PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Buffalo Ushijima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Fitzgerald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Ushijima
vs
Fitzgerald

190 cm
21
245 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

196 cm
25
272 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Buffalo Ushijima!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ricardo Fitzgerald!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ushijima.

Ushijima instigates a clinch.
Ushijima lands a nice uppercut.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ushijima.
Ushijima wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ushijima scores with a shot to the side of Fitzgerald's head.
Ushijima lands a knee to the body.
Fitzgerald goes for a takedown attempt but Ushijima pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Ushijima moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fitzgerald tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ushijima smiles and moves away.
Ushijima shoots in but no luck this time.
Fitzgerald doesn't manage to clinch there - Ushijima circles away.
Buffalo Ushijima seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ushijima bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Ushijima moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ushijima cracks Fitzgerald with a nice body shot.
Fitzgerald looks gassed!
Fitzgerald is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Ushijima gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Buffalo Ushijima has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Fitzgerald.
Ushijima putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Fitzgerald in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Ushijima is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Ushijima is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ushijima lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Fitzgerald backwards.
Ushijima taking a breather.
Ushijima comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Ushijima breaks the clinch.
Ushijima connects with a nice looking jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ushijima shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fitzgerald sprawls well. Fitzgerald wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ushijima gets slowly back to his feet.
Ushijima shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fitzgerald sprawls well. Fitzgerald wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ushijima gets slowly back to his feet.

Ushijima gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald wants a takedown.
Ushijima can't get the takedown.
Ushijima has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Fitzgerald after a bit of a struggle.
Ushijima is looking to break free of the clinch but Fitzgerald has double underhooks.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ushijima.
Ushijima is trying to push Fitzgerald away but Fitzgerald has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Ushijima is looking to control Fitzgerald's arms but Fitzgerald gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ushijima has his back to the ropes.
Ushijima lands a body punch in the clinch.
Fitzgerald fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Fitzgerald is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Ushijima to keep the fight standing.
Ushijima has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ushijima.
Ushijima wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ushijima has Fitzgerald pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Fitzgerald manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ushijima can't break the clinch.
Fitzgerald takes a knee right on the jaw!

Ushijima jumps into guard, dragging Fitzgerald to the mat.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Fitzgerald with a flurry of punches that miss.
Fitzgerald working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Fitzgerald stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Fitzgerald gets the takedown into side control.
Fitzgerald sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Ushijima is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Fitzgerald is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Ushijima looks calm but he's in trouble here. Fitzgerald gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Ushijima is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Fitzgerald lets go of the hold and Ushijima can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ricardo Fitzgerald!
Our winner, Ricardo Fitzgerald, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.