PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sam Rinaldi (ranked 5852 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Lukas (ranked 24723 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Rinaldi
vs
Lukas

187 cm
24
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
192 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Rinaldi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luke Lukas!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, John Kavanagh and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rinaldi gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Lukas's face as Rinaldi controls the position.
Rinaldi creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Lukas sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Lukas actively working from the bottom here.
Rinaldi content to control rather than advance.
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.
Rinaldi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lukas's head.
Rinaldi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lukas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lukas moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lukas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rinaldi defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lukas working a defensive guard here.
Rinaldi connects with a couple of short punches.
Rinaldi is in close to Lukas's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Lukas controls Rinaldi momentarily but Rinaldi frees himself.
Our spies down at at Lovelair Muay Thai/MMA inform us that Lukas has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Rinaldi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lukas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lukas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rinaldi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lukas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rinaldi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rinaldi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lukas is keeping the position for now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rinaldi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rinaldi trying to control but Lukas is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Lukas tries to clinch but Rinaldi is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lukas moves in looking to clinch but Rinaldi pushes him off.

Rinaldi dives in and scores a takedown into Lukas's guard.
Lukas wants to sweep but no luck.

Lukas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rinaldi distracts Lukas with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rinaldi is looking to work some ground and pound but Lukas has wrist control.
Rinaldi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lukas on the ground.
Rinaldi looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rinaldi throws an elbow that misses. Lukas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rinaldi's guard. Nice move by Lukas!

Lukas trying to control the position from guard on top but Rinaldi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lukas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rinaldi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rinaldi keeping moving, preventing Lukas from controlling successfully.
Lukas looking to pass the guard.
Lukas controlling from the top position.
Rinaldi 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 crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rinaldi trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Rinaldi 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.

Rinaldi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lukas did well to prevent Rinaldi getting side control.
Rinaldi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lukas's head.
Lukas manages to get to full guard.
Rinaldi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sam Rinaldi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rinaldi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rinaldi wants to control from the top but Lukas keeps moving.
Lukas trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinaldi 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.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rinaldi cracks Lukas with a solid left hand.
Rinaldi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lukas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rinaldi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lukas can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lukas takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

It looks like Luke Lukas has been cut.
Nice cross by Rinaldi.
Rinaldi scores with a hook.

Lukas is rocked!
Rinaldi drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Lukas right on the button. Lukas goes down! Rinaldi follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Rinaldi gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sam Rinaldi!