PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dion Fitzwater (ranked 5168 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rory MacDonald (ranked 23807 p4p, 0 weight class). Rory MacDonald will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Fitzwater
vs
MacDonald

179 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dion Fitzwater!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rory MacDonald!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Joseph Jones and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitzwater shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with MacDonald but MacDonald pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Fitzwater fails with the takedown

and MacDonald counters by clinching up.
Fitzwater keeps the fight in the clinch, despite MacDonald's efforts to push away.
Fitzwater jumps guard but MacDonald stands there with Fitzwater around his waist. Fitzwater gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dion Fitzwater. That's going to take a lot out of him.
MacDonald blocks a punch to the side of the head.
MacDonald is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Fitzwater pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacDonald is trying to break free.
MacDonald wants a takedown.
A frustrated look appears on MacDonald's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Fitzwater misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from MacDonald.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Fitzwater drives through and clinches with MacDonald against the cage.
Fitzwater throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Fitzwater blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Fitzwater pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Fitzwater takes the fight into the clinch.
A short right from Fitzwater.
Fitzwater wants a takedown but no success here.
MacDonald fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nice elbow from Fitzwater.
MacDonald wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacDonald is looking to break free of the clinch but Fitzwater has double underhooks.

Fitzwater pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fitzwater closes this distance looking for a takedown but MacDonald circles away.
Fitzwater dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on MacDonald. That did some damage!
Fitzwater stuffs the takedown.
Fitzwater shoots in looking for a takedown. MacDonald tries to sprawl out of it but Fitzwater keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. MacDonald manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fitzwater shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as MacDonald sprawls well. MacDonald wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fitzwater gets slowly back to his feet.
MacDonald connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Fitzwater momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzwater tries to clinch there but MacDonald circles away.
Fitzwater keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
MacDonald shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fitzwater pinned against the cage. Fitzwater gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Fitzwater misses with an uppercut
and MacDonald counters with a right hand to the body.
MacDonald swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Fitzwater gets tackled into the cage by MacDonald. MacDonald maintains the clinch.
Fitzwater keeps the fight in the clinch, despite MacDonald's efforts to push away.

Fitzwater escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fitzwater fails with an attempt to clinch.
MacDonald closes the distance and clinches up with Fitzwater, looking for a takedown. MacDonald pushes Fitzwater against the cage but Fitzwater circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fitzwater clinches up with MacDonald and pushes him back against the cage.
Fitzwater is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
MacDonald is trying to pull guard but Fitzwater turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Fitzwater manages to pull guard.
MacDonald sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Fitzwater's guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Fitzwater manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
MacDonald postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
MacDonald trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
MacDonald pushing down on Fitzwater's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dion Fitzwater dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fitzwater throws a head kick but MacDonald moves out of range.

Fitzwater has managed to clinch.

Fitzwater's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
MacDonald moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Dion Fitzwater has been cut.

MacDonald clinches up against the cage.
Fitzwater tries to pull guard but MacDonald won't allow it.
MacDonald tries to break the clinch but Fitzwater is controlling the position.
MacDonald pushes Fitzwater back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Fitzwater jumps guard but MacDonald turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacDonald tries to score a body lock takedown but Fitzwater shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Fitzwater keeps the fight in the clinch, despite MacDonald's efforts to push away.

Fitzwater breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fitzwater gets tackled into the cage by MacDonald. MacDonald maintains the clinch.
Fitzwater stalling.
MacDonald misses with a knee strike.
Fitzwater misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from MacDonald.

Fitzwater manages to break the clinch.
MacDonald circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fitzwater is looking to clinch but MacDonald is avoiding it.
MacDonald lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
MacDonald throws a sloppy head kick and Fitzwater moves out of range easily.
MacDonald throws a series of punches but Fitzwater moves out of range.

Fitzwater has closed the distance and engaged MacDonald in a clinch.
MacDonald on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
MacDonald lands a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacDonald is trying to break the clinch but Fitzwater is controlling him.
Fitzwater trying to control the position but instead, MacDonald has worked for underhooks and has pushed Fitzwater into the cage.
The referee calls for Fitzwater to work.
MacDonald jumps guard but Fitzwater turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
MacDonald drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fitzwater gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dion Fitzwater has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rory MacDonald.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from MacDonald.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fitzwater breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
MacDonald swats away the attempt to clinch by Fitzwater.
MacDonald feints the counter takedown.
MacDonald shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fitzwater as he jumps to the side.
Rory MacDonald seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fitzwater tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but MacDonald swivels and escapes.
MacDonald throws a right and a left that both miss.

MacDonald clinches with his opponent.

Fitzwater breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fitzwater tries to close the distance and clinch up but MacDonald swats him away and circles back towards the center.
MacDonald throws out a counter right but Fitzwater avoids it with no problem.
Fitzwater throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Fitzwater is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fitzwater takes the fight into the clinch.
Fitzwater holding his opponent close, against the cage.

MacDonald jumps guard and drags Fitzwater to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Fitzwater throws an elbow that misses. MacDonald uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fitzwater's guard. Nice move by MacDonald!

Fitzwater trying to keep a closed guard but MacDonald is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fitzwater trying to control the position here.
Fitzwater thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory MacDonald showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dion Fitzwater's cut.
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!

MacDonald keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fitzwater misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
MacDonald misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Fitzwater moves in looking to clinch but MacDonald pushes him off.
A left and a right from Fitzwater both land. Nice combination.
Fitzwater tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but MacDonald paws at him with a jab and circles away.
MacDonald looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
MacDonald throws a head kick but Fitzwater moves out of range.
Dion Fitzwater is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

MacDonald darts in and clinches Fitzwater up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on MacDonald's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Fitzwater has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. MacDonald avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dion Fitzwater. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fitzwater keeps control of MacDonald as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzwater misses with a knee strike.
Fitzwater tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Fitzwater tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and MacDonald avoids it.
Fitzwater misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Fitzwater drags the fight down to the ground.
MacDonald's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Fitzwater wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fitzwater is adopting a defensive guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

MacDonald gets to his feet - Fitzwater follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacDonald tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Fitzwater defends well and MacDonald ends up having to push Fitzwater into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Fitzwater moves in looking to clinch but MacDonald pushes him off.
Fitzwater takes a body punch but keeps moving.
MacDonald looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
MacDonald shoots in and drives through. Fitzwater sprawls well.
Fitzwater tries to clinch there but MacDonald circles away.
MacDonald cracks Fitzwater with an open hand slap.
Fitzwater shoots in looking for a takedown. MacDonald tries to sprawl out of it but Fitzwater keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. MacDonald manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Fitzwater changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. MacDonald tries to avoid it but Fitzwater manages to keep hold of a leg and drag MacDonald to the ground. MacDonald escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
MacDonald scores with a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzwater is looking to clinch but MacDonald is avoiding it.
MacDonald throws a shot to the body.
MacDonald scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Fitzwater slaps away a takedown attempt from MacDonald, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fitzwater fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
MacDonald shoots in for a takedown but Fitzwater shows good takedown defense.
Fitzwater tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
MacDonald shoots in for a takedown but Fitzwater shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fitzwater tries to clinch but MacDonald is having none of it.
MacDonald throws a sloppy head kick
and Fitzwater counters with a series of strikes. MacDonald will be more careful next time no doubt.

Fitzwater clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Fitzwater obliges.

Fitzwater pulls MacDonald into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as MacDonald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
MacDonald is pushing down on Fitzwater's leg trying to pass to half guard. Fitzwater is fighting to maintain full guard but MacDonald has managed to sneak the leg through.
Fitzwater wants to get back to full guard.
MacDonald is taking a breather. Fitzwater says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Fitzwater is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rory MacDonald.
I think MacDonald has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rory MacDonald!