PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Fitzroy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dane Short (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Fitzroy
vs
Short

190 cm
25
181 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joseph Fitzroy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dane Short!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Short lands a nice looking body shot.
Fitzroy closes the distance but Short moves to the side

and Short counters with a takedown into side control.
Fitzroy is looking for a sweep.
Short landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Fitzroy takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Fitzroy takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Short throws a strike aimed at the side of Fitzroy's head but Fitzroy avoids it well.
Fitzroy is breathing heavily.

Short stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Fitzroy shoots and misses

and Short counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fitzroy tries to roll over but Short keeps him under control.
Fitzroy is refusing to be controlled, as Short sits in half guard.

Short decides to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Short throws a series of punches but Fitzroy moves out of range.
Fitzroy has his takedown stuffed
and Short makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Fitzroy really felt that one!
Short thows a body kick. Fitzroy tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Fitzroy takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Short misses with a double jab.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Short.
Short lands with a nice body punch.
Short swings for the body but Fitzroy moves out of range.
Short throws a series of punches but Fitzroy avoids them all with ease.
Short feints a jab promting Fitzroy to slip. Short then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Fitzroy slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Short misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Short closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Short fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Fitzroy sprawls well initially but Short persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Short thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fitzroy's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Short lands a nice short elbow.
Short with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Short wants to take a breather but Fitzroy is having none of it.

Short stands up from half guard.
Joseph Fitzroy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Short darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Short lands a nice short elbow.
Short is keen to just control but Fitzroy is a slippery customer.
Short working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Short passes into side control, despite Fitzroy's attempt to control the position.
Short in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Fitzroy tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Short presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Short landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Short is landing with some decent strikes but Fitzroy is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Short landing strikes from the mount and Fitzroy is in trouble!

Short working for a guillotine from mount but Fitzroy is in no mood to give up.
Short working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Short scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Fitzroy?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fitzroy working to try and regain half guard.
Short connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dane Short dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A nice combination there by Short.
Fitzroy avoids a punch combination nicely.
Short lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Fitzroy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Short counters with a left and a right that stings Fitzroy.
A nice leg kick lands there from Short.
Short will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Short fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fitzroy shoots and misses

and Short counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Short sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fitzroy defending well though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Short looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Fitzroy with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Short landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Short stands up from half guard.
Short throws a right and a left that both miss.

Short shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Fitzroy is trying to defend but Short finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Short landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Short is pressing down on Fitzroy's thigh, looking to free his foot. Fitzroy is holding on for now.
Short landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzroy is refusing to be controlled, as Short sits in half guard.

Short escapes and gets back to his feet.
Short shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Fitzroy pinned against the cage. Fitzroy gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Short lands a nice looking body kick.
Short throws a one two combo.
Fitzroy tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Short counters with a single leg into guard. Fitzroy didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fitzroy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Short.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Short!
Short throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Short displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Fitzroy avoids a punch combination nicely.
Fitzroy walks forward, straight into a front kick from Short.
Short misses with a jab, cross combination.

Short gets the takedown into side control.
Fitzroy is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Short is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Short fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Short connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzroy is in a horrible position here. Short smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Short trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Short cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Fitzroy is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Short fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fitzroy is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Fitzroy taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dane Short showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Short scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Short shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Fitzroy is trying to defend but Short finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Short seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Fitzroy does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Fitzroy is looking for a sweep. Short is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Short lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Short lands strikes from half guard.
Short throwing shots but Fitzroy is blocking nicely.

Fitzroy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Short pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Short is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzroy trying to control from the bottom.
Short prevents Fitzroy from improving his position.

Short is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Short wants to get back to his feet.
Short seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Short moves nicely into side control.
Fitzroy tries to escape but Short is in control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Short working the ground and pound from side control.
Fitzroy can't do much from the bottom here.
Short scoring with punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Fitzroy's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Short landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Short lands a nice forearm strike.

Short has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Short lands a jab to Fitzroy's midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Short throws a nice looking combination but Fitzroy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Short lands a nice hook to Fitzroy's body. Fitzroy takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Short fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Short misses with the combination.
Dane Short is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Short moves in looking to clinch but Fitzroy pushes him off.
Some wild striking there from Short.
Dane Short is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Short scores with a nice body kick.
Joseph Fitzroy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Fitzroy enables Short to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Fitzroy manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Short stands up from Fitzroy's guard - Short perhaps looking for a knockout.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dane Short comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Short has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 25:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 25:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dane Short!