The Rizzo Effect

[Glove]

For years, and even currently, i consider Pedro Rizzo one of the single greatest strikers i have ever seen in any weight class. His heavy leg kicks are second to none and that would even include Mirko Filipovic, if i may be so bold to declare. He may not have had a career which would stand out to many, but in his youthful years, he beat some of the best fighters in the world. Dan Severn, Tank Abbott, Josh Barnett, Mark Coleman and Andre Arlovski. However, it was his two matches against Lion's Den fighter, Tra Telligman, which stand out the most for me.

Here is his match against Tra Telligman at UFC 43 (his second match with Telligman)



Some highlight clips of his career

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Coming into the Couture fight having only ever lost to Randleman and coming off the KO of a young Barnett, he looked like a fucking badass. I still consider getting two wins against that version of Rizzo one of the crowing achievements of Randy's career.

He lost a lot of consistency later in his career though, seems like a good coach now.

 

[Glove]

Coming into the Couture fight having only ever lost to Randleman and coming off the KO of a young Barnett, he looked like a fucking badass. I still consider getting two wins against that version of Rizzo one of the crowing achievements of Randy's career.

He lost a lot of consistency later in his career though, seems like a good coach now.

Many MMA pundits and fans believe Rizzo won that fight against Couture. Randy even acknowledges it was his toughest fighter he ever had, it landed him in the hospital because of Rizzo's kicks.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Many MMA pundits and fans believe Rizzo won that fight against Couture. Randy even acknowledges it was his toughest fighter he ever had, it landed him in the hospital because of Rizzo's kicks.

I've not watched it in a long time, but from memory Rizzo was leading early and Randy came back at him. Both fights were great though, have them both in my all time top 100.

 

[Nip Tickler]

Randy said in an interview there was a dent in his leg after Rizzo blasted him

 

[Glove]

Randy said in an interview there was a dent in his leg after Rizzo blasted him

Couture also stated that his kicks felt like baseball bats.

 

[JRY82]

Yeah Rizzo was a beast, gotta nice highlight reel

 

[13Seconds]

Before my time. Thanks for the history. This stuff is Always appreciated from my side

 

[Glove]

Before my time. Thanks for the history. This stuff is Always appreciated from my side

Once in a while i like to post some past history on here just for dedicated MMA fans, such as yourself.

 

[electricfuneral]

I remember when he smashed a roided up young barnett. Then barnett beat him old and washed up years later.

 

[Glove]

I remember when he smashed a roided up young barnett. Then barnett beat him old and washed up years later.

Its considered one of his poignant wins in his career. One of my personal favorites as well.

 

[electricfuneral]

I would like to see more threads like this on MMA forefathers

 

[Glove]

I would like to see more threads like this on MMA forefathers

Once in a while i post fighters from years ago on here, i used to do this monthly but stopped due to the incessant trolling in the comments.

 

[electricfuneral]

Once in a while i post fighters from years ago on here, i used to do this monthly but stopped due to the incessant trolling in the comments.

I like the idea of putting lesser known guys into context.

 

[PolarBearPaulVarelans]

Pedro Rizzo was my absolute favorite MMA fighter in the 90's and throughout much of the 2000s, even. Love the guy.

So it might surprise you to realize that after going back and looking at his career very objectively, he was rather...overrated.

For starters, Rizzo straight-up lost to Coleman. It's one of those old-school robberies no one ever talks about anymore. Even with Big John's rather quick stand-ups when Coleman was pounding away at Rizzo, Mark clearly wins the fight, even landing a number of good punches and leg kicks (!!!).

All three of the people commentating, including the UFC matchmaker of the time John Peretti and UFC president (mostly a ceremonial position, but still) Jeff Blatnick were absolutely convinced Coleman had won, and were shocked when Rizzo was announced as the victor.

And I'm not just nitpicking that fight. It was emblematic of Rizzo's whole career and his limitations.

He was a great counterpuncher, but if you didn't initiate and offer him easy openings, he was shockingly ineffective and mediocre. This was particularly on display in his rather pathetic showing against Kevin Randleman for the title at UFC 25. I know, I know, Rizzo blames it on a headbutt, but that's just an excuse, and he had done precious little up until that point, anyways.

Worst, Rizzo never really evolved, improved, or made adjustments in his entire career.

Compare how many adjustments Randy Couture made for his rematch with Rizzo (going for takedowns from the clinch instead of a shot, better defense, conserving his energy in round 1 with ground-and-pound better, and learning to leg kick better) versus what Rizzo did. (Absolutely nothing)

Don't get me wrong. Rizzo is a genuine legend of the sport. But in retrospect, it makes sense to me why he never became the champion he should have been and was largely finished as a serious talent by the time he 30. And he lost to Coleman.

 

[Glove]

Pedro Rizzo was my absolute favorite MMA fighter in the 90's and throughout much of the 2000s, even. Love the guy.

So it might surprise you to realize that after going back and looking at his career very objectively, he was rather...overrated.

For starters, Rizzo straight-up lost to Coleman. It's one of those old-school robberies no one ever talks about anymore. Even with Big John's rather quick stand-ups when Coleman was pounding away at Rizzo, Mark clearly wins the fight, even landing a number of good punches and leg kicks (!!!).

All three of the people commentating, including the UFC matchmaker of the time John Peretti and UFC president (mostly a ceremonial position, but still) Jeff Blatnick were absolutely convinced Coleman had won, and were shocked when Rizzo was announced as the victor.

And I'm not just nitpicking that fight. It was emblematic of Rizzo's whole career and his limitations.

He was a great counterpuncher, but if you didn't initiate and offer him easy openings, he was shockingly ineffective and mediocre. And he never really evolved, improved, or made adjustments in his entire career.

Compare how many adjustments Randy Couture made for his rematch with Rizzo (going for takedowns from the clinch instead of a shot, better defense, conserving his energy in round 1 with ground-and-pound better, and learning to leg kick better) versus what Rizzo did. (Absolutely nothing)

Don't get me wrong. Rizzo is a genuine legend of the sport. But in retrospect, it makes sense to me why he never became the champion he should have been and was largely finished as a serious talent by the time he 30. And he lost to Coleman.

This was a very good summary and explanation for the career of Rizzo and would rather agree that his flaws went unnoticed by most, which was a reason to why he never was the champion. I would say, in his defense, that Rizzo did have the "qualities" of a champion but was not skill rounded to keep it consistent. His wins were against top wrestlers, he was a hard man to get down due to his kicks and keeping them at bay. His fight against Abbott showed he can get hit however.

 

[Karelinator]

I chuckled when they're talking about fights being finally restarted in position in which it'd been paused.

And then ref just puts them on the opposite sides of the cage and starts fight right there.

 

[Thesnake101]

Coleman got robbed.

 

[PolarBearPaulVarelans]

This was a very good summary and explanation for the career of Rizzo and would rather agree that his flaws went unnoticed by most, which was a reason to why he never was the champion. I would say, in his defense, that Rizzo did have the "qualities" of a champion but was not skill rounded to keep it consistent. His wins were against top wrestlers, he was a hard man to get down due to his kicks and keeping them at bay. His fight against Abbott showed he can get hit however.

Oh, Rizzo could definitely beat strikers. I love his knockout over a very young Andrei Arlovski (possibly the last great win of his career). Again though, Rizzo needed these strikers to be aggressive and give him plenty of openings.

Also, I know that Marco Ruas was a mentor and even father figure for Rizzo, but man, I really wish he had joined a real camp. They might have been able to get Rizzo to evolve or fullfill his massive potential.

Can you imagine Rizzo training with Brazilian Top Team or Rafael Cordeiro and Chute Boxe circa 2000? Talk about a missed opportunity...

 

[cyrusthevyrus]

For years, and even currently, i consider Pedro Rizzo one of the single greatest strikers i have ever seen in any weight class. His heavy leg kicks are second to none and that would even include Mirko Filipovic, if i may be so bold to declare. He may not have had a career which would stand out to many, but in his youthful years, he beat some of the best fighters in the world. Dan Severn, Tank Abbott, Josh Barnett, Mark Coleman and Andre Arlovski. However, it was his two matches against Lion's Den fighter, Tra Telligman, which stand out the most for me.

Here is his match against Tra Telligman at UFC 43 (his second match with Telligman)



Some highlight clips of his career

yes, he is one of the best