PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Renzo Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and EJ Sanchez (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.

Rizzo
vs
Sanchez

190 cm
18
195 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
18
183 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Renzo Rizzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, EJ Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez moves in looking to clinch but Rizzo pushes him off.
Sanchez shoots in for a double leg but Rizzo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rizzo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like EJ Sanchez has been cut.
Sanchez tries to clinch up.

Rizzo moves into range and clinches up with Sanchez.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but Rizzo holds him up against the cage and eventually Sanchez drops back down to his feet.
Rizzo tries to land knees in the clinch but Sanchez avoids the damage to the body.
Rizzo tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.
Rizzo tries to break the clinch but Sanchez is controlling the position.
Rizzo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sanchez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Rizzo breaks from the clinch.
Sanchez tries for a takedown but Rizzo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Renzo Rizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of EJ Sanchez.

Sanchez clinches up against the cage.
Rizzo trying to land knees to the body.
Sanchez jumps guard but Rizzo stands there with Sanchez around his waist. Sanchez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sanchez stops a takedown attempt from Rizzo.
Sanchez tries to pull guard but Rizzo holds him up against the cage and eventually Sanchez drops back down to his feet.
Sanchez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Rizzo breaks the clinch.

Rizzo clinches with his opponent.
Rizzo throws an elbow that misses.
Rizzo can't get the takedown.
Rizzo lands a knee to the body.
Rizzo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sanchez.
Rizzo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rizzo tries to land a knee to the head but Sanchez blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo landing knees to the head.
Rizzo throws an elbow that misses.

Sanchez is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rizzo can't fight it off and eventually Sanchez manages to take the fight to the floor. Rizzo looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rizzo is breathing heavily.
Sanchez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rizzo's guard.
Rizzo looking to control.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Rizzo keeps moving.
Rizzo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanchez is one step ahead there.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Rizzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rizzo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rizzo is really struggling to control Sanchez but he's trying to hold on to the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rizzo stuffs the takedown.
Sanchez misses the jab.
Rizzo tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Sanchez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sanchez.
Rizzo trying to control the position here.
Sanchez is looking to stand up but Rizzo won't let him.
Sanchez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rizzo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sanchez's guard.
Rizzo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rizzo wants to control from the top but Sanchez keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Sanchez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rizzo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sanchez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sanchez kicks Rizzo off and gets to his feet.

Sanchez drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sanchez wants to control from the top but Rizzo keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Sanchez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sanchez wants to pass the guard but Rizzo is keeping the position.
Rizzo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez advances to half guard.
Sanchez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rizzo looks to score with a jab to the body but Sanchez is just out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but EJ Sanchez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on EJ Sanchez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rizzo avoids the head kick by Sanchez.

Rizzo drives through and clinches with Sanchez against the cage.
Rizzo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sanchez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rizzo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rizzo lands a knee to the body.
Rizzo scores a nice knee to the body.

Sanchez breaks the clinch.
Rizzo tries to clinch but Sanchez moves out of range.

Sanchez shoots in and bounces Rizzo off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Sanchez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rizzo, up you get!
Rizzo stuffs the takedown.
A slapping body kick lands there for Rizzo.
Sanchez walks forward, straight into a front kick from Rizzo.
Rizzo clinches but Sanchez breaks the clinch

and Sanchez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rizzo trying to control from the bottom.
Rizzo gets full guard.
Rizzo pulls Sanchez in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo trying to control the position.
Rizzo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rizzo is trying to control the position but Sanchez postures up.
Rizzo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanchez is one step ahead there.
Sanchez trying to control but Rizzo is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Good leg kick by Rizzo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Rizzo.

Sanchez forces Rizzo back against the cage and clinches.
Sanchez wants a takedown.
Sanchez is breathing heavily.
Rizzo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Sanchez jumps into guard, dragging Rizzo to the mat.
Rizzo controlling from the top position.
EJ Sanchez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rizzo won't allow Sanchez to sweep him here.
Rizzo wants to pass the guard but Sanchez is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo pushes down on Sanchez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rizzo is trying to control the action in half guard but Sanchez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sanchez won't allow Rizzo to pass to mount.
Rizzo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sanchez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sanchez wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rizzo lands a head kick. Sanchez smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sanchez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rizzo is fending him off so far but Sanchez persists. Nope, Rizzo circles away and we're back to standing.
Renzo Rizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of EJ Sanchez.
Rizzo clinches but Sanchez breaks the clinch

and Sanchez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sanchez wants to pass to mount but Rizzo is defending the position.
Sanchez wants to control but Rizzo is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo is looking to control Sanchez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rizzo avoid being mounted?
It looks like Sanchez is going to stand back up.
Rizzo controlling the position for now.
Rizzo gets full guard.
Rizzo working a defensive guard here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Rizzo is retaining full guard.
Rizzo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but EJ Sanchez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on EJ Sanchez's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Sanchez misses with a straight left.
Sanchez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rizzo is fending him off so far but Sanchez persists. Nope, Rizzo circles away and we're back to standing.
Rizzo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rizzo wants to clinch.
Sanchez circles away from the clinch attempt

and Sanchez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sanchez.
Rizzo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sanchez blocks it with crossed arms.
Rizzo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Sanchez struggles to land a body shot inside as Rizzo controls his hands.
Rizzo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Rizzo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rizzo looks to land a combination but Sanchez avoids it well.
Sanchez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rizzo.
A lazy body kick from Sanchez
and Rizzo counters with a thumping low kick.

Rizzo darts in and clinches Sanchez up against the cage.
Rizzo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sanchez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rizzo.
Rizzo lands an elbow inside that Sanchez shrugs off.
Sanchez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rizzo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sanchez fails with a takedown attempt.
Renzo Rizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of EJ Sanchez.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo wants to clinch up but Sanchez keeps it at a distance.
Sanchez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rizzo counters with a thumping low kick.
Renzo Rizzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanchez moves in looking to clinch but Rizzo pushes him off.
Sanchez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Sanchez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rizzo!
Rizzo looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Rizzo defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Rizzo tries to roll but Sanchez sticks to his back.

Sanchez looking to break Rizzo's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Rizzo remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Sanchez will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rizzo showing good submission defense here.
Rizzo breaks Sanchez's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Rizzo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rizzo postures up.
Sanchez wants to sweep here but Rizzo controlling him for the moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sanchez can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to control the position but Rizzo postures up.
Rizzo slips nicely into half guard.
Sanchez is looking to get back to full guard here but Rizzo has managed to pass to side control instead.
Renzo Rizzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rizzo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sanchez is looking to escape.
Rizzo controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rizzo tries to control but Sanchez wriggling away.
Sanchez working to try and regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rizzo dominating with strikes here.
Rizzo with good strikes from the mount here!

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 Renzo Rizzo.
I think Sanchez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... EJ Sanchez!