PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zack Rize (ranked 1089 p4p, 1393 weight class) and Alexander Cotilla (ranked 116 p4p, 149 weight class). Rize kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Luke Combs - When It Rains It Pours. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Rize
vs
Cotilla

197 cm
28
260
21 - 11 - 0

191 cm
29
241
17 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zack Rize!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alexander Cotilla!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rize darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Cotilla stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rize.
Rize misses with a looping left.
Cotilla raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Rize has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Team Grunt in the buildup to the fight.
Rize lands a right hook to the body.
Rize dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cotilla. That did some damage!
Rize thows a body kick. Cotilla tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rize throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cotilla.
Cotilla lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Cotilla avoids the body shot from Rize.
Cotilla throws a counter combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cotilla checks a low kick from Rize.
A nice side step and Cotilla releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rize. Cotilla does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rize throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rize fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Zack Rize is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rize cracks Cotilla with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rize tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cotilla was well out of range. Poor timing from Rize.
Despite the aggression on Cotilla's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Rize throws a shot from downtown. Cotilla moves away and avoids it.
Despite the aggression on Cotilla's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A jab lands there for Rize.
Rize throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Alexander Cotilla has been cut.
Rize connects with a looping right hand.
Rize tests Cotilla's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cotilla takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rize with the inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cotilla looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rize catches Cotilla with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Good work by Cotilla as he checks the leg kick.
Rize cracks Cotilla with an open hand slap.
Cotilla's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rize connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Cotilla scrambles back to his feet.
Cotilla throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rize misses with a looping right.
Cotilla was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Cotilla tries to clinch there but Rize circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cotilla throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rize looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rize lands a right hook to the body.
Rize lands with an uppercut that bounces Cotilla off the cage and back into range.
Rize throws a shot from downtown. Cotilla moves away and avoids it.
Rize misses with a hook.
Cotilla moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Rize connects with a body shot that sends Cotilla's belly button to the back.
Cotilla checks a low kick from Rize.
Cotilla unleashes a big counter combination but Rize bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Cotilla pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cotilla chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rize can pounce on him.
Rize takes a swing at Cotilla's ribcage but misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Cotilla blocks the leg kick.
Cotilla is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Rize waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cotilla.
Cotilla is looking for the big counter here.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rize.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rize tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A nice combination there by Cotilla.
Cotilla avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Cotilla lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Rize with a nice calf kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zack Rize dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Cotilla's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cotilla misses with a wild combination.
Rize with the inside leg kick.
Rize scores with a leg kick.
Cotilla blocks a jab.
Rize lands a right hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cotilla misses with a head kick.

Cotilla darts in and clinches Rize up against the cage.
Cotilla blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotilla stalling in the clinch.
Rize can't find room to land a body shot as Cotilla controls the action.
Cotilla gets through Rize's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Cotilla blocks an uppercut.
Rize tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rize misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cotilla blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short left from Rize.
Cotilla takes a shot to the head.
Rize lands a hook that snaps the head of Cotilla backwards.
Rize misses with some punches.
Rize struggles to land a body shot inside as Cotilla controls his hands.

Cotilla breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rize tries to work over Cotilla's front leg with a kick but Cotilla checks it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cotilla looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rize. That's going to slow Cotilla down.
Cotilla throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rize connects with a body shot that sends Cotilla's belly button to the back.
Alexander Cotilla is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
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!
Cotilla defending well as Rize loads up on a big left hand.
Cotilla is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rize. That's going to slow Cotilla down.
Rize throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As Rize backs off Cotilla throws a huge counter combo but Rize manages to avoid it all.
Cotilla looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rize lands a body shot.
Rize showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cotilla.
Rize misses the shot to the body.
Rize scores with a body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Rize.
Rize lands a leg kick that knocks Cotilla off balance momentarily.
Rize gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Cotilla counters with a series of strikes that sends Rize to the canvas! Cotilla follows down into guard, looking to finish the fight!
Rize keeping full guard, as Cotilla tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rize pulls Cotilla in to control the position.
Cotilla missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rize is pulling down on Cotilla's head. It's preventing any offense from Cotilla, at least for the moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rize keeping moving, preventing Cotilla from controlling successfully.
Cotilla wants to get up but he can't break Rize's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zack Rize dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Cotilla's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Rize misses the shot to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cotilla! But no joy.
Nice jab there from Rize.
Rize lands a slapping body shot.
Rize misses the shot to the body.
Rize moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rize wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Jab from Rize.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rize lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rize connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That has opened up Alexander Cotilla's cut even more.
Zack Rize seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cotilla takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cotilla keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
That kick from Rize tenderised Cotilla's leg. Cotilla is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rize throws out a leg kick but Cotilla moves out of range and Rize only half commits.
Rize feints a jab promting Cotilla to slip. Rize then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cotilla slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Cotilla's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rize blocks the body kick.
Rize throws a leg kick
and Cotilla counters with a three punch combo that has Rize backing up. Rize nods at Cotilla to acknowledge the strikes.

It looks like Zack Rize has been cut.
Cotilla tries to land a leg kick but Rize saw it coming and moves away.
Rize ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rize misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cotilla.
A jab from Rize finds it's way through Cotilla's defenses.
Rize changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rize throws a chopping leg kick but Cotilla manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rize lunges at Cotilla with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cotilla's hand.
Cotilla uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rize.
Rize looks to land a right hand but Cotilla moved out of range.
Rize misses the shot to the body.
Rize scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rize lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cotilla's sensitive parts.
Rize connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rize avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A quick step to the side and Rize tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rize fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cotilla has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rize throws a body shot but no joy.
Despite the aggression on Cotilla's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Rize with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rize scores with a jab to the body.
Cotilla avoids the body shot from Rize.
Cotilla doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Rize lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Zack Rize is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rize misses with a low kick.
Cotilla was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Alexander Cotilla has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rize keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

The cut above Alexander Cotilla's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Rize uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rize looks to score with a jab to the body but Cotilla is just out of range.
Cotilla throws a counter combo.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rize. That's going to slow Cotilla down.
Rize jabs at Cotilla's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cotilla throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cotilla throws a head kick that misses.
Cotilla uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rize.
Cotilla is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Rize with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zack Rize showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rize, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

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