PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between George Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Dio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rizzo comes to the cage accompanied by Bad Boy For Life. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rizzo
vs
Dio

179 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

158 cm
22
147 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Crocodile Steak and Ale House

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, George Rizzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricky Dio!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Chad Campbell and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizzo scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Ricky Dio has been cut.
Good standup being displayed there by Rizzo as he connects with a hook.
Dio should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Dio shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rizzo taking some punishment here, with Dio in his half guard.
Rizzo wants to get back to his feet.
Rizzo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dio.
Rizzo is trying to control but can't.
Dio throwing shots but Rizzo is blocking nicely.
Dio wants to take a breather but Rizzo is having none of it.

Rizzo makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Dio blocks a jab.
Dio throws a series of strikes that have Rizzo backpedaling.
Rizzo throws a hook but Dio blocks it.
Rizzo blocks a head kick by Dio.

Dio takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dio throws a punch but it's blocked by Rizzo.
Dio working aggressively here.
Dio lands an elbow inside that Rizzo shrugs off.
Dio drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rizzo pulls his leg out and moves away.

Dio moves into the clinch.
Dio tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Dio lands a takedown into guard.
Dio trying to control the position from guard on top but Rizzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rizzo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dio's guard.
Rizzo wants to stand but Dio has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dio controlling Rizzo's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dio has a closed guard, preventing Rizzo from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dio has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Dio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dio pulls Rizzo in to control the position.
Rizzo is looking to stand up but Dio won't let him.

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.
Rizzo is breathing heavily.
Rizzo stopping the sweep attempt from Dio.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dio throws a solid leg kick but Rizzo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Dio.

Dio clinches with his opponent.
Dio gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rizzo managing to block the knees to the body from Dio.
Rizzo takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like George Rizzo has been cut.
Dio misses with an elbow over the top.
Dio tries for a takedown but Rizzo manages to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Dio dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dio is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rizzo's half guard.
Rizzo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dio's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dio's back!
Rizzo gets his hands free as Dio looks to control.
Rizzo trying to control.
Rizzo is really struggling to control Dio but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo keeps control of the position as Dio tries to break free.
Dio is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Dio needs to remain patient if he's going to get out of this sticky situation.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Dio tries to escape the position.
Rizzo tries to get the hooks in deep but Dio pushed the leg off.
Rizzo slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Rizzo tries to keep control of the position but Dio is staying busy.
Dio wants to control his opponent's hands but Rizzo gets his hands free.
Rizzo slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dio trying to get back to his feet but Rizzo is in full control for now.
Dio staying busy and making it hard for Rizzo to control.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

The referee stands the fighters back up. George Rizzo just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Dio rushes Rizzo and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dio fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dio misses with an elbow strike.
Dio misses with an elbow over the top.
Dio trying to land knees to the body.
Dio throws an elbow but it misses.

Dio lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rizzo wants to improve his position but Dio is controlling well.
Dio thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rizzo to regain full guard.
Rizzo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Rizzo scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Dio gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Dio has Rizzo pressed against the cage, preventing Rizzo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Dio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Dio moves forwards but Rizzo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rizzo cracks Dio with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rizzo is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Dio dodges the punch combination from Rizzo.
Some bone on bone action there as Dio checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Dio gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rizzo avoiding damage as Dio throws knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Dio just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rizzo's brow.
Dio throws an elbow that misses.
Rizzo avoiding damage as Dio throws knees to the body.
Rizzo managing to block the knees to the body from Dio.
Rizzo tries to circle away but Dio has him pinned against the cage.
Dio is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rizzo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Dio is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rizzo is defending well for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dio is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rizzo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dio pushes off an throws an elbow but Rizzo leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rizzo blocks the elbow strike.
Rizzo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rizzo can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rizzo is looking to break free of the clinch but Dio has double underhooks.
Rizzo is looking to break free of the clinch but Dio has double underhooks.
Rizzo avoids a wild elbow strike from Dio.
Dio misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rizzo blocks an uppercut.
Rizzo avoids the elbow strike from Dio, against the cage.
Dio keeps control of Rizzo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Dio tries to land knees in the clinch but Rizzo avoids the damage to the body.
Dio tries to throw a body punch but Rizzo avoids it by throwing Dio back against the cage.
Rizzo tries to break the clinch but Dio is controlling the position.
Rizzo can't break the clinch.
Dio has a couple of punches blocked by Rizzo.
Dio lands a damaging elbow.
Rizzo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dio pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Rizzo dodges an elbow strike from Dio.
George Rizzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rizzo is trying to force a seperation but Dio has the dominant position.
Rizzo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rizzo trying to control the position but instead, Dio has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rizzo into the cage.
Rizzo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rizzo is trying to break the clinch but Dio has him pressed against the cage.
Rizzo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Dio throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rizzo blocks it with crossed arms.
Dio misses with an elbow over the top.
Dio looking to throw knees to the head but Rizzo is blocking nicely.
Dio throws a punch but it's blocked by Rizzo.
Rizzo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rizzo has had enough of the clinch but Dio keeps him there for the moment.
Dio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rizzo.
Rizzo tries to circle away but Dio has him pinned against the cage.
Rizzo has had enough of the clinch but Dio keeps him there for the moment.
Rizzo has had enough of the clinch but Dio keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo avoids a wild elbow strike from Dio.
Dio wants a takedown but no success here.
George Rizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricky Dio.
Rizzo blocks an elbow strike.
Dio is trying to drag Rizzo to the mat but Rizzo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rizzo wants to stall.
Dio has Rizzo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rizzo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rizzo working hard to break the clinch.
Rizzo avoids the elbow strike from Dio, against the cage.
Dio drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rizzo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rizzo throws a one two combo.
Dio takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Nice sprawl there from Rizzo as Dio shoots in.
Rizzo throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ricky Dio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dio fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rizzo sizes up Dio with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Dio fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rizzo, pushing him back against the cage.
Rizzo is trying to force a seperation but Dio has the dominant position.
Dio has Rizzo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rizzo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dio tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rizzo's elbow.
Rizzo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rizzo is trying to break the clinch but Dio is controlling him.
Rizzo is trying to break the clinch but Dio is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Rizzo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dio 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Dio!