PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jake Rizzo (ranked 3731 p4p, 2724 weight class) and Karl Karjalainen (ranked 453 p4p, 360 weight class). Jake Rizzo has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rizzo
vs
Karjalainen

195 cm
24
207
8 - 4 - 0

187 cm
24
211
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jake Rizzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Karl Karjalainen!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rizzo fails with a takedown attempt.
Rizzo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Karjalainen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rizzo shoots and misses
and Karjalainen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rizzo shoots and misses
and Karjalainen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Rizzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rizzo shoots in looking for a takedown. Karjalainen tries to sprawl out of it but Rizzo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Karjalainen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rizzo takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rizzo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Karjalainen as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo misses with a low kick.
Karjalainen was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Karjalainen looks to land a left hand but Rizzo moved out of range nicely.
Rizzo works over Karjalainen's head and body with a nice combination.
Rizzo scores with a nice strike.
Rizzo misses with a takedown attempt
and Karjalainen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rizzo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Karjalainen.
Karjalainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rizzo moves away.
Rizzo tries to clinch but Karjalainen moves out of range.
Karjalainen tried to score with a low kick but Rizzo checks it.
Rizzo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Karjalainen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rizzo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Karjalainen counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen feints and then cracks Rizzo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rizzo down.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Karjalainen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Karjalainen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rizzo lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Karl Karjalainen has been cut.
Karjalainen throws a body punch but Rizzo moves out of range.
Rizzo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Karjalainen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rizzo.
Karjalainen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rizzo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rizzo ducks right into an uppercut from Karjalainen.

Rizzo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Karjalainen on his heels. He'll look to pass Karjalainen's guard now, I'm sure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen pulls Rizzo in close to his closed guard and prevents Rizzo from doing any damage or advancing position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karjalainen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rizzo manages to get himself to full guard.

Karjalainen passes into half guard.

Karjalainen decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Karjalainen lands a right hook to the body.
Karjalainen lands with a hook. Rizzo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Karjalainen scores with a jab to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Karjalainen was well out of range. Poor timing from Rizzo.
Karjalainen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Karjalainen misses with a hook
and Rizzo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Karjalainen lands a lovely overhand right.
Rizzo closes the distance looking to clinch

and Karjalainen counters with a nice right hand that sends Rizzo toppling to the canvas! Rizzo scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Karjalainen finish him?!

Rizzo is rocked!
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!
Karjalainen throws a shot from downtown. Rizzo moves away and avoids it.
Rizzo has his takedown stuffed
and Karjalainen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Oh Rizzo is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
BOOM! Karjalainen lands a beautiful left hook that drops Rizzo. Rizzo tries to recover but Karjalainen is having none of it, landing more punishing shots from mount. One final crushing shot and Rizzo lies motionless on the canvas. The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Karl Karjalainen!
Karl Karjalainen tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.