PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Emerson Fitzpatrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Norm Croft (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.

Fitzpatrick
vs
Croft

194 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
153 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Emerson Fitzpatrick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Norm Croft!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitzpatrick tries to clinch but Croft moves out of range.
Fitzpatrick wants to clinch
and Croft connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Croft misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fitzpatrick seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Croft misses with a series of wild punches.
It looked like Fitzpatrick was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Croft swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Fitzpatrick gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Croft is trying to force a seperation but Fitzpatrick has the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzpatrick jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Croft walks away with a smile on his face. Fitzpatrick gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Fitzpatrick defending well as Croft loads up on a big left hand.
Croft thows a left - swing and a miss!
Croft misses with a hook to the body
and Fitzpatrick makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Croft really felt that one!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Croft scores with a leg kick.
Fitzpatrick wants to clinch.
Norm Croft seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Croft. Fitzpatrick does a little dance to reset his feet.
Croft thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Fitzpatrick if he has to take too many more of those.

Croft rushes Fitzpatrick and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fitzpatrick drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fitzpatrick is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Croft pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Emerson Fitzpatrick. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Croft wants to break the clinch but can't.
Fitzpatrick wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Croft pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Croft's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Croft duly obliges.
Croft looks to land a combination but Fitzpatrick avoids it well.
Fitzpatrick seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Fitzpatrick tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Croft paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Croft throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Fitzpatrick really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Croft rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fitzpatrick moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Croft avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Croft lands a slapping body shot.
Fitzpatrick closes the distance looking to clinch
and Croft counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Croft pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

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

Croft breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Croft fails to land with a series of punches.
Fitzpatrick throws a big counter combination but Croft scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Croft misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Fitzpatrick makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Croft really felt that one!
Fitzpatrick tries to clinch
enabling Croft to counter with a crisp jab.
Fitzpatrick tries to clinch up but Croft circles away and keeps his distance.
Croft turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick tries to close the distance and clinch up but Croft swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Croft closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Croft is looking to break free of the clinch but Fitzpatrick has double underhooks.
Croft is looking to break free of the clinch but Fitzpatrick has double underhooks.

Fitzpatrick escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Croft throws a head kick but Fitzpatrick moves out of range.
A thudding body kick lands there by Croft!

Croft gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Croft is looking to break free of the clinch but Fitzpatrick has double underhooks.
Fitzpatrick wants to get back to striking at distance but Croft won't allow it.
Fitzpatrick keeps control of Croft as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norm Croft dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Croft motions for Fitzpatrick to come forward. Croft throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Norm Croft seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fitzpatrick is looking to clinch.
Croft throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fitzpatrick tries to close the distance and clinch but Croft swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fitzpatrick tries to clinch up but Croft circles away and keeps his distance.

Fitzpatrick has managed to clinch.

Croft's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Croft ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzpatrick tries to clinch up but Croft circles away and keeps his distance.
Fitzpatrick drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Fitzpatrick tries to clinch but Croft is having none of it.
Croft tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fitzpatrick was well out of range. Poor timing from Croft.
It looked like Fitzpatrick was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick doesn't manage to clinch there - Croft circles away.

Croft moves into the clinch.
Fitzpatrick is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Croft breaks the clinch.

Croft moves into the clinch.
Croft keeps control of Fitzpatrick as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Croft wants to break free but Fitzpatrick has control.
Fitzpatrick drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Croft gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Fitzpatrick managing to block the knees to the body from Croft.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Croft breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Emerson Fitzpatrick is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fitzpatrick is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Croft swinging wildly here.
Croft throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Croft tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fitzpatrick tries to clinch up.
Fitzpatrick fails in his attempt to clinch.
Croft lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Croft scores with a four punch combination!

Fitzpatrick is rocked!
Both fighters circle each other, looking for something big. Croft moves in and throws an overhand right. That hurt Fitzpatrick! Croft continues to tee off on Fitzpatrick, landing with a left and a right! Croft connects with a right hand that leaves Fitzpatrick sleeping against the cage! What a finish by Croft!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:17 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Norm Croft!