PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gerald Golden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pedro Rizzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gerald Golden has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Golden
vs
Rizzi

192 cm
17
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gerald Golden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pedro Rizzi!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rizzi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Rizzi gets to his feet. Golden looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Golden shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rizzi as he jumps to the side.
Rizzi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Golden is fending him off so far but Rizzi persists. Nope, Golden circles away and we're back to standing.
Golden tries to clinch but Rizzi moves away

and Rizzi counters with a shoot takedown. Golden fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Golden keeping moving, preventing Rizzi from controlling successfully.
Golden not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Rizzi got a little sloppy there for a moment and Golden has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rizzi has managed to get both his arms back between Golden's legs - danger averted.
Rizzi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Golden works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rizzi wants to pass the guard but Golden is keeping the position.
Rizzi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rizzi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rizzi pushing down on Golden's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rizzi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rizzi lands strikes from half guard.
Rizzi slows the pace down in half guard.
Golden wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Golden trying to control here.
Rizzi trying to control the action but Golden is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Golden tries to roll over but Rizzi keeps him under control.
Golden trying to hold on to Rizzi's head to control him but Rizzi postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Golden looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rizzi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gerald Golden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pedro Rizzi.
Rizzi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rizzi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Golden.
Rizzi goes for a double leg but Golden avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Golden continues to drive forward.
Golden tries to score a body lock takedown but Rizzi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Rizzi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rizzi dives in for a single leg takedown but Golden sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rizzi looks winded!

Golden breaks the clinch.
Rizzi blocks a head kick by Golden.
Rizzi looks to clinch
and Golden counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rizzi shoots in and bounces Golden off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Golden is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Golden keeping moving, preventing Rizzi from controlling successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rizzi content to stall in guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rizzi chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Golden shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rizzi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rizzi.
Golden's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Rizzi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rizzi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Golden fails to pull guard.

Rizzi breaks from the clinch.

Golden gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rizzi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Golden looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rizzi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rizzi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Golden regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rizzi trying to control but Golden is working from the bottom.
Golden avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rizzi trying to control the position from guard on top but Golden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Golden has his foot on Rizzi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rizzi works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rizzi trying to control but Golden is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rizzi looking to pass the guard.

Golden is working an open guard so Rizzi takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Golden defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rizzi.
Rizzi misses with a jab to the body

and Golden counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Golden.

Rizzi jumps into guard, dragging Golden to the mat.
Pedro Rizzi has got the better of the ground game so far.

Golden decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rizzi tries to clinch there but Golden circles away.
Rizzi stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerald Golden. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Golden throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
letting Rizzi counter with a right hand.
Golden tries to close the distance and clinch but Rizzi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Golden uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rizzi.
Rizzi shoots for a double leg takedown but Golden sprawls well. He's pushed Rizzi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Golden fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rizzi checks it well.
Golden shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rizzi as he jumps to the side.
Golden tries to clinch up but Rizzi circles away and keeps his distance.
Rizzi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rizzi. Golden does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rizzi scores with a head kick. Golden tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Golden misses with a kick to the body
and Rizzi counters with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rizzi tries to clinch up.
Rizzi shoots in for a takedown but Golden shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Golden fails to land the takedown.

Rizzi closes the distance and clinches.
Golden tries to circle away but Rizzi has him pinned against the cage.

Rizzi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rizzi fails with the takedown
and Golden counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rizzi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Golden as he jumps to the side.
Horrible takedown by Rizzi or perhaps it was just good defense by Golden which made him look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro Rizzi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Golden dives in for a single leg takedown but Rizzi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rizzi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Golden's elbow.

Golden pulls guard effortlessly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Golden can't keep his opponent in guard - Rizzi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rizzi prevents Golden from improving his position.
Rizzi is just content to waste time from the top position. Golden takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Golden is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golden looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rizzi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Rizzi prevents Golden from improving his position.
Rizzi is nestled in close to Golden, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rizzi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Golden keeps working.
Rizzi passes to full mount!
Golden tries to lock up and control but Rizzi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rizzi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rizzi stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Some wild striking there from Rizzi.
Rizzi throws a lazy uppercut

and Golden counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Golden.

Rizzi ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rizzi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Golden wants to control from the top but Rizzi keeps moving.
Golden is fighting to break Rizzi's control of his arms but Rizzi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Golden wants to control from the top but Rizzi keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rizzi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Gerald Golden.

Rizzi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Golden keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Golden gets back to full guard.

Rizzi decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Golden, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Golden swats away the attempt to clinch by Rizzi.
Rizzi is looking to clinch but Golden is avoiding it.
Golden shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rizzi counters with a nice body shot.
Rizzi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Golden shoots in for a takedown but Rizzi shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerald Golden. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Golden shoots in and drives through. Rizzi sprawls well.
Pedro Rizzi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rizzi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gerald Golden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rizzi scores with a nice head shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pedro Rizzi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rizzi 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pedro Rizzi!