PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dave Grohl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dave Grohl has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Grohl
vs
Rizzo

190 cm
20
198 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
186 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dave Grohl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antonio Rizzo!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Franklyn Lucas and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grohl misses with a body shot.
Rizzo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Grohl throws a nice looking combination but Rizzo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Grohl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rizzo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grohl tries to clinch but Rizzo moves out of range.
Rizzo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Grohl blocks a head kick by Rizzo.

Rizzo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rizzo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rizzo slows down the pace here.

Rizzo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Grohl throws a right and a left that both miss.
Grohl tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Grohl looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rizzo throws the left hand but Grohl avoids the punch easily.
Rizzo misses with a two punch combination.

Grohl clinches up against the cage.
Rizzo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Grohl has him pressed against the cage.
Grohl misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rizzo blocking some punches.

Grohl decides to pull guard.
Grohl lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rizzo!

Grohl stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rizzo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rizzo 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.
Rizzo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rizzo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Grohl keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rizzo's efforts to push away.
Grohl throws a punch but it's blocked by Rizzo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Grohl takes an elbow to the temple.
Grohl misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Grohl.
Rizzo has had enough of the clinch but Grohl keeps him there for the moment.
Grohl working hard to break the clinch.
Grohl just leaning against Rizzo, taking a breather.
Grohl takes an elbow to the temple.
Grohl has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Grohl pulls guard effortlessly.
Rizzo with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rizzo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Grohl dives on top into guard.
Grohl is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Grohl prevents Rizzo from getting back to his feet.

Grohl gets to his feet - Rizzo follows without any prompting.
Rizzo fails with a takedown attempt.
Grohl throws a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grohl throws a body punch but Rizzo moves out of range.
Grohl lands with a nice body punch.
Rizzo blocks a low kick nicely.
Grohl fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rizzo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rizzo keeps the fight on the outside.
Rizzo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Antonio Rizzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rizzo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Grohl.
Grohl throws a jab but it's blocked by Rizzo.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No joy there for Rizzo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rizzo fails to land with a series of punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
No joy there for Grohl, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Grohl dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Grohl is looking to clinch but Rizzo is avoiding it.
Rizzo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Grohl moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rizzo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Grohl just misses with a punch to the body.

Rizzo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Grohl, pushing him back against the cage.
Rizzo is looking for a takedown.
Grohl is trying to stall.
Rizzo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Grohl.
Grohl doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rizzo blocking some punches.
Grohl is trying to stall.
Rizzo trying to control the position but instead, Grohl has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rizzo into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rizzo can't get the takedown.
Grohl doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Rizzo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Grohl tries to clinch but Rizzo is having none of it.
Grohl moves in looking to clinch but Rizzo pushes him off.
Grohl scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Rizzo moves into the clinch.
Rizzo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Grohl just stands there and leans against the cage.
Dave Grohl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Rizzo.
Grohl lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rizzo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A left hand lands to the body for Grohl.

Rizzo breaks from the clinch.
Grohl is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rizzo closes the distance and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Grohl jumps guard.
Grohl has control of Rizzo's left arm, preventing Rizzo from doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Grohl is on top in guard.
Rizzo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Grohl controls the pace.
Grohl pushes down on Rizzo's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grohl sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Grohl decides to stand and escape the position.
Grohl fails with an attempt to clinch.
Grohl fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rizzo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grohl closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rizzo counters by moving into the clinch.
Rizzo missing with knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Grohl.
Grohl jumps guard but Rizzo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rizzo trying to control the position but instead, Grohl has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rizzo into the cage.
Antonio Rizzo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Rizzo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Grohl is looking to clinch.
Grohl scores with a nice right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rizzo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Grohl.
Grohl lands with a cross.
Rizzo throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Grohl dominated that second round.
That's time! Grohl's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rizzo gets a clinch.
Grohl is trying to stall.
Rizzo tries to pull guard but Grohl won't allow it.

Rizzo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Grohl tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rizzo fails with a takedown attempt.
A clash of legs there as Grohl blocks the low kick.

Grohl takes the fight into the clinch.
Grohl takes an elbow to the temple.
A shot in the inside from Grohl.
Grohl working aggressively here.
Grohl is stalling here.
Grohl is trying to force a seperation but Rizzo has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grohl misses with a body punch.

Rizzo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rizzo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Grohl as he avoids it easily.
Dave Grohl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Rizzo.
Grohl tries to close the distance and clinch but Rizzo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Grohl doesn't manage to clinch there - Rizzo circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rizzo.
A jab from Grohl misses.

Grohl forces Rizzo back against the cage and clinches.
Grohl lands a left hand.
Grohl tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rizzo smiles and moves away.
Grohl lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo throws an overhand right that lands on Grohl's shoulder, as Grohl tries to avoid the shot.

Rizzo gets a clinch.
Grohl misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rizzo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rizzo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rizzo is looking for a takedown.
Rizzo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rizzo manages to break the clinch.
Grohl lands with a nice combination. Rizzo backs away looking to recover.
Grohl is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rizzo falls off balance throwing a combination
and Grohl counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Grohl is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Grohl but Grohl pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rizzo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Grohl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grohl throws a lazy right hand but Rizzo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rizzo throws a sloppy head kick and Grohl moves out of range easily.
Rizzo misses with a two punch combination.

Grohl moves into the clinch.
Grohl working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Grohl swings wildly with an uppercut but Rizzo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Antonio Rizzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Grohl lands a body punch.
Grohl lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Grohl wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rizzo has him pressed against the cage.
Grohl throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rizzos head.
Grohl lands a body shot.
Grohl lands with a right to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Grohl will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rizzo up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grohl working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Rizzo is rocked!
Rizzo is looking to break free of the clinch but Grohl has double underhooks.
Rizzo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Grohl pulls his leg out and moves away.
The crowd cheers as Grohl lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rizzo doesn't seem phased though.
Dave Grohl is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Grohl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rizzo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grohl tries to clinch up.
Grohl lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Grohl scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rizzo in his tracks.
Grohl lands a glancing blow to the side of Rizzo's head.

Grohl has managed to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Grohl showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Grohl 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Grohl!
An out of breath Dave Grohl thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.