PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Edwin Marquez (ranked 3375 p4p, 351 weight class) and Sam Rinaldi (ranked 3613 p4p, 378 weight class). Edwin Marquez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Marquez
vs
Rinaldi

195 cm
19
187 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Edwin Marquez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Rinaldi!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Konstantin Menshow and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rinaldi lands a body shot.
Marquez has been working on his boxing with his coaches at CCF Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Rinaldi scores with a body shot.
Rinaldi stalks Marquez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Marquez's face. Marquez staggers backwards, shaken.

Rinaldi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rinaldi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Rinaldi tries to throw a body punch but Marquez avoids it by throwing Rinaldi back against the cage.
Marquez can't break the clinch.
Rinaldi keeps control of Marquez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rinaldi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Marquez's efforts to push away.
Rinaldi prevents Marquez from breaking the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Marquez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rinaldi thuds a left hand into Marquez's body.

Rinaldi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
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!
Rinaldi postures up in Marquez's guard and throws a big left but Marquez blocks it.
Rinaldi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rinaldi works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rinaldi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Marquez trying to control from the bottom.
Marquez tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Rinaldi manages to move to mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marquez is trying to escape the mount.
Rinaldi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rinaldi raining down shots from the mount!

Marquez is rocked!
Oooooh, big shot lands for Rinaldi! Marquez is hurt baaadly! Rinaldi is firing away with more strikes - Marquez is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sam Rinaldi!
Sam Rinaldi is the new middleweight champion!
A less than humble Sam Rinaldi misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.
Edwin Marquez spoke after the fight, saying 'I hate your face. But, like, really. I really hate your face.'.