PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Fitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Monem Idrissi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Fitch
vs
Idrissi

183 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
24
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johnny Fitch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Monem Idrissi!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Damien Edna and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Idrissi moves into range and clinches up with Fitch.
Idrissi wants to take the fight to the mat but Fitch manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Fitch looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Idrissi tries to pull guard but Fitch holds him up against the cage and eventually Idrissi drops back down to his feet.

Idrissi breaks from the clinch.
Fitch will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Fitch's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Fitch duly obliges.

It looks like Monem Idrissi has been cut.
Fitch throws a combination that misses
and Idrissi counters with a thumping low kick.
Idrissi throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Johnny Fitch has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Idrissi is defended easily by Fitch.
Johnny Fitch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monem Idrissi.
Fitch shoots for a takedown but Idrissi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Idrissi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Fitch swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Idrissi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Idrissi.

Idrissi closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fitch to the mat! Fitch manages to get full guard.

Idrissi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Fitch kicks Idrissi off and gets to his feet.
Idrissi misses with a takedown attempt - Fitch sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fitch misses with a double jab
and Idrissi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Idrissi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Fitch leaves Idrissi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Idrissi looks gassed!
Fitch misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitch throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fitch misses with a few strikes there.
Fitch looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fitch slaps away a takedown attempt from Idrissi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fitch leaves Idrissi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Idrissi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fitch as he avoids it easily.
Idrissi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fitch.
Johnny Fitch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fitch misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fitch throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The fight stays on the outside here - Idrissi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Idrissi pushes Fitch up against the cage in a clinch.
Fitch prevents a takedown attempt there.
Fitch is trying to break free.
Fitch tries to break free but Idrissi pushes him back against the cage.
Fitch is trying to break free.
A frustrated look appears on Fitch's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Fitch tries to break free but Idrissi pushes him back against the cage.
Fitch is trying to force a seperation but Idrissi has the dominant position.
Fitch wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Fitch prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Idrissi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Fitch smiles and moves away.

Idrissi forces Fitch back against the cage and clinches.

Idrissi breaks the clinch.
Fitch displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Fitch lands with a good body shot.
Fitch throws a right hand that Idrissi ducks under and follows up with a left that Idrissi also avoids with ease.
Fitch tries to clinch but Idrissi is having none of it.
Idrissi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fitch paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fitch throws a left and a right that both miss
and Idrissi counters with a good, hard body kick but Fitch shrugs it off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fitch fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Idrissi avoids it really well and circles away.
Idrissi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fitch as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Monem Idrissi will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Fitch tries to close the distance and clinch up but Idrissi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fitch misses with a combination
and Idrissi counters with a nice body kick.

Idrissi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Idrissi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fitch thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Idrissi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Idrissi slips nicely into half guard.
Idrissi wants to control but Fitch is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Idrissi is working away from the top position though.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Fitch wants to get back to full guard but Idrissi has mounted him!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Idrissi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Idrissi trying to control but Fitch is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Idrissi punching from mount but Fitch doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Idrissi looking to control but Fitch is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Idrissi looking to ground and pound but Fitch is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Idrissi misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Idrissi throwing strikes here but Fitch is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Idrissi controlling from the full mount.
Idrissi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Idrissi's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Idrissi is stalling here but it's allowed Fitch to get half guard.
Idrissi wants to free his trapped foot but Fitch is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Fitch is trying to escape back to his feet but Idrissi uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Idrissi sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Fitch is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Idrissi advances to full mount.
Idrissi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Fitch tries to improve his position but instead Idrissi has taken his back!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Fitch defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Idrissi biding his time, looking for the opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monem Idrissi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Fitch fails to land with a series of punches.
Fitch throws a lazy right hand but Idrissi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Fitch misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fitch throws a combination that misses
and Idrissi counters with a left and a right that stings Fitch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Idrissi is defended easily by Fitch.
Idrissi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice sprawl there from Fitch as Idrissi shoots in.
Idrissi wants to clinch.
Idrissi tries for a takedown but Fitch sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johnny Fitch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Monem Idrissi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch throws a left and a right that both miss
and Idrissi counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fitch swinging wildly here.
Idrissi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Fitch counters with a one-two to the body.
Fitch misses with a combination
and Idrissi finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Fitch. No joy for Idrissi on that attempt.
Fitch throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Idrissi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fitch displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Idrissi.
Fitch fails to land with a series of punches.
Idrissi fails with a takedown attempt.

Idrissi gets caught flat footed, as Fitch shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitch wants to pass the guard but Idrissi is keeping the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Idrissi holds on and takes a little breather.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fitch preventing the sweep.
Idrissi is trying to keep Fitch in close.

Monem Idrissi has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Fitch fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Idrissi, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fitch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice body kick there by Idrissi.
Fitch swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Idrissi counters by moving into the clinch.
Fitch tries to circle away but Idrissi has him pinned against the cage.

Idrissi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fitch misses with a combination
and Idrissi counters with a straight right hand.
Idrissi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Idrissi gets a clinch.

Idrissi manages to break the clinch.
Fitch swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Idrissi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Idrissi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fitch sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Idrissi somewhat.
Fitch misses with a jab, cross combination.
Idrissi shoots in looking for a takedown but Fitch manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Idrissi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A combination from Fitch does no damage.
Idrissi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fitch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Idrissi moves away.
Sloppy strikes from Idrissi. Those never looked like landing.
Johnny Fitch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Monem Idrissi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fitch misses with a jab, cross combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Monem Idrissi.
Well Idrissi 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Monem Idrissi!