PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Julio Fitzgerald (ranked 24984 p4p, 0 weight class) and Byron Werner (ranked 23914 p4p, 0 weight class). Julio Fitzgerald has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Fitzgerald
vs
Werner

181 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

150 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Good elbows
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Julio Fitzgerald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Byron Werner!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shigeki Fujiwara and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Werner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fitzgerald attempts a counter takedown but Werner avoids it well and moves away.

Werner feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Fitzgerald is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Werner presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Werner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Werner throws a head kick that misses
and Fitzgerald counters with a two punch combo.

Werner looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Fitzgerald scrambles and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fitzgerald is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Werner manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald is stalling in the full guard.
Werner controls Fitzgerald momentarily but Fitzgerald frees himself.

Fitzgerald stands and steps away. Werner gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Fitzgerald tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Werner paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Werner shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Fitzgerald napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fitzgerald is looking for a sweep.
Fitzgerald sneaks back into half guard.
Fitzgerald moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Werner postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Fitzgerald is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Werner, into his guard.

Werner is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Werner trying to control the position.

Fitzgerald gets to his feet. Werner looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Werner darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Fitzgerald trying to hold on to Werner's head to control him but Werner postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald is controlling Werner's trapped leg to prevent Werner from advancing to side control.
Fitzgerald is staying active underneath Werner, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Werner not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fitzgerald slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Fitzgerald has a closed guard, preventing Werner from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fitzgerald manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Werner manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Werner is working an open guard so Fitzgerald takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Fitzgerald shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Werner as he jumps to the side.
Werner is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fitzgerald.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julio Fitzgerald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fitzgerald throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Werner counters with a shoot takedown. Fitzgerald fights it but they end up in guard.
Werner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fitzgerald swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Werner is looking to stand up but Fitzgerald won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Julio Fitzgerald will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Werner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fitzgerald feinted with a counter takedown.

Werner closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Fitzgerald quickly recovers to half guard.
Werner sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fitzgerald defending well though.
Fitzgerald trying to control here.
Werner wants to take a breather but Fitzgerald is having none of it.
Fitzgerald is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Werner's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Werner's back!
Fitzgerald is not going to allow Werner to sit and survive in this position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzgerald biding his time, controlling Werner.
Werner is in bad spot here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald biding his time, looking for the opening.
Fitzgerald gets his hands free as Werner looks to control.
Fitzgerald is punishing Werner with some ground and pound.
Werner looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Can Werner hold on?! Fitzgerald is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Fitzgerald really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Werner tries to roll but Fitzgerald sticks to his back.
Fitzgerald connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Werner to escape the position.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Werner doesn't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werner tries to roll but Fitzgerald sticks to his back.
Fitzgerald scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Werner is looking for a way out.
Fitzgerald is punishing Werner with strikes - can he finish him?!
Werner is taking damage to the body and head.
I really don't envy Werner right now.
Fitzgerald is landing with strikes. Werner can't take much more of this.
Werner looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Fitzgerald is riding his opponent, not letting Werner buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Werner for as long as he can get away with.
Fitzgerald throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Werner!
Fitzgerald is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Fitzgerald trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Werner doesn't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald is not going to allow Werner to sit and survive in this position.
Werner is trying to stand back up.
Fitzgerald is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Werner. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Fitzgerald is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Werner tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Werner shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Werner was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Fitzgerald sneaks out the side door and pushes Werner away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Julio Fitzgerald is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Fitzgerald looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
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!
Werner is pulling down on Fitzgerald's head to control his posture.
Werner working a defensive guard here.

Fitzgerald gets to his feet. Werner looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Fitzgerald lands a two punch combo.

Werner shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Fitzgerald is trying to defend but Werner finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Fitzgerald manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Fitzgerald enables Werner to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Fitzgerald manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Werner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Werner trying to control the position from guard on top but Fitzgerald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Julio Fitzgerald overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fitzgerald manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Werner manages to get himself to full guard.

Fitzgerald controls from within his opponent's guard.
Fitzgerald will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fitzgerald stands up and waves to Werner to follow him.

Werner shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Werner throws a strike but Fitzgerald avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Fitzgerald manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Werner manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werner trying to keep a closed guard but Fitzgerald is proving a slippery customer.
Fitzgerald controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Werner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Fitzgerald decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Werner clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Fitzgerald is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Werner pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Werner unloads a knee to the mid-section.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Werner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Werner misses with a head kick.

Werner changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Fitzgerald looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Werner trying to control the position but Fitzgerald is working away.
Fitzgerald isn't going anywhere.
Fitzgerald can't do much from the bottom here.
Byron Werner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Julio Fitzgerald is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Werner is trying to get an arm triangle but Fitzgerald is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio Fitzgerald showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fitzgerald, 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julio Fitzgerald!