzo lands a nice shot to the body.
Rizzo lands a jab to Van Asch's midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rizzo. Van Asch does a little dance to reset his feet.
Van Asch misses with a hook.
Rizzo fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rizzo scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rizzo misses with a body shot
and Van Asch counters with a straight right hand.
Rizzo takes a swing at Van Asch's ribcage but misses.

Rizzo closes the distance and pushes Van Asch back into the cage.
Van Asch working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rizzo blocking some punches.
Rizzo lands a left hand.
Van Asch lands a body punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Rizzo really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A big right from Rizzo misses.
Van Asch throwing a counter right hand but Rizzo manages to avoid it.
Rizzo tries to clinch up
and Van Asch counters with a straight right hand.
Van Asch uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rizzo.
Van Asch with a nice cross.
Rizzo misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Asch takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rizzo with a nice cross.
Rizzo looks to land a left hand but Van Asch moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rizzo throws an overhand right that lands on Van Asch's shoulder, as Van Asch tries to avoid the shot.
It appears Van Asch was looking to counter with a kick there.
A nice leg kick from Van Asch, right into the meat of the thigh.

Rizzo closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Van Asch's guard.
Van Asch keeping moving, preventing Rizzo from controlling successfully.
Rizzo passes into half guard.
Rizzo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Asch gets full guard.
Van Asch trying to keep a closed guard but Rizzo is proving a slippery customer.
Rizzo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Van Asch keeping moving, preventing Rizzo from controlling successfully.
Van Asch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rizzo.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Rizzo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Asch misses with a hook to the body
and Rizzo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rizzo misses with a takedown attempt - Van Asch sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Van Asch throws a big counter combination but Rizzo scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Rizzo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Asch moves away.
An attempted straight right counter from Van Asch misses the target.
Rizzo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Asch is looking to counter with a body kick.
Rizzo thuds a left hand into Van Asch's body.
A shot to the body from Van Asch misses
and Rizzo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rizzo jabs Van Asch to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rizzo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Asch takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Van Asch has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rizzo finds it's way round the side to connect with Van Asch's head.

Van Asch gets tackled into the cage by Rizzo. Rizzo maintains the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Van Asch's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rizzo swings wildly with an uppercut but Van Asch uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van Asch misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Van Asch tries a body shot but Rizzo blocks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Asch tries to break the clinch but Rizzo is controlling the position.
Rizzo lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A right hand to the body from Van Asch.

Van Asch breaks from the clinch.
Rizzo just misses with a punch to the body.
Van Asch is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Rizzo lands with a right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Rizzo dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Rizzo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Van Asch as he avoids it easily.
Van Asch was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Rizzo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rizzo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Van Asch avoids it really well and circles away.
Van Asch uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rizzo.
Van Asch lands with a kick to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rizzo missing with a left hand there. Van Asch was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice uppercut lands for Van Asch. That snapped Rizzo's head back.

Rizzo gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rizzo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Van Asch uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rizzo.
As Rizzo backs away, Van Asch returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Van Asch throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rizzo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rizzo throws a right hand that misses
enabling Van Asch to counter with a crisp jab.
A jab from Rizzo finds it's way through Van Asch's defenses.
Rizzo misses with a body shot
and Van Asch counters with a nice uppercut.
Rizzo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Asch manages to avoid it.
It appears Van Asch was looking to counter with a kick there.
Rizzo with a poor takedown
and Van Asch connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Koos Van Asch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Rizzo.
Rizzo moves out of range of the body kick from Van Asch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Van Asch.
Rizzo throws a jab but it's blocked by Van Asch.
Rizzo works Van Asch's body with a nice hook.
Van Asch misses with a body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rizzo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Van Asch was well out of range. Poor timing from Rizzo.
Van Asch ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Rizzo has managed to clinch.

Rizzo successfully pulls guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rizzo holds on and takes a little breather.

Rizzo working for submissions but it's allowed Van Asch to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Asch content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Van Asch is stalling here. Rizzo is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Van Asch seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Rizzo has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Rizzo wants to control for a moment but Van Asch uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Frank Rizzo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rizzo throws a strike but Van Asch avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Koos Van Asch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Van Asch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Frank Rizzo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Van Asch can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rizzo controls the pace.
Van Asch will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Let's hope that Rizzo has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Asch wants to sweep here but Rizzo controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Frank Rizzo.
Well Rizzo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 46:49
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 46:49
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Rizzo!
In his post fight interview, Frank Rizzo started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.