PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leslie Fox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Fitzgerald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simon Fitzgerald is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Fox
vs
Fitzgerald

163 cm
23
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
24
176 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 Amsterdam, Leslie Fox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Simon Fitzgerald!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Wagner Zegers and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitzgerald shoots in but Fox avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Fox gets a takedown into half guard.
Fitzgerald is looking to escape.
Fox not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fox controlling the action here.
Fox drops an elbow to the side of Fitzgerald's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fox seems to be looking for submissions.

Fox wants to work for an arm triangle but Fitzgerald is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fox not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fox scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Fox missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Fox thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Fox controlling the action here.
Fitzgerald taking some punishment here, with Fox in his half guard.
Fox trying to control the pace.

Fox is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Fitzgerald as he works his way to full guard.
Fox might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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.
Fox stands up over Fitzgerald, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fox scoring with some ground and pound.
Fitzgerald working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fox.
Fox stands up over Fitzgerald, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fitzgerald is on top in guard.

Fitzgerald looks winded!
Fox trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Fitzgerald trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fox is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fox keeping moving, preventing Fitzgerald from controlling successfully.
Fox utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Fox stuffs the takedown.
A right-left combo lands from Fitzgerald.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fox forces Fitzgerald back against the cage and clinches.
Still in the clinch, Fox scores with a nice short uppercut.
Fitzgerald has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fitzgerald wants a takedown.
Leslie Fox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Fitzgerald.
Fox gets underhooks to prevent Fitzgerald's takedown attempt.
Fitzgerald wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Fox drags the fight down to the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fitzgerald stops Fox from standing up.
Fox is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leslie Fox dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fox blocks the body kick.
Fox is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fitzgerald can do to turn this around?

Fox scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Fox is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Fitzgerald knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Fox working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Fox postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Fox knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fitzgerald on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fox is chipping away with strikes.
Fox misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald dodges the ground and pound from Fox.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fitzgerald is breathing heavily.

Fox is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Fitzgerald is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Fox tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fox has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Fox really is a fat lump.
Fox lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Fitzgerald down.
Fitzgerald tries to buck Fox off but Fox is having none of it.
Fox wants to control but Fitzgerald is keeping him busy.
Fox is trying to ground and pound but Fitzgerald uses the momentary lack of control by Fox to regain half guard.
Fitzgerald flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Fox is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Fitzgerald is just riding it out for now. Fox eventually gives up the hold.
Fox sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fitzgerald defending well though.
Fitzgerald has hold of Fox's hands but Fox slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Fitzgerald is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Fox scores with a couple of nice shots.
Fox is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Fox not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fox throwing shots but Fitzgerald is blocking nicely.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Fitzgerald moves into the clinch.
Fitzgerald stalling in the clinch but Fox improves position.

Fox breaks the clinch.
Fitzgerald looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fox is fending him off so far but Fitzgerald persists. Nope, Fox circles away and we're back to standing.

Fox manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Fitzgerald on his heels. He'll look to pass Fitzgerald's guard now, I'm sure.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fox's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Fitzgerald working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fox.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fox accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fox is working Fitzgerald over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fox keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Fitzgerald's head.
Our spies down at at Pahuyuth Muay Thai 12 elite coaches inform us that Fitzgerald has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Fox has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fox stands up over Fitzgerald, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fox distracts Fitzgerald with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Fox scoring with punches to the head and body.
Fox working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fox lands a couple of digs.

Fox drops back looking for a leg! Fitzgerald is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fitzgerald manages to kick Fox off! Fox jumps back into Fitzgerald's guard.
Fitzgerald utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fitzgerald has momentary wrist control but Fox slips an elbow through the middle.

Fox 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.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Fitzgerald is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fox is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leslie Fox dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Fox is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Fitzgerald's half guard.
Fox is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Fitzgerald is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Fox scores with a couple of nice shots.

Fitzgerald is defending against the submission attempts here by Fox.
Fitzgerald is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fox is looking for a kimura here.
Fitzgerald takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox with the ground and pound but Fitzgerald uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Fox throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fitzgerald works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fox postures up and lands a big shot to Fitzgerald's brow.
Fox trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Fox 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.

Fitzgerald has his foot on Fox's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fox works his way back into a safe position though.

Fox 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.
Fox loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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.
Fox lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Fox loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Fox shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fox sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Fox is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fox throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Fitzgerald to regain full guard.
Fox is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Fitzgerald trying to keep a closed guard but Fox is proving a slippery customer.
Fitzgerald can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fox controls the pace.
Fox throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fitzgerald works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Fox throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fitzgerald works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Fox shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fitzgerald as he avoids it easily.

Fitzgerald gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Fox fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Fitzgerald throws a head kick but Fox moves out of range.

Fox closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fox tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Fitzgerald smiles and moves away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fitzgerald is defended easily by Fox.
Fox appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Fox gets the takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leslie Fox showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fox, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leslie Fox!