PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gino Abate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Fitzgerald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Abate
vs
Fitzgerald

173 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

191 cm
23
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gino Abate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brad Fitzgerald!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Columbo Gatti and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Fitzgerald misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Abate misses with a two punch combination.
Fitzgerald tries to clinch up but Abate circles away and keeps his distance.
Fitzgerald swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Abate misses.
Abate misses with a hook
and Fitzgerald counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Fitzgerald tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Abate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fitzgerald fails with a takedown attempt.
Fitzgerald scores with a head kick. Abate tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Fitzgerald fails with a takedown attempt.
Abate throws a right and a left that both miss.
Fitzgerald dodges the punch combination from Abate.
Fitzgerald lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Abate circles away quickly and effectively.
Fitzgerald avoids a punch combination nicely.
Abate rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fitzgerald moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Abate throws a right and a left that Fitzgerald avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Abate.
Abate throws a right and a left that both miss.
Abate looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gino Abate is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Abate blocks a head kick by Fitzgerald.
Abate falls off balance throwing a combination
and Fitzgerald counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Abate throws a series of punches but Fitzgerald moves out of range.
Fitzgerald throws a one two combo.
Abate swinging wildly here.
Fitzgerald throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fitzgerald throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fitzgerald looks winded!
Fitzgerald tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Abate swinging wildly here.
Abate moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Abate showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fitzgerald.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abate misses with a two punch combination.
Fitzgerald pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fitzgerald throws a series of punches but Abate avoids them all with ease.
Abate misses with a wild combination.
Fitzgerald looks to land a combination but Abate avoids it well.
Fitzgerald takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Abate looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Abate will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A head kick by Abate misses
and Fitzgerald counters with a two punch combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Abate!
Fitzgerald is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Fitzgerald ducks under a wild hook from Abate.
Fitzgerald scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Abate rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fitzgerald moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fitzgerald has a takedown stuffed.
Gino Abate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Fitzgerald.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abate misses with a two punch combination.
Fitzgerald swinging wildly here.
Abate throws a right and a left that both miss.
Abate throws a right hand that Fitzgerald ducks under and follows up with a left that Fitzgerald also avoids with ease.
Fitzgerald throws a nice looking combination but Abate bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fitzgerald keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A punch combination from Abate misses.
Abate stuffs the takedown.
Abate misses with a kick to the body.
Fitzgerald will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Fitzgerald dodges the punch combination from Abate.
Abate throws a series of punches but Fitzgerald avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abate misses with a double jab.
Fitzgerald takes a swing at Abate's ribcage but misses.
Fitzgerald fails to land with a series of punches.
Abate misses with a head kick.
Fitzgerald swinging wildly here.
A punch combination from Abate misses.
Abate rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fitzgerald moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fitzgerald misses with a head kick.
Fitzgerald dodges the punch combination from Abate.
Abate tries to bum rush Fitzgerald with a series of wild strikes but Fitzgerald uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A punch combination from Fitzgerald misses.
A punch combination from Abate misses.
Abate takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Fitzgerald checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gino Abate will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Some wild striking there from Fitzgerald.
Some wild striking there from Abate.
Abate throws a series of punches but Fitzgerald moves out of range.
Abate throws a head kick but Fitzgerald moves out of range.
Abate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Abate pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fitzgerald plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Gino Abate is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fitzgerald lands with a shot to the body.
Fitzgerald blocks a head kick by Abate.
Abate swinging wildly here.
Gino Abate is winning the standup battle so far.
Abate throws a half hearted mid kick.
Abate tries to bum rush Fitzgerald with a series of wild strikes but Fitzgerald uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fitzgerald works over Abate's head and body with a nice combination.
Abate dodges the punch combination from Fitzgerald.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fitzgerald misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald avoids a punch combination nicely.
Abate misses with a two punch combination.
Abate rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fitzgerald moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fitzgerald scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Fitzgerald lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Abate circles away quickly and effectively.
Abate takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Abate throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fitzgerald lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Abate circles away quickly and effectively.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Fitzgerald shoots in but no luck this time.
Abate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fitzgerald looks to land a combination but Abate avoids it well.
Abate tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fitzgerald was well out of range. Poor timing from Abate.
Abate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald lands a two punch combo.
Abate fails to land with a series of punches.
Fitzgerald misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fitzgerald is trying hard to land a takedown here. Abate sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Abate looks to score with a jab to the body but Fitzgerald is just out of range.
Fitzgerald walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Fitzgerald, right into the meat.
Fitzgerald lands with a good body shot.
Fitzgerald avoids a punch combination nicely.
Abate will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fitzgerald throws a right and a left that Abate avoids nicely.
Abate misses with a series of wild punches.
Fitzgerald scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Abate throws a right and a left that Fitzgerald avoids nicely.
Abate needs to keep his hands up - Fitzgerald had a free shot at his head there.
Fitzgerald slips a jab and a cross from Abate.
Fitzgerald misses with a two punch combination.
Abate bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Abate tries to bum rush Fitzgerald with a series of wild strikes but Fitzgerald uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fitzgerald shoots in for a takedown but Abate shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gino Abate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Fitzgerald.
Abate misses with the combination.
Abate throws a wild body kick that Fitzgerald sees coming a mile off.
Fitzgerald lands with a kick to the ribs.
Fitzgerald dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Abate. That did some damage!
Abate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fitzgerald closes this distance looking for a takedown but Abate circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abate misses with a few strikes there.
Fitzgerald shoots in but no luck this time.
Abate throws a right hand that Fitzgerald ducks under and follows up with a left that Fitzgerald also avoids with ease.
Abate misses with a few strikes there.
Fitzgerald dodges the punch combination from Abate.
Fitzgerald is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Abate rather than just go for the knockout.
No joy there for Fitzgerald, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Abate tries to bum rush Fitzgerald with a series of wild strikes but Fitzgerald uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fitzgerald is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Abate. Those never looked like landing.
Fitzgerald looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fitzgerald blocks a head kick by Abate.
Abate looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fitzgerald looks to land a combination but Abate avoids it well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Abate throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brad Fitzgerald will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Abate's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Fitzgerald uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Abate.
Abate looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fitzgerald misses with a takedown attempt - Abate sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Abate throws a body punch but Fitzgerald moves out of range.
Abate throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fitzgerald.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Fitzgerald!
Some wild striking there from Abate.
Fitzgerald misses with a two punch combination.
Gino Abate seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fitzgerald tries to clinch but Abate moves out of range.
Abate throws a right hand that Fitzgerald ducks under and follows up with a left that Fitzgerald also avoids with ease.
Abate throws a nice looking combination but Fitzgerald bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fitzgerald looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Abate fails to land with a series of punches.
Fitzgerald dodges the punch combination from Abate.
A cross from Fitzgerald lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abate circles away from the clinch attempt.
Abate digs a good body shot into Fitzgerald's ribs.
Some wild striking there from Abate.
Abate lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fitzgerald circles away quickly and effectively.
Fitzgerald connects with an inside leg kick.
Abate throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Abate manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fitzgerald misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fitzgerald throws a hook but Abate blocks it.
Abate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Some wild striking there from Fitzgerald.
Abate will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Abate throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abate throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Abate takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Abate throws a right hand that Fitzgerald ducks under and follows up with a left that Fitzgerald also avoids with ease.
Abate looks to land a combination but Fitzgerald avoids it well.
Fitzgerald scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Fitzgerald lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Fitzgerald throws the kick towards the body but Abate avoids it.
Fitzgerald dodges the punch combination from Abate.
Fitzgerald dodges the punch combination from Abate.
Fitzgerald throws a nice looking combination but Abate bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Abate throws a right and a left that Fitzgerald avoids nicely.
Fitzgerald will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Abate misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abate fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Abate misses with a double jab.
Abate takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Fitzgerald tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Abate swivels and escapes.
Fitzgerald throws a right and a left that both miss.
Abate misses with a two punch combination.
Abate misses with a body shot.
Abate tries to bum rush Fitzgerald with a series of wild strikes but Fitzgerald uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fitzgerald throws a sloppy head kick and Abate moves out of range easily.
Abate throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Abate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fitzgerald scores with a three punch combo!
Sloppy strikes from Abate. Those never looked like landing.
Abate throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abate misses with the combination.
Fitzgerald goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Abate looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Abate throws a right and a left that Fitzgerald avoids nicely.
Fitzgerald lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Abate circles away quickly and effectively.
Abate throws a right hand that Fitzgerald ducks under and follows up with a left that Fitzgerald also avoids with ease.
Fitzgerald looks to land a combination but Abate avoids it well.
Fitzgerald misses with a series of wild punches.
Fitzgerald misses with a two punch combination.
Abate throws a right hand that Fitzgerald ducks under and follows up with a left that Fitzgerald also avoids with ease.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abate looks to land a combination but Fitzgerald avoids it well.
Fitzgerald moves in looking to clinch but Abate pushes him off.
Fitzgerald shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Abate defends it nicely.
Gino Abate has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Fitzgerald.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abate avoids a punch combination nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gino Abate.
Well Abate has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Brad Fitzgerald!