PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johnatan Bruks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Fitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bruks
vs
Fitch

175 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnatan Bruks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Fitch!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bruks throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Fitch tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bruks is in Fitch's guard.
Fitch lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bruks!
Bruks wants to try and get back to his feet.
Fitch tries to control but Bruks wriggling away.
Fitch is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruks is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Fitch unloading with bombs!

Bruks bucks up and throws Fitch to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Fitch, right into the meat.
Fitch with a poor takedown
and Bruks counters with a series of strikes. Fitch will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fitch with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bruks counters with a single leg into guard. Fitch didn't expect that.
Fitch looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bruks is working Fitch over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Bruks stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Fitch takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Fitch takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bruks falls off balance throwing a combination

and Fitch counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Bruks kicks Fitch off and gets to his feet.
Fitch fails with the takedown
enabling Bruks to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnatan Bruks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Fitch.
No joy there for Bruks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fitch shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bruks sprawls well. Bruks wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fitch gets slowly back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Bruks.
Fitch doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Bruks to counter with a crisp jab.

Bruks closes the distance and clinches.
Bruks has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Fitch avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bruks gets underhooks to prevent Fitch's takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch pressing his opponent against the cage.

Bruks manages to break the clinch.
Fitch misses with a takedown

so Bruks counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fitch manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bruks holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Fitch tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Fitch has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Bruks's face.

Fitch jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Bruks is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Bruks and Fitch has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitch trying to control the action but Bruks is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bruks is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnatan Bruks dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bruks fails in his attempt to clinch.

Bruks shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Fitch's guard.

Bruks thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Fitch looking to control.
Bruks with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bruks content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bruks content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bruks gets to his feet - Fitch follows without any prompting.
Bruks swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Fitch counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bruks!
Fitch wants to control the pace but Bruks is squirming around nicely.
Fitch throws a strike there. Bruks manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch misses with a head shot. Bruks uses the momentum to regain guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fitch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bruks swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Bruks pushes Fitch off and gets back to his feet.
Fitch shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bruks counters with a takedown into side control.
Fitch looking for a sweep but Bruks has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitch really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Bruks controlling from mount.
Fitch is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Fitch is desperately trying to improve his position but Bruks has a good base and remains in mount.
Fitch tries to hold on but Bruks postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bruks trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bruks in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Bruks lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Fitch hang on?
Fitch gets back to half guard.
Bruks lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruks looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Fitch with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bruks connects with a nice short shot to Fitch's temple.
Bruks scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Fitch trying to control from the bottom.
Fitch wants to improve his position but Bruks is controlling well.

Bruks is looking for a kimura but Fitch is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bruks to get the leverage.
Bruks working the head and body with strikes.

Fitch looking for subs from the bottom but Bruks mounts him!
Bruks wants to control the pace but Fitch is squirming around nicely.

Fitch somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Bruks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fitch circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bruks swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Fitch counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bruks won't be happy with that.
Bruks is pushing Fitch's head away, looking to escape. Fitch manages to hold on to the position though.
Bruks regains half guard there - taking advantage of Fitch's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Bruks wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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 Johnatan Bruks 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Fitch fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bruks avoids it really well and circles away.
Fitch with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bruks counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Bruks scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Bruks is nestled in close to Fitch, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Bruks seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Bruks landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bruks winds up and cracks Fitch with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Fitch moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Fitch is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bruks is controlling him.
Bruks wants to control from the top but Fitch keeps moving.

Fitch is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bruks trying to control but Fitch is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruks wants to stand but Fitch has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Bruks trying to control the position from guard on top but Fitch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Fitch manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Fitch thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Fitch wants to control but Bruks has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Bruks tries to kick Fitch off but Fitch keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Bruks kicks off Fitch and gets to his feet.
Bruks tries to clinch but Fitch moves away

and Fitch counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bruks's guard now.
Bruks keeping moving, preventing Fitch from controlling successfully.
Fitch passes Bruks's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Fitch wants to take a breather but Bruks is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fitch seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Bruks has recovered full guard.
Fitch postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fitch wants to control from the top but Bruks keeps moving.
Fitch throws a big right hand that misses.
Johnatan Bruks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Fitch looking to sit in guard and control but Bruks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bruks content to stall in guard here.
Bruks seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Fitch for as long as he can get away with.
Bruks has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bruks is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Fitch's half guard.
John Fitch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fitch is refusing to be controlled, as Bruks sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Johnatan Bruks.
Well Bruks has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnatan Bruks!