PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Temitope Obama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrick Fitzgerald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Temitope Obama has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Obama
vs
Fitzgerald

196 cm
19
141 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
19
135 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Temitope Obama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrick Fitzgerald!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Seu Braga and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice leg kick lands there from Obama.
Fitzgerald will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Obama lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Fitzgerald backs up against the cage.
Obama misses with a wild combination.
Fitzgerald takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Obama throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Temitope Obama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fitzgerald misses with a takedown attempt - Obama sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Obama delivers a nice body kick.
Obama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Fitzgerald shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Obama manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Obama is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Obama looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Fitzgerald thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obama has his hands on Fitzgerald's head, controlling the position.
Obama will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Fitzgerald 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.

Obama is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Fitzgerald defends well.

Fitzgerald drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Fitzgerald jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Obama escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fitzgerald gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Obama is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fitzgerald is aware though and is defending well.
Fitzgerald pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Obama is keeping the position for now.
Fitzgerald slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Obama looking for submissions off his back.

Obama looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fitzgerald is trying to work for a kimura but Obama is defending well.

Fitzgerald is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Obama still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Obama has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

Obama is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Fitzgerald is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fitzgerald manages to work his way to half guard, despite Obama's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Obama connects with a nice short shot to Fitzgerald's temple.
Fitzgerald manages to get to full guard.
Fitzgerald keeping moving, preventing Obama from controlling successfully.

Obama got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fitzgerald has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Obama has managed to get both his arms back between Fitzgerald's legs - danger averted.
Fitzgerald has a closed guard, preventing Obama from standing up.

Fitzgerald is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fitzgerald wants to sweep here but Obama controlling him for the moment.
Fitzgerald is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Obama gets full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Obama throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
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 drops back looking for a leg! Obama is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Obama manages to kick Fitzgerald off! Fitzgerald jumps back into Obama's guard.
Fitzgerald trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Obama escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fitzgerald gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Obama working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fitzgerald doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fitzgerald manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Obama trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Obama wants to sweep but no luck.

Obama looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Obama looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Temitope Obama dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Obama lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fitzgerald circles away quickly and effectively.
Fitzgerald moves out of range of the body kick from Obama.
Obama connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Fitzgerald on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Fitzgerald dodges the punch combination from Obama.

Fitzgerald gets a takedown into half guard.
Obama is looking for a sweep. Fitzgerald is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Obama moves into full guard.

Fitzgerald drops back looking for a leg! Obama is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Obama manages to kick Fitzgerald off! Fitzgerald jumps back into Obama's guard.

Obama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Fitzgerald working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Fitzgerald goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Obama rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Fitzgerald's guard! Nice work there by Obama!

Fitzgerald is looking for a triangle but Obama pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fitzgerald working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Obama doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Fitzgerald is tightening it up a little... Obama has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Obama reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Obama taps out! Nice BJJ there by Fitzgerald!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Rodrick Fitzgerald!
After the fight, Rodrick Fitzgerald was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.