PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ritchie Johannesburg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Fitzpatrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ritchie Johannesburg had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Johannesburg
vs
Fitzpatrick

162 cm
27
146 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

165 cm
26
138 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

M.O. Fight Wear

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ritchie Johannesburg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Liam Fitzpatrick!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johannesburg moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johannesburg.
Johannesburg unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Johannesburg scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Liam Fitzpatrick has been cut.
Johannesburg throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Fitzpatrick blocks it with crossed arms.
Fitzpatrick misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nice elbow from Johannesburg.
Johannesburg unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Johannesburg with a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Johannesburg obliges.
Johannesburg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johannesburg using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Fitzpatrick has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Johannesburg lands a knee to the body.
Fitzpatrick has a couple of punches blocked by Johannesburg.
Johannesburg with a knee to the head.
Fitzpatrick swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fitzpatrick is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Johannesburg to keep the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johannesburg working Fitzpatrick over with knees to the body.
Fitzpatrick looks winded!
Johannesburg is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fitzpatrick is defending well for now.
Johannesburg connects with a knee to the head.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Fitzpatrick has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Johannesburg lands a knee to the head.
Johannesburg tries to land a knee to the head but Fitzpatrick blocks with his arms.
Fitzpatrick managing to block the knees to the body from Johannesburg.
Johannesburg putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Fitzpatrick in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Fitzpatrick takes an elbow to the temple.
Johannesburg landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Johannesburg landing knees to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fitzpatrick throws an elbow that misses.
Johannesburg using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Johannesburg lands an elbow that stopped Fitzpatrick in his tracks for a moment.
Johannesburg gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick avoiding damage as Johannesburg throws knees to the body.
Johannesburg lands an elbow just above Fitzpatrick 's eye.
Fitzpatrick goes for a takedown attempt but Johannesburg pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Johannesburg tries to close the distance and clinch but Fitzpatrick swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fitzpatrick shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ritchie Johannesburg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Fitzpatrick.
Johannesburg is looking to clinch but Fitzpatrick is avoiding it.
Johannesburg is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fitzpatrick is trying hard to land a takedown here. Johannesburg sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Johannesburg doesn't manage to clinch there - Fitzpatrick circles away.
Johannesburg tries to clinch but Fitzpatrick is having none of it.
Fitzpatrick looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Johannesburg is fending him off so far but Fitzpatrick persists. Nope, Johannesburg circles away and we're back to standing.
Johannesburg tries to clinch but Fitzpatrick is having none of it.
Fitzpatrick changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Johannesburg is looking to clinch but Fitzpatrick is avoiding it.
Johannesburg moves in looking to clinch but Fitzpatrick pushes him off.
Fitzpatrick circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick tries for a takedown but Johannesburg sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Johannesburg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Fitzpatrick tries to keep at a distance but Johannesburg has taken the fight into the clinch.
Johannesburg crunches a lovely knee into Fitzpatrick's ribcage.
Johannesburg lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Johannesburg trying to land knees to the body.
Fitzpatrick misses with some punches.
Fitzpatrick tries to stall but Johannesburg uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Johannesburg tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fitzpatrick avoids it.
Fitzpatrick takes a knee right on the jaw!
Fitzpatrick avoiding damage as Johannesburg throws knees to the body.
Fitzpatrick avoiding damage as Johannesburg throws knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Johannesburg.
Johannesburg lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johannesburg trying to land knees to the body.
Johannesburg lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Johannesburg creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Fitzpatrick's defenses.
Fitzpatrick on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Johannesburg obliges.
Johannesburg with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Johannesburg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Johannesburg with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Johannesburg comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Johannesburg.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fitzpatrick tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fitzpatrick takes a knee to the side of the body.
Fitzpatrick is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ritchie Johannesburg dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Liam Fitzpatrick's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fitzpatrick shoots for a double leg takedown but Johannesburg sprawls well. He's pushed Fitzpatrick's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
As Fitzpatrick looks to move away, Johannesburg throws a big counter combo but Fitzpatrick just gets out of the way.

Johannesburg has taken the fight to the clinch.
Johannesburg tries a knee to the head but Fitzpatrick blocks it.
Johannesburg tries to land a knee to the head but Fitzpatrick blocks with his arms.
Fitzpatrick looking for a takedown.
Johannesburg is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fitzpatrick can do to turn this around?
Johannesburg throws a knee to the head but misses.
Johannesburg avoids the elbow strike from Fitzpatrick, against the cage.
Johannesburg scores a nice knee to the body.
Johannesburg blocks the elbow strike.
Johannesburg using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johannesburg with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Johannesburg.

Fitzpatrick is rocked!
Fitzpatrick is breathing heavily.
Fitzpatrick takes an elbow to the temple.
Fitzpatrick is still on wobbly legs! Can Johannesburg finish him?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johannesburg lands a big knee! That's hurt Fitzpatrick! Oh, he's all over the place! Johannesburg lands another knee that sends Fitzpatrick to the floor and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ritchie Johannesburg!
Ritchie Johannesburg bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.