PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jeremiah Fitzgerald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson has chosen Yo Yo Scrape by Skinny Puppy as his entrance music. Jeremiah Fitzgerald looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Fitzgerald
vs
Thompson

183 cm
22
176 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

165 cm
21
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Prefers standup

Good takedowns
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jeremiah Fitzgerald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tom Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thompson shoots in and bounces Fitzgerald off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Thompson sitting in guard here, content to control.
I looks like Thompson might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Tom Thompson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fitzgerald plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Thompson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Thompson throws a right hand that Fitzgerald ducks under and follows up with a left that Fitzgerald also avoids with ease.
Fitzgerald lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Fitzgerald dodges the punch combination from Thompson.
Fitzgerald connects with a crisp jab.

Thompson closes the distance and clinches.
Thompson avoids the elbow strike from Fitzgerald, against the cage.
Fitzgerald is trying to break free.
Fitzgerald can't break the clinch.
Fitzgerald wants to break free but Thompson has control.
Fitzgerald wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thompson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fitzgerald has him pressed against the cage.
Fitzgerald wants to break free but Thompson has control.
Fitzgerald lands a damaging elbow.
Thompson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Fitzgerald gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Fitzgerald is trying to break free.
Fitzgerald is breathing heavily.
Fitzgerald wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thompson has him pressed against the cage.

Thompson has hold of one of Fitzgerald's legs. Fitzgerald is fighting the takedown attempt but Thompson gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Thompson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Fitzgerald will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Tom Thompson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Thompson closes the distance and clinches.
Fitzgerald has had enough of the clinch but Thompson keeps him there for the moment.
Thompson blocks an elbow strike from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thompson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fitzgerald is trying to break free.
Thompson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fitzgerald gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Fitzgerald with a knee to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Fitzgerald fails to land.
Fitzgerald throws a knee to the head but misses.

Thompson tightens his grip and picks Fitzgerald up, before dumping him to the ground. Fitzgerald manages to land in guard.
Thompson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Tom Thompson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fitzgerald moves out of range of the body kick.
Jeremiah Fitzgerald is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice straight punches there by Thompson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thompson.
Fitzgerald tries a head kick but it misses.
Thompson walks forward, straight into a front kick from Fitzgerald.

Thompson forces Fitzgerald back against the cage and clinches.
Thompson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Fitzgerald up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Thompson dominated that round.
That's time! Fitzgerald's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Fitzgerald slips under a jab from Thompson.
Fitzgerald tries to clinch there but Thompson circles away.
A combination from Thompson does no damage.
Jeremiah Fitzgerald is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thompson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fitzgerald doesn't manage to clinch there - Thompson circles away.

Thompson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thompson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Thompson stands up and waves to Fitzgerald to follow him.
Thompson throws a series of punches but Fitzgerald moves out of range.
Fitzgerald dodges the punch combination from Thompson.

Thompson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Fitzgerald has an active guard here but Thompson has managed to pass into half guard.
Thompson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson controlling the pace.
Fitzgerald pushes Thompson off looking to stand but Thompson dives back in and keeps control.
Thompson trying to control the pace.
Fitzgerald wants to improve his position but Thompson is controlling well.
Thompson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Fitzgerald looking for subs from the bottom but Thompson mounts him!
Fitzgerald is trying desperately to improve position.
Thompson looking to control and managing it successfully.

Despite being in the dominant position, Tom Thompson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fitzgerald misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Fitzgerald is trying to escape back to his feet but Thompson uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Fitzgerald tries to buck Thompson off but Thompson is having none of it.
Thompson just content to control the position.
Fitzgerald striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Thompson taking a breather here.
Fitzgerald is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson taking a breather here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Tom Thompson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thompson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fitzgerald.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Thompson or perhaps it was just good defense by Fitzgerald which made him look bad.
Thompson doesn't manage to clinch there - Fitzgerald circles away.
Thompson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fitzgerald moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fitzgerald is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Thompson moves into range and clinches up with Fitzgerald.
Thompson tries for a takedown but Fitzgerald manages to get underhooks.

Thompson tightens his grip and picks Fitzgerald up, before dumping him to the ground. Fitzgerald manages to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fitzgerald wants to sweep but no luck.
Fitzgerald can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Thompson controls the pace.
Thompson looking to pass the guard.
Thompson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson pushes down on Fitzgerald's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thompson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Fitzgerald tries to roll over but Thompson keeps him under control.
Thompson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Despite being in the dominant position, Tom Thompson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Thompson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fitzgerald throws a knee to the head but misses.

Thompson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Fitzgerald can't fight it off and eventually Thompson manages to take the fight to the floor. Fitzgerald looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Thompson controlling from the top position.
Tom Thompson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fitzgerald is looking to sweep but instead, Thompson has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson content to control rather than advance.

Despite being in the dominant position, Tom Thompson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fitzgerald throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Thompson throws a right hand that Fitzgerald ducks under and follows up with a left that Fitzgerald also avoids with ease.
Thompson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fitzgerald misses with a head kick.

Thompson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Fitzgerald wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Thompson passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Fitzgerald!
Thompson controlling the position easily from mount.
Let's hope that Thompson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Jeremiah Fitzgerald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Thompson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thompson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 26:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Thompson!