PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between William Fitzwater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gino Abate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fitzwater comes to the cage accompanied by skillet- Never Surrender . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Fitzwater
vs
Abate

172 cm
18
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, William Fitzwater!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gino Abate!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jorge Garcia and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abate throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Abate throws a right and a left that Fitzwater avoids nicely.
Abate throws a series of punches but Fitzwater moves out of range.

Fitzwater lands a big head kick that sends Abate tumbling to the mat! Fitzwater takes a step backwards and waves Abate back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Abate is rocked!

It looks like Gino Abate has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Abate misses with a two punch combination.
Abate is still on wobbly legs! Can Fitzwater finish him?
Fitzwater lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Abate circles away quickly and effectively.
Abate swinging wildly here.
Fitzwater fails to land with a series of punches.
Abate fails to land with a series of punches.
Abate throws a right and a left that Fitzwater avoids nicely.
Abate throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fitzwater doesn't manage to clinch there - Abate circles away.
Fitzwater misses with the combination.
Fitzwater showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Abate.
Abate seems to have recovered his senses.
Fitzwater throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fitzwater tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Abate manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Abate will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Fitzwater shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Abate manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Fitzwater passes Abate's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Fitzwater is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Abate sees it coming and defends easily.
Abate tries to roll over but Fitzwater keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzwater tries to stand and escape but Abate is controlling the position.
Fitzwater throwing shots but Abate is blocking nicely.

Abate manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Abate throws a head kick that misses.
Fitzwater throws a right hand that Abate ducks under and follows up with a left that Abate also avoids with ease.
Abate misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fitzwater shoots in looking for a takedown but Abate manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fitzwater's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Fitzwater is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abate misses with a wild combination.
Abate misses with a few strikes there.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Abate!
Fitzwater tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Abate cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gino Abate is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fitzwater dodges the punch combination from Abate.
A punch combination from Abate misses.
Fitzwater misses with a looping left.
Fitzwater looks to land a left hand but Abate moved out of range nicely.
Fitzwater tries to score a power double leg takedown but Abate sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Fitzwater somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abate pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Abate lands the left hand.
Abate misses with a two punch combination.
Fitzwater takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Gino Abate seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abate looks to land a combination but Fitzwater avoids it well.
Fitzwater's corner calls for a 1-2. Fitzwater obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Abate misses with a double jab.
A jab from Fitzwater misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Abate throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Abate throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fitzwater.
Fitzwater swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Abate.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Fitzwater dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gino Abate's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Abate lands with a nice combination. Fitzwater backs away looking to recover.
Fitzwater avoids a punch combination nicely.
Abate keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Abate throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Abate pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Fitzwater back to the cage. Abate follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Abate avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
William Fitzwater is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Abate falls off balance throwing a combination
and Fitzwater counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Fitzwater fails to land the takedown.
Fitzwater misses with a double jab.
Abate misses with a double jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Abate throws a series of punches but Fitzwater avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abate looks to land a combination but Fitzwater avoids it well.
Abate rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fitzwater moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Abate avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fitzwater pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Abate looks to land a combination but Fitzwater avoids it well.
Abate misses with the combination.
Fitzwater looks for a takedown but Abate sprawls well.
Abate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Abate tries to bum rush Fitzwater with a series of wild strikes but Fitzwater uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Fitzwater is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Abate's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzwater not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Abate is trying to stand up here but Fitzwater is controlling him well.

Fitzwater is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Abate pushes Fitzwater off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzwater dodges the punch combination from Abate.
Abate closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Fitzwater shoots in for a takedown but Abate shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Fitzwater. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fitzwater misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fitzwater dodges the punch combination from Abate.
Abate scores with a nice head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abate misses with a series of wild punches.
Fitzwater tries to clinch there but Abate circles away.
Some wild striking there from Abate.
No joy there for Fitzwater, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Abate misses with a series of wild punches.
Fitzwater fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abate displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gino Abate will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Gino Abate's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Abate swinging wildly here.
Abate stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Abate wants it to stay on the feet.
Abate throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fitzwater.
Fitzwater scores with a crisp jab that stopped Abate in his tracks.
Abate swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Fitzwater counters with a nice kick to the body.
Abate shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Fitzwater eats them both and turns towards Abate to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Abate rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fitzwater moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Abate stuffs the takedown attempt from Fitzwater. Fitzwater gets slowly back to his feet.
Fitzwater has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Fitzwater drops his hands momentarily and Abate takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Abate swats away the attempt to clinch by Fitzwater.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abate throws a left and a right that both miss
and Fitzwater counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Abate stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Abate wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Fitzwater. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abate uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fitzwater.
Abate misses with a two punch combination.
No joy there for Abate, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fitzwater shoots for a double leg takedown but Abate sprawls well. He's pushed Fitzwater's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Abate lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Fitzwater misses with a takedown attempt - Abate sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Abate tries a head kick but it misses.
Abate throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Fitzwater shoots in looking for a takedown. Abate tries to sprawl out of it but Fitzwater keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Abate manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abate lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Fitzwater backs up against the cage.
Abate throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Abate throws a left and a right that both miss
and Fitzwater counters with a head kick. That will keep Abate thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Abate throws a head kick that misses.
Fitzwater shoots for a double leg takedown but Abate sprawls well. He's pushed Fitzwater's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Abate bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Fitzwater's head.
Abate misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Fitzwater tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Abate manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Abate feints a jab promting Fitzwater to slip. Abate then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Fitzwater slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Abate scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Abate does no damage.
Abate dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Abate misses with a low kick.
Abate looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fitzwater shoots in looking for a takedown but Abate manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fitzwater's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Abate throws a series of punches but Fitzwater moves out of range.
Abate will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Abate swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Fitzwater counters with a one-two to the body.
Fitzwater just misses with a punch to the body.
A combination from Abate does no damage.
Fitzwater fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abate lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Fitzwater backs up against the cage.
Abate throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Fitzwater counters with a left to the body.
Fitzwater shoots in looking for a takedown but Abate manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fitzwater's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Abate displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Abate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Abate misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Abate lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abate lunges at Fitzwater with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Fitzwater's hand.
Fitzwater looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Abate looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gino Abate comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Abate 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gino Abate!
Our winner, Gino Abate, 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.