PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Greg Fitzgerald (ranked 1085 p4p, 1347 weight class) and Efraim Turban (ranked 146 p4p, 186 weight class). Fitzgerald comes to the cage accompanied by It's Bedtime by Ninja Sex Party. Turban has chosen Nadav Guedj - Golden Boy as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Fitzgerald
vs
Turban

225 cm
29
169
8 - 3 - 0

177 cm
32
170
16 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

HARDCORE Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Greg Fitzgerald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Efraim Turban!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Eddie Farnsworth and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitzgerald tries a head kick but it misses.
Turban swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Fitzgerald throws a lazy head kick
and Turban counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Fitzgerald thinking.
Fitzgerald misses with a low kick.
Fitzgerald looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Turban misses with a series of wild punches.
Fitzgerald appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Fitzgerald keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fitzgerald cracks a nice hook into Turban's ribs.
Fitzgerald really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Turban moves into range and clinches up with Fitzgerald.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Turban breaks from the clinch.
Fitzgerald missing with a left hand there. Turban was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right-left combo lands from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald lands a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fitzgerald scores with a sloppy right hand. Turban should have avoided that one.
Fitzgerald rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Turban counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald falls off balance throwing a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Turban closes the distance looking to clinch
and Fitzgerald counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Turban blocks a head kick by Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Fitzgerald throws an off balance right hand
enabling Turban to counter with a crisp jab.
Fitzgerald scores with a jab to the body.
Turban displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Fitzgerald is rocked!
Turban swings for the body but Fitzgerald moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Fitzgerald on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Oh Fitzgerald is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fitzgerald avoids the body shot from Turban.
Turban is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Fitzgerald.

Turban is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
A slapping leg kick lands for Turban.
Fitzgerald swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fitzgerald wants to land a leg kick but Turban is out of range.
Turban follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Fitzgerald seems to have got his legs back now.
Fitzgerald misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turban closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fitzgerald circles away.

Turban closes the distance and clinches.
Turban's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fitzgerald throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Turbans head.
Turban tries to work over Fitzgerald's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Turban breaks the clinch.
Turban ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Turban! But no joy.

Turban moves into the clinch.
Fitzgerald being controlled against the cage.
Fitzgerald lands a right hand that snaps the head of Turban backwards.
Fitzgerald lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Turban.

Turban pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fitzgerald lands a lovely overhand right.
Greg Fitzgerald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fitzgerald throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Turban feints a counter leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turban takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Fitzgerald throws a hook to the side of Turban's head but Turban sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fitzgerald misses the jab.
Turban ducks under a wild hook from Fitzgerald.
Turban takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Fitzgerald misses with a double jab.
Turban throws a counter combo.
Turban throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fitzgerald will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Turban counters with a body kick.
Turban ducks under a wild hook from Fitzgerald.
Turban is looking for the big counter here.
Fitzgerald misses with a combination
and Turban counters with a nice body shot.
We've been informed that Turban has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Turban with the inside leg kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Fitzgerald crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Turban - the referee stops the clock and Fitzgerald gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Turban. Fitzgerald manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Turban uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fitzgerald.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald misses the jab.
Turban is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Fitzgerald rather than just go for the knockout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Turban. Fitzgerald does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Turban ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Turban blocks a jab.
Fitzgerald misses the shot to the body.
Turban bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Turban looks to land a combination but Fitzgerald avoids it well.
Greg Fitzgerald is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fitzgerald takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A big right from Fitzgerald misses.
Turban slips under a jab from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Turban lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fitzgerald circles away quickly and effectively.
Turban moves forwards but Fitzgerald connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Turban slips under a jab from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Turban.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Fitzgerald 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.

Fitzgerald throws a lazy right hand but Turban sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Turban with the inside leg kick.
Turban is looking to clinch but Fitzgerald is avoiding it.
Efraim Turban is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fitzgerald lands with a straight right. Turban didn't see that one coming.
Fitzgerald is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Turban lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Fitzgerald keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Fitzgerald throws a combination that misses
and Turban counters with a left to the body.
Fitzgerald throws a head kick that misses.
Fitzgerald throws a shot from downtown. Turban moves away and avoids it.
Turban misses with a wild body shot.
Turban connects with a solid leg kick.
Turban misses with a body shot.
Fitzgerald is looking to counter punch.
Fitzgerald lands with a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A slapping leg kick lands for Turban.
Fitzgerald shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Greg Fitzgerald is winning the standup battle so far.
Turban is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Fitzgerald.
Turban thumps Fitzgerald with a low kick.
Turban takes a swing at Fitzgerald's ribcage but misses.
Fitzgerald scores with a crisp jab that stopped Turban in his tracks.
Fitzgerald will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Fitzgerald will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Fitzgerald throws a body shot but no joy.
Fitzgerald throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A right-left combo lands from Fitzgerald.
Turban is still on wobbly legs! Can Fitzgerald finish him?
Fitzgerald lands with a hook. Turban tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Fitzgerald is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Fitzgerald misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Turban throws out a counter right but Fitzgerald avoids it with no problem.
Fitzgerald swings for the body but Turban moves out of range.
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!
Fitzgerald misses with a two punch combination.
Fitzgerald jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Turban misses its intended target.
Turban tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fitzgerald was well out of range. Poor timing from Turban.
Fitzgerald appears to be looking for a big counter.
Fitzgerald scores with a decent looking hook.
Turban tries to clinch but Fitzgerald is having none of it.
Turban avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fitzgerald uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Turban.
A lazy left from Fitzgerald finds it's target.
Fitzgerald keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Turban checks a leg kick nicely.
Turban thinks about the counter body kick.
Turban on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald obviously looking to wear him down.
Turban gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A swing and a miss from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald looks to score with a jab to the body but Turban is just out of range.
Turban is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Fitzgerald with a body shot.
Turban throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A big left from Fitzgerald misses.
Turban scores with a jab.
Turban misses with a few strikes there.
Fitzgerald throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fitzgerald throws a series of punches but Turban moves out of range.
Fitzgerald is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Turban can do to turn this around?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fitzgerald throws a poor cross that misses
and Turban cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Turban dodges the punch combination from Fitzgerald.
Turban looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turban fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
No joy there for Fitzgerald, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fitzgerald scores with a nice head shot.
Turban swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fitzgerald was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Turban looks to land a right hand but Fitzgerald moved out of range.
Fitzgerald misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fitzgerald throws a shot from downtown. Turban moves away and avoids it.
Turban digs a good body shot into Fitzgerald's ribs.
Turban misses with a jab, cross combination.
Turban seems to have recovered his senses.
Fitzgerald throws a right hand that misses
and Turban makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Turban tries to clinch but Fitzgerald is having none of it.
A punch combination from Turban misses.
Turban fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Fitzgerald.
Turban lands a right hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fitzgerald misses with a wild combination.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turban throws a nice looking combination but Fitzgerald bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Turban lands with a nice body kick.
Fitzgerald throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Turban sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fitzgerald keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Turban checks the leg kick nicely there.
Turban throws out a counter right but Fitzgerald avoids it with no problem.
Fitzgerald looks to land a right hand but Turban moved out of range.
Turban's jab looks to have found its range, popping Fitzgerald under the eye.
Turban throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fitzgerald throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Turban.
Fitzgerald backing away here, and Turban unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Fitzgerald misses with a left hand
and Turban counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fitzgerald is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Turban.

Turban fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Fitzgerald, pushing him back against the cage.
Fitzgerald lands a right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Greg Fitzgerald will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Fitzgerald misses with the combination.
A decent looking cross lands there for Turban.
Turban waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Turban throws out the jab.
Turban keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little jabbing left from Turban on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Turban chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Turban is looking to score with low kicks.
Fitzgerald sizes up Turban with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzgerald tries to bum rush Turban with a series of wild strikes but Turban uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fitzgerald checks a leg kick.
Turban slips under a jab from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Fitzgerald ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Turban moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turban's corner calls for a 1-2. Turban obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Fitzgerald is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Turban.
Turban shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Fitzgerald takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Fitzgerald on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Fitzgerald throws a looping overhand right but Turban ducks down to avoid it.
Fitzgerald lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Turban circles away quickly and effectively.
Turban showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fitzgerald.
Turban appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Turban scores with a hook to the body. Fitzgerald takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Turban pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Turban throws a body punch but Fitzgerald moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Turban lands with an uppercut that bounces Fitzgerald off the cage and back into range.
Turban lands a nice looking body kick.
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!
Turban misses the jab.
Fitzgerald takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Turban tries to clinch up.
Turban keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Turban closes the distance and clinches up with Fitzgerald, looking for a takedown. Turban pushes Fitzgerald against the cage but Fitzgerald circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Fitzgerald misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Turban throws a nice inside leg kick.
Fitzgerald misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Donk. Turban catches Fitzgerald right on the button with a cross.
Fitzgerald buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Fitzgerald fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Turban manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turban works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
No joy there for Fitzgerald, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fitzgerald swings widly with a right hand
enabling Turban to counter with a crisp jab.
Turban avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Turban! But no joy.
Fitzgerald throws a front kick aimed at Turban's knee but Turban avoids it well.
Turban fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fitzgerald circles away from the clinch attempt.
A swing and a miss from Fitzgerald.
A looping hook to the body misses from Turban. Fitzgerald does a little dance to reset his feet.
Turban steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fitzgerald.
Turban wants to clinch up but Fitzgerald keeps it at a distance.
Fitzgerald has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Turban.
Fitzgerald lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turban paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sloppy strikes from Turban. Those never looked like landing.
Fitzgerald misses the shot to the body.
Fitzgerald scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fitzgerald swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Turban swings for the body but Fitzgerald moves out of range.
As Turban looks to move away, Fitzgerald throws a big counter combo but Turban just gets out of the way.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Fitzgerald pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Turban drives through and clinches with Fitzgerald against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Fitzgerald.
Turban tries to work over Fitzgerald's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Efraim Turban has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Turban tries to work over Fitzgerald's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Fitzgerald lands with a left to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Efraim Turban.
I think Fitzgerald has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Greg Fitzgerald!
Greg Fitzgerald made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'I think I'm going to try & be humble for once. This might be the first match I wasn't 100% sure I could knock him out. He's a hall of famer with a hell of a chin. But now I'll just sit here with my finger up my ass wondering... Where the fook is my title shot?'.