PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Utica Franks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Fitzpatrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Fitzpatrick will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Franks
vs
Fitzpatrick

150 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

165 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Utica Franks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Fitzpatrick!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Chris Saunders and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franks looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fitzpatrick shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Franks sprawls well. Franks wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fitzpatrick gets slowly back to his feet.
Franks misses with a right hand

and Fitzpatrick counters with a single leg into guard. Franks didn't expect that.
Fitzpatrick wants to pass the guard but Franks is keeping the position.
Franks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick trying to control but Franks is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzpatrick has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Franks is proving hard to escape from.
Fitzpatrick wants to control from the top but Franks keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick pushing down on Franks's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Franks kicks off Fitzpatrick and gets to his feet.
Franks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fitzpatrick moves away.

Franks takes the fight into the clinch.

Franks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fitzpatrick keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Franks has been working on his balance at Noble Intentions, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Fitzpatrick.

Franks gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Franks is trying to trip Fitzpatrick. He has hold of a leg but Fitzpatrick is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Franks persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Fitzpatrick working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Franks throwing strikes from guard but Fitzpatrick blocks nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Franks won't allow Fitzpatrick to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fitzpatrick looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Franks not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Franks won't allow Fitzpatrick to sweep him here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fitzpatrick looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Franks lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick looking for a sweep. Not yet Fitzpatrick, not yet.

Fitzpatrick working for a triangle but Franks defends it easily.
Fitzpatrick looking to hit a scissor sweep but Franks is one step ahead there.
Franks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fitzpatrick manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Franks manages to get himself to full guard.

Franks is pulling down on Fitzpatrick's head. It's preventing any offense from Fitzpatrick, at least for the moment.
Fitzpatrick trying to control the position from guard on top but Franks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fitzpatrick got a little sloppy there for a moment and Franks has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fitzpatrick has managed to get both his arms back between Franks's legs - danger averted.
Franks throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Fitzpatrick trying to control the position from guard on top but Franks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fitzpatrick is pushing down on Franks's leg trying to pass to half guard. Franks is fighting to maintain full guard but Fitzpatrick has managed to sneak the leg through.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Franks is trying to stand up here but Fitzpatrick is controlling him well.

Fitzpatrick is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Franks is just riding it out for now. Fitzpatrick eventually gives up the hold.

Fitzpatrick looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Fitzpatrick will probably get the nod.
That's time! Franks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Franks drives through and clinches with Fitzpatrick against the cage.

Franks gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Fitzpatrick regains guard.

Fitzpatrick working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Franks doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Fitzpatrick is tightening it up a little... Franks has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Franks reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Franks taps out! Nice BJJ there by Fitzpatrick!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Mike Fitzpatrick!