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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Riccuito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Zivko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!
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| 193 cm
23
220 lbs
4 - 1 - 0 |
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187 cm
25
221 lbs
4 - 1 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Granite chin |
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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
4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mark Riccuito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mario Zivko!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Andrew Berry and Daniel Bishop.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Riccuito.
Riccuito pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A big right from Riccuito misses.
Riccuito misses with an uppercut.
Riccuito takes the fight into the clinch.
Riccuito lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
It looks like Mario Zivko has been cut.
Zivko blocks an uppercut.
Zivko tries to pull guard but Riccuito forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Riccuito.
Riccuito lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Zivko backwards.
Riccuito tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zivko blocking some punches.
Riccuito misses with an elbow over the top.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Riccuito is stalling here.
Zivko takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zivko tries to pull guard but Riccuito holds him up against the cage and eventually Zivko drops back down to his feet.
Riccuito lands an elbow inside that Zivko shrugs off.
Zivko blocks an elbow strike.
Zivko blocks a body shot from Riccuito.
Zivko blocks an elbow strike from Riccuito.
Riccuito misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zivko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zivko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mark Riccuito has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mario Zivko.
Riccuito digs a right hand underneath Zivko's ribcage. Zivko let out a lung full of air as it connected.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riccuito comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zivko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Riccuito throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Riccuito stalls.
Riccuito misses with a punch to the body.
Riccuito lands a shoulder strike.
That has opened up Mario Zivko's cut even more.
Zivko avoids a wild elbow strike from Riccuito.
Riccuito throws a head punch that misses.
Riccuito misses with a body punch.
Riccuito misses with some punches.
Zivko is trying to pull guard but Riccuito turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zivko tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Riccuito smiles and moves away.
Riccuito throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Zivko counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Riccuito preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Riccuito wants to sweep here but Zivko controlling him for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zivko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Riccuito preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zivko throwing strikes from guard but Riccuito blocks nicely.
Zivko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zivko throwing strikes from guard but Riccuito blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riccuito avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Riccuito is pulling down on Zivko's head. It's preventing any offense from Zivko, at least for the moment.
Riccuito working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zivko.
Zivko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Riccuito utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Riccuito avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zivko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zivko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Riccuito tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zivko passes Riccuito's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Riccuito has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zivko is working away from the top position though.
Zivko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Riccuito's head.
Riccuito is positioning himself well to prevent Zivko advancing to mount.
Zivko prevents Riccuito from improving his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zivko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Riccuito is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zivko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Mark Riccuito dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mario Zivko's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!
Riccuito throws a head kick but Zivko moves out of range.
Riccuito lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Riccuito ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zivko moves away.
Riccuito tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zivko was well out of range. Poor timing from Riccuito.
Riccuito throws the left hand but Zivko avoids the punch easily.
Riccuito dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zivko. That did some damage!
Riccuito misses with a combination
and Zivko decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Riccuito's guard.
Zivko throws an elbow that misses. Riccuito uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zivko's guard. Nice move by Riccuito!
Riccuito controlling from the top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zivko doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zivko trying to strike off his back.
Zivko throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Zivko throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Riccuito controlling from the top position.
Zivko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zivko thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Riccuito seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Mark Riccuito wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A low kick from Riccuito misses
and Zivko counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Riccuito's guard now.
Zivko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zivko preventing the sweep.
Riccuito avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Zivko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Riccuito wants to sweep here but Zivko controlling him for the moment.
Zivko throws an elbow that misses. Riccuito uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zivko's guard. Nice move by Riccuito!
Zivko being controlled here, momentarily.
Zivko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Riccuito is one step ahead there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Zivko doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Riccuito not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Riccuito won't allow Zivko to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
We're going to have a standup here because Mark Riccuito wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Riccuito jabs Zivko right on the nose. Zivko blinks but takes it well.
Riccuito lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Riccuito misses the shot to the body.
Riccuito misses with a combination
and Zivko counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Zivko throwing strikes from guard but Riccuito blocks nicely.
Zivko is looking to work some ground and pound but Riccuito has wrist control.
Riccuito is controlling Zivko's posture.
Riccuito lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zivko!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zivko flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zivko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Riccuito controlling his opponent.
Zivko regains half guard.
Riccuito stalling.
Zivko is looking to improve his position.
Riccuito has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Riccuito controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Mark Riccuito will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mario Zivko's cut.
That's time! Riccuito's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!
Riccuito fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Zivko is out of range.
Riccuito scoring well with a low kick there.
A low kick from Riccuito is predictable there
and Zivko counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Riccuito pulls Zivko in close to prevent any damage.
Zivko throws a big elbow that misses.
Riccuito is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Riccuito has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Mark Riccuito has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Riccuito throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Zivko counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Zivko postures up in Riccuito's guard and throws a big left but Riccuito blocks it.
Riccuito pulls Zivko in close to prevent any damage.
Zivko throws a big elbow that misses.
Riccuito looking to control.
Zivko postures up in Riccuito's guard and throws a big left but Riccuito blocks it.
Zivko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Riccuito works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Zivko throws a big right hand that misses.
Zivko is looking to work some ground and pound but Riccuito has wrist control.
Riccuito is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Zivko is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Riccuito jumps into side control!
Zivko throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Zivko throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Zivko throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Riccuito happy to just control the position for now.
Mario Zivko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zivko wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riccuito taking a breather here.
Zivko tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Zivko is looking for a sweep.
Riccuito is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Zivko will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Mario Zivko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zivko wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Zivko throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Zivko is looking to reverse the position.
Riccuito taking a breather here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zivko tries to bench press Riccuito off him but Riccuito keeps the position.
Riccuito decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Riccuito throws a nice looking combination but Zivko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mario Zivko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zivko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Riccuito.
Zivko blocks a head kick by Riccuito.
Riccuito cracks the inside of Zivko's front leg.
A looping hook to the body misses from Riccuito. Zivko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Riccuito fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zivko manages to avoid it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riccuito tries a head kick but it misses.
Riccuito scores with a hook to the body. Zivko takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Mark Riccuito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riccuito misses the jab.
Riccuito stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Riccuito lands with a hook. Zivko tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Riccuito has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Riccuito misses with a head kick.
A jab from Riccuito finds it's way through Zivko's defenses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Good work by Zivko as he checks the leg kick.
Riccuito misses with a leg kick.
And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Riccuito showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Riccuito, 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Riccuito!
Our winner, Mark Riccuito, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
78% |
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