PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frank Rizzo (ranked 1917 p4p, 5881 weight class) and Frank Lucas Iv (ranked 211 p4p, 470 weight class). Frank Lucas Iv is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rizzo
vs
Lucas Iv

150 cm
22
140
4 - 1 - 0

168 cm
24
148
6 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Rizzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Frank Lucas Iv!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lucas Iv gets a double leg takedown into Rizzo's guard.
Lucas Iv trying to control but Rizzo is working from the bottom.
Lucas Iv might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rizzo haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rizzo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lucas Iv must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rizzo has Lucas Iv pulled in close to control his posture.
Lucas Iv throwing strikes but missing.
Rizzo is adopting a defensive guard.
Lucas Iv controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rizzo controlling Lucas Iv's posture.
Lucas Iv with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lucas Iv postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rizzo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lucas Iv.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas Iv throwing strikes but missing.
Lucas Iv wants to control from the top but Rizzo keeps moving.

Rizzo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lucas Iv throwing strikes from guard but Rizzo blocks nicely.
Rizzo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Lucas Iv wants to control from the top but Rizzo keeps moving.
Lucas Iv throws a big right hand that misses.
Rizzo trying to control the position.
Lucas Iv with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lucas Iv throwing strikes from guard but Rizzo blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lucas Iv makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lucas Iv is in close to Rizzo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rizzo looking to control.
Lucas Iv landing with the ground and pound.
Lucas Iv with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lucas Iv missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lucas Iv with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rizzo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lucas Iv loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rizzo is trying to control the position but Lucas Iv postures up.
Lucas Iv throws a big elbow that misses.
Lucas Iv throwing strikes but missing.
Lucas Iv stopping the sweep attempt from Rizzo.
Rizzo has his hands on Lucas Iv's head, controlling the position.
Rizzo wants to stand and escape but Lucas Iv is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucas Iv in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rizzo working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rizzo lands a slapping body shot.
Rizzo lands with a nice body punch.
Frank Rizzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rizzo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lucas Iv stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rizzo thuds a left hand into Lucas Iv's body.
Lucas Iv's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rizzo connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lucas Iv scrambles back to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lucas Iv. Rizzo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lucas Iv misses with a combination
and Rizzo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lucas Iv is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A jab from Rizzo finds it's way through Lucas Iv's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucas Iv slips a jab and a cross from Rizzo.
Lucas Iv tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rizzo paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rizzo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lucas Iv sprawls well initially but Rizzo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lucas Iv is trying to stand up here but Rizzo is controlling him well.
Rizzo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rizzo is keen to just control but Lucas Iv is a slippery customer.
Rizzo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lucas Iv with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rizzo is keen to just control but Lucas Iv is a slippery customer.
Lucas Iv wants to get back to full guard but Rizzo has mounted him!
Lucas Iv trying desperately to get to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Rizzo dominated that 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.

Horrible takedown attempt by Lucas Iv or perhaps it was just good defense by Rizzo, which made it look bad.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Rizzo here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Rizzo connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lucas Iv momentarily.
Lucas Iv swats away the attempt to clinch by Rizzo.

Rizzo looking to score a takedown here. Lucas Iv is defending well but Rizzo drives through and ends up in Lucas Iv's guard.
Lucas Iv wants to stand and escape but Rizzo is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rizzo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lucas Iv can do to turn this around?
Rizzo stops Lucas Iv from standing up.
Rizzo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
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 stuffs the takedown.
Horrible takedown attempt by Lucas Iv or perhaps it was just good defense by Rizzo, which made it look bad.
Frank Rizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Lucas Iv.
Rizzo lands a jab to Lucas Iv's midsection.

Rizzo closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucas Iv throws a punch but it's blocked by Rizzo.
Rizzo lands a body shot.
Lucas Iv is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rizzo is defending well.
Lucas Iv is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rizzo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rizzo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lucas Iv doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lucas Iv has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rizzo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lucas Iv tries for a takedown but Rizzo manages to get underhooks.
Lucas Iv drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lucas Iv is struggling to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucas Iv stalling against the cage.
Lucas Iv fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lucas Iv can't get the takedown.
Rizzo prevents the takedown attempt.
Rizzo is pressed up against the cage. Lucas Iv has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rizzo down to the mat. Rizzo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rizzo scores with a nice strike.
Rizzo jabs Lucas Iv to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rizzo lands a right hook to the body.
Rizzo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lucas Iv manages to avoid it.

Rizzo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lucas Iv manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rizzo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo stopping the sweep attempt from Lucas Iv.
Lucas Iv wants to stand up but Rizzo is controlling him.
Rizzo distracts Lucas Iv with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Frank Rizzo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rizzo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rizzo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lucas Iv wants to stand but Rizzo is controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lucas Iv keeping moving, preventing Rizzo from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rizzo looks to score with a jab to the body but Lucas Iv is just out of range.
Rizzo looks to land a combination but Lucas Iv avoids it well.
Lucas Iv darts in looking for a takedown but Rizzo gets double underhooks and turns Lucas Iv into the cage.
Lucas Iv staying out of range there.
Lucas Iv throws a counter combo.
Frank Rizzo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lucas Iv looks to land a combination. Rizzo sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rizzo scores with a body shot.
Lucas Iv shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rizzo sprawls well. Rizzo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lucas Iv gets slowly back to his feet.
Rizzo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A counter left hand to the body from Rizzo misses its target.
Frank Rizzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Lucas Iv.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lucas Iv takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rizzo misses with a body shot.
Rizzo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Rizzo. Beautiful body shot.
Lucas Iv takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rizzo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rizzo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rizzo misses with the combination.
Rizzo is looking to wear down Lucas Iv with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Lucas Iv shoots and misses

and Rizzo counters by moving into the clinch.
Lucas Iv is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rizzo is defending well.
Lucas Iv is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rizzo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A body shot lands from Rizzo.
Lucas Iv is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rizzo is defending well.
Rizzo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Lucas Iv.
Rizzo lands with a light punch inside.
Rizzo works on Lucas Iv's body with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lucas Iv takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lucas Iv is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rizzo is defending well.
Lucas Iv jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rizzo walks away with a smile on his face. Lucas Iv gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Lucas Iv tries to clinch up.
Rizzo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sloppy strikes from Rizzo. Those never looked like landing.
Lucas Iv throws a front kick aimed at Rizzo's knee but Rizzo avoids it well.
Lucas Iv tries for a takedown but Rizzo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rizzo connects with a body shot.

Rizzo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rizzo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rizzo is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo prevents Lucas Iv from standing back up.
Lucas Iv on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Lucas Iv kicks Rizzo off and gets back to his feet.
Lucas Iv avoids the body shot from Rizzo.
Rizzo just misses with a punch to the body.
Rizzo swinging wildly here.

Rizzo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucas Iv taking punishment in the form of punches.
Rizzo lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Lucas Iv down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lucas Iv is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rizzo has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rizzo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rizzo lands a few punches from side control.
Lucas Iv taking a bit of punishment here - Rizzo scoring with strikes.
Frank Rizzo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lucas Iv tries to escape but Rizzo is in control.

Rizzo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lucas Iv is trying to control Rizzo's posture but Rizzo avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Rizzo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rizzo 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Rizzo!
Frank Rizzo was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.