PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Assurio Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Rizzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes to the cage accompanied by Ralek Gracie Freestyle.... These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gracie
vs
Rizzo

175 cm
25
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
170 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Catch Clothing
KrakHeaD Nutrition

KrakHeaD Nutrition
[CBK] The Smashwear Corporation

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Assurio Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Rizzo!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rizzo swivels and escapes.

Rizzo moves into the clinch.
Rizzo tries to pull guard but Gracie won't allow it.
Gracie missing with knees to the body.

Gracie successfully pulls guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rizzo landing with the ground and pound.
Rizzo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Rizzo slips an elbow through the middle.
Gracie looking to control.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gracie managing to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rizzo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rizzo!
Rizzo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo is looking to improve his position but Gracie isn't that keen on the idea.
Rizzo wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Gracie avoiding Rizzo 's attempts to control his hands.
Rizzo can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to keep control of the position but Rizzo is staying busy.
Gracie trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Rizzo doesn't escape.
Rizzo trying to control the action but Gracie just sinks the hooks in.
A lull in the action here.
Gracie is trying to stick to Rizzo's back but Rizzo is turning into Gracie. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Gracie's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Rizzo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Assurio Gracie just wasn't active enough.
Gracie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rizzo throws a combination that misses
and Gracie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed
enabling Rizzo to counter with a crisp jab.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Rizzo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Rizzo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Assurio Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch but Rizzo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rizzo throws a right and a left that Gracie avoids nicely.
Gracie lands a nice shot to the body.

Rizzo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rizzo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rizzo tries to pull guard but Gracie won't allow it.
Rizzo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gracie wants to stall.

Rizzo breaks the clinch.
Gracie throws a right and a left that Rizzo avoids nicely.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rizzo but Rizzo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Rizzo scores with a nice head shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rizzo misses with a wild combination.
A clash of legs there as Rizzo blocks the low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Rizzo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gracie dives in and grabs Rizzo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rizzo pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.
Rizzo lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Gracie shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rizzo pinned against the cage. Rizzo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rizzo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Rizzo scores with a decent looking hook.

Gracie gets caught napping as Rizzo dives in and scores a takedown. Gracie manages to retain guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rizzo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rizzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rizzo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rizzo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rizzo stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gracie can't keep his opponent in guard - Rizzo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Rizzo sits in half guard.
Rizzo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rizzo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rizzo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gracie tries to get to full guard but Rizzo has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gracie defending well though.
Gracie is trying to stand back up but Rizzo is controlling him
Gracie is refusing to be controlled, as Rizzo sits in half guard.
Gracie blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rizzo.
Rizzo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gracie defending well though.
Rizzo is stalling here. Gracie is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Rizzo seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Gracie has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Rizzo is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Gracie off and has taken his back!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control but Rizzo manages to pass to mount!
Rizzo lands a nice shot to the head.
Gracie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tony Rizzo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Rizzo lands a big elbow.
Rizzo lands a heavy elbow.
Rizzo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gracie wants to control but Rizzo is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo raining down shots from the mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rizzo avoids the attempt from Gracie to control.
Rizzo lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gracie is bucking up trying to escape but Rizzo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rizzo cracks Gracie with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rizzo trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Rizzo is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Gracie to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Gracie shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Rizzo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rizzo misses with a few strikes there.

Rizzo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rizzo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gracie defending well though.
Rizzo wants to pass the guard but Gracie is defending well.

Rizzo is trying to work for a kimura but Gracie is defending well.
Gracie is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rizzo working the head and body with strikes.
Rizzo stalling away here and it's allowed Gracie to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Rizzo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rizzo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rizzois looking to pass into half guard but Gracie pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Gracie is in guard.
Rizzo wants to stand but Gracie is controlling the position.

Gracie gets to his feet. Rizzo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Rizzo shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gracie is trying to defend but Rizzo finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gracie is pressing down on Rizzo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rizzo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rizzo!
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzo is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracie trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gracie throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Rizzo is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gracie unloading with bombs!
Rizzo is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rizzo is looking to escape.
Rizzo is working to get back to half guard.
Gracie scoring with strikes but Rizzo is staying in there.
Gracie unloads with some shots from mount but Rizzo bucks and avoids them well.
Rizzo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rizzo is squirming around, avoiding Gracie's attempts to control the action.
Assurio Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tony Rizzo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Gracie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Assurio Gracie.
Well Rizzo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Rizzo!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Tony Rizzo waved his t-shirt featuring KrakHeaD Nutrition's logo in front of the cameras.