PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mark Catalan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Fitzpatrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Fitzpatrick told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Catalan
vs
Fitzpatrick

169 cm
27
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

165 cm
19
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite 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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Catalan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mike Fitzpatrick!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Lou da Vinci and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitzpatrick shoots for a double leg takedown but Catalan sprawls well. He's pushed Fitzpatrick's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Catalan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fitzpatrick misses with a takedown
and Fitzpatrick takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mark Catalan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Fitzpatrick.

Catalan rushes Fitzpatrick and presses him up against the cage.

Catalan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fitzpatrick shoots in and drives through. Catalan sprawls well.
Catalan throws a big counter combination but Fitzpatrick scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzpatrick tries to clinch but Catalan is having none of it.
Catalan seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Fitzpatrick shoots for a double leg takedown but Catalan sprawls well. He's pushed Fitzpatrick's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Fitzpatrick misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick shoots in looking for a takedown but Catalan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fitzpatrick's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Fitzpatrick gets tackled into the cage by Catalan. Catalan maintains the clinch.

Catalan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fitzpatrick closes the distance looking to clinch
and Catalan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fitzpatrick closes this distance looking for a takedown but Catalan circles away.
Fitzpatrick shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Catalan pinned against the cage. Catalan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Catalan throws a big counter combination but Fitzpatrick scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Catalan stalks Fitzpatrick and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Fitzpatrick's face. Fitzpatrick staggers backwards, shaken.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Catalan clinches with his opponent.
Fitzpatrick is working for takedown but Catalan is calmly controlling the position for now.

Catalan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fitzpatrick goes for a double leg but Catalan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Catalan continues to drive forward.
Fitzpatrick shoots and misses
and Catalan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fitzpatrick throws a sloppy head kick and Catalan moves out of range easily.
Fitzpatrick changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Catalan tries to avoid it but Fitzpatrick manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Catalan to the ground. Catalan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Catalan swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mike Fitzpatrick seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fitzpatrick shoots for a double leg takedown but Catalan sprawls well. He's pushed Fitzpatrick's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Catalan moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Catalan smiles and moves away.
Fitzpatrick shoots in but no luck this time.
Catalan half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Catalan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fitzpatrick looks to land a combination but Catalan avoids it well.
It looked like Catalan was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Fitzpatrick tries to clinch but Catalan is having none of it.
It looked like Catalan was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Catalan moves into range and clinches up with Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick tries to stall but Catalan uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Fitzpatrick can't get the takedown.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Fitzpatrick tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Catalan just stands there and leans against the cage.

Catalan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Catalan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fitzpatrick misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fitzpatrick.
Catalan is looking for a counter combo.
Fitzpatrick moves in looking to clinch but Catalan pushes him off.
Fitzpatrick fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fitzpatrick is looking to clinch.
Fitzpatrick looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Catalan dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Catalan closes the distance and clinches.

Catalan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fitzpatrick fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Catalan avoids it really well and circles away.
Catalan is looking for a counter combo.

Catalan darts in and clinches Fitzpatrick up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Catalan manages to break the clinch.
Fitzpatrick finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Catalan tries to counter with a takedown but Fitzpatrick is quick to defend against it.
Fitzpatrick tries to clinch up
and Catalan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fitzpatrick has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Catalan swats away the attempt to clinch by Fitzpatrick.
Some wild striking there from Catalan.
Fitzpatrick feints the counter takedown.
Catalan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Fitzpatrick.
Mark Catalan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Fitzpatrick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Catalan throws a head kick that misses.
Fitzpatrick misses with a double jab
and Catalan counters with a three punch combo that has Fitzpatrick backing up. Fitzpatrick nods at Catalan to acknowledge the strikes.
Catalan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Catalan throws a good cross that connects.

Fitzpatrick bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fitzpatrick wants to lay and pray for a moment but Catalan keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fitzpatrick looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Catalan is avoiding damage well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fitzpatrick is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Catalan has escaped the position, nice work there.
Catalan takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Catalan takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Fitzpatrick moves into full mount!
Catalan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Catalan tries to get out of the position.

Fitzpatrick is working for a guillotine from mount but Catalan frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Catalan is squirming around, avoiding Fitzpatrick's attempts to control the action.
Fitzpatrick putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Fitzpatrick trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Fitzpatrick won't let Catalan get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Catalan is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mark Catalan will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Fitzpatrick with a lazy takedown attempt
and Catalan counters with a straight right hand.
Fitzpatrick shoots in but Catalan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fitzpatrick.
Mark Catalan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick goes for a double leg but Catalan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Catalan continues to drive forward.
Catalan is looking for a counter combo.
Catalan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fitzpatrick can do to turn this around?
Fitzpatrick misses with a takedown attempt
and Catalan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Catalan is looking to clinch but Fitzpatrick is avoiding it.
Fitzpatrick shoots in for a takedown but Catalan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Catalan throws a big counter combination but Fitzpatrick scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Fitzpatrick darts in looking for a takedown but Catalan gets double underhooks and turns Fitzpatrick into the cage.
Fitzpatrick takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick avoids the head kick by Catalan.

Catalan clinches with his opponent.

Catalan breaks from the clinch.
Catalan fails to land with a series of punches.
No luck for Fitzpatrick with that takedown attempt.
Catalan throws a big counter combination but Fitzpatrick scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Catalan doesn't manage to clinch there - Fitzpatrick circles away.

Catalan clinches.
Fitzpatrick tries to pull guard but Catalan forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Fitzpatrick is trying to break the clinch but Catalan has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Catalan to work.
Fitzpatrick is looking for a takedown.
Fitzpatrick is trying to pull guard but Catalan has him pressed against the cage.

Catalan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Catalan lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Fitzpatrick with a poor takedown
and Catalan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
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!
Catalan works over Fitzpatrick's head and body with a nice combination.
Fitzpatrick darts in trying to clinch
and Catalan counters with a series of strikes. Fitzpatrick will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Catalan keeps the fight on the outside.
Fitzpatrick is trying hard to land a takedown here. Catalan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Catalan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Catalan scores with a head kick. Fitzpatrick tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Mark Catalan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fitzpatrick closes the distance and clinches up with Catalan, looking for a takedown. Fitzpatrick pushes Catalan against the cage but Catalan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Catalan drops down looking for a counter takedown but Fitzpatrick sprawls and moves away.
Fitzpatrick fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Catalan went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Catalan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Catalan is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Catalan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick can't get the takedown.
Catalan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Fitzpatrick fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Fitzpatrick gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Fitzpatrick takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fitzpatrick is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Catalan.

Catalan gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Catalan will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Fitzpatrick up against the cage.
Catalan lands a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Catalan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Catalan, 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:26
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:26
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Catalan!