PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Venables (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Fitzgerald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Venables
vs
Fitzgerald

188 cm
19
200 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

183 cm
26
190 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Joseph Venables!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Andy Fitzgerald!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Winston Alpacca and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitzgerald slips under a jab from Venables.
No joy there for Fitzgerald, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fitzgerald has a couple of punches blocked by Venables.
Still in the clinch, Venables scores with a nice short uppercut.
Venables misses with a hook from the clinch.
Venables blocks a body shot from Fitzgerald.
Venables tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Fitzgerald blocking some punches.
Fitzgerald has a couple of punches blocked by Venables.
Fitzgerald lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A hook to the body from Fitzgerald.
Venables utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Fitzgerald lands a right hand.
Fitzgerald stalling the fight.
Venables takes a shot to the head.
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 lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fitzgerald lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Fitzgerald lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald lands a body punch.
Fitzgerald goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Fitzgerald works on Venables's body with a couple of short punches.
Fitzgerald blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Venables pushes Fitzgerald back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Venables lands with a short shot to the head.
Fitzgerald lands with a short shot to the head.

It looks like Joseph Venables has been cut.
Venables swings wildly with an uppercut but Fitzgerald uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fitzgerald dodges an elbow strike from Venables.
Fitzgerald lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Venables or not.
A head punch on the inside from Venables fails to land.
Venables swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Venables avoids a wild elbow strike from Fitzgerald.
A short body shot lands from Fitzgerald as the two fighters clinch.
Fitzgerald lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Fitzgerald lands a nice uppercut.
Venables is trying to break the clinch but Fitzgerald has him pressed against the cage.
Fitzgerald lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fitzgerald lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Fitzgerald.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Fitzgerald.
Venables lands a hook to the side of the head.
Venables has Fitzgerald pressed against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Venables.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Venables stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Venables takes a shot to the head.
Fitzgerald lands a body punch.
Venables is breathing heavily.
A short right from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald lands a nice uppercut.
Fitzgerald is working Venables over against the cage.
Fitzgerald stalling.
Fitzgerald lands a right hand that snaps the head of Venables backwards.
Fitzgerald works on Venables's body with a couple of short punches.
Good body shot from Fitzgerald.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Fitzgerald.
Still in the clinch, Fitzgerald scores with a nice short uppercut.
Fitzgerald lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Venables backwards.
A right hand to the body from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fitzgerald scores with a hook to the body.
Fitzgerald works on Venables's body with a couple of short punches.
Good body shot from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Venables.
A shot in the inside from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald lands a hook that snaps the head of Venables backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Venables fails to land.
Fitzgerald lands an uppercut.
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!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald lands a nice shot to the body.
Fitzgerald blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fitzgerald lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Venables takes an elbow to the forehead.
Fitzgerald lands a right hand that snaps the head of Venables backwards.
Venables misses with an elbow over the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald lands a right hand.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Fitzgerald takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Fitzgerald creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Fitzgerald lands a nice shot to the body.
Fitzgerald stalls.
Fitzgerald lands a shoulder strike.
Fitzgerald digs a right hand into Venables's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Venables's gas tank.
Fitzgerald throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Venabless head.
Fitzgerald lands a nice elbow.
Fitzgerald lands a body punch in the clinch.
Venables blocks the elbow strike.
Fitzgerald makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fitzgerald lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Fitzgerald softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Venables working aggressively here.
Fitzgerald lands a shot to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Fitzgerald.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Fitzgerald dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joseph Venables's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

No joy there for Fitzgerald, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fitzgerald catches Venables with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Fitzgerald throws an overhand right that lands on Venables's shoulder, as Venables tries to avoid the shot.
Fitzgerald throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Venables.
Fitzgerald has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Venables is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Fitzgerald moves into range and clinches up with Venables.
Venables missing with knees to the body.
Fitzgerald presses Venables against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Fitzgerald works on Venables's body with a couple of short punches.
Venables is trying to stall.
A right hand to the body from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Venables throws a punch but it's blocked by Fitzgerald.
A nice right hand lands inside from Fitzgerald.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fitzgerald looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Andy Fitzgerald seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Venables throws an elbow that misses.
Fitzgerald makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Venables dodges an elbow strike from Fitzgerald.
A short uppercut from Fitzgerald.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Fitzgerald.
Venables fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fitzgerald lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Fitzgerald tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Venables breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Venables connects with a right hand. Fitzgerald shakes it off.
Venables throws a leg kick but Fitzgerald sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Fitzgerald throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Venables on the side of the head.
Nice cross by Venables.
Venables gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Fitzgerald has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Venables uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fitzgerald.
Venables attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Fitzgerald dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A shot to the liver by Fitzgerald. Beautiful body shot.
We've been told by Venables's head coaches at The Bear's Den that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Venables moves forwards but Fitzgerald connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Fitzgerald keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Venables.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Fitzgerald there.

Venables is rocked!
Some bone on bone action there as Fitzgerald checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Venables lands a nice looking body kick.
Venables pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Fitzgerald stuns Venables with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Fitzgerald forces Venables back against the cage and clinches.
Fitzgerald lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short uppercut from Fitzgerald.
Oh Venables is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fitzgerald scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fitzgerald lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Venables or not.
Come on Fitzgerald - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Still in the clinch, Fitzgerald scores with a nice short uppercut.
Fitzgerald lands a left hand.
Venables has a couple of punches blocked by Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Venables blocks the elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald lands a shoulder strike.
Venables takes a shot to the head.

Joseph Venables's cut is getting worse.
Fitzgerald working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Fitzgerald blocks an uppercut.
Fitzgerald is leaning against Venables and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Fitzgerald tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Venables avoids it.
Nice body punch from Fitzgerald - that landed with a thud.
Fitzgerald softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Fitzgerald working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Venables misses with a short punch on the inside.
Venables misses with a short punch on the inside.
Fitzgerald throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Venables's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Venables throws a knee to the head but misses.
Venables's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Still in the clinch, Fitzgerald scores with a nice short uppercut.
Fitzgerald lands with a right to the head.
A hook to the body from Fitzgerald.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald lands a left hand that snaps the head of Venables backwards.
Fitzgerald softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Fitzgerald lands with a left to the head.
Fitzgerald manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Venables misses with some punches.
Venables letting Fitzgerald take a breather here.
Fitzgerald blocks the elbow strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Venables misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fitzgerald is stalling here.
Fitzgerald lands with a left to the head.
Fitzgerald lands a nice uppercut.
Fitzgerald creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Venables with a big uppercut! Venables tries to clinch up but Fitzgerald pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Venables to the mat! Venables covers up and Fitzgerald unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Andy Fitzgerald!
Andy Fitzgerald made sure to mention his sponsor, Sully's Bar & Grill in his post fight interview.