PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Santo Fitzgerald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christopher Jiannotti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Christopher Jiannotti has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Santo Fitzgerald's chin.

Fitzgerald
vs
Jiannotti

151 cm
23
215 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

182 cm
30
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Likes musicals

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Santo Fitzgerald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Christopher Jiannotti!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Jorge Garcia and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jiannotti moves into the clinch.
Jiannotti takes an elbow to the temple.
Jiannotti looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Fitzgerald really is a fat lump.
A nice right hand lands inside from Jiannotti.
Fitzgerald keeps control of Jiannotti as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Jiannotti holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Jiannotti has Fitzgerald pressed against the cage.
Fitzgerald keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Jiannotti's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jiannotti is trying to pull guard but Fitzgerald has him pressed against the cage.
Fitzgerald slows down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Jiannotti.
Jiannotti looks winded!
Fitzgerald tries to land knees in the clinch but Jiannotti avoids the damage to the body.
Fitzgerald jumps guard but Jiannotti turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Fitzgerald gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jiannotti.
Jiannotti makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fitzgerald is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Fitzgerald displaying some good clinch control by pressing Jiannotti up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald struggles to land a body shot inside as Jiannotti controls his hands.
Fitzgerald stalling.
Jiannotti tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Fitzgerald just stands there and leans against the cage.
Santo Fitzgerald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christopher Jiannotti.
Fitzgerald is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Jiannotti fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Jiannotti goes for a takedown attempt but Fitzgerald pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jiannotti shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fitzgerald as he avoids it easily.
Fitzgerald shoots for a double leg takedown but Jiannotti sprawls well. He's pushed Fitzgerald's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald lands with a slapping head kick.
Christopher Jiannotti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Fitzgerald moves into the clinch successfully.
Fitzgerald changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Jiannotti fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Fitzgerald with a poor takedown
letting Jiannotti counter with a right hand.
Jiannotti shoots in for a takedown but Fitzgerald shows good takedown defense.

Fitzgerald shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fitzgerald showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jiannotti wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald throwing shots but Jiannotti is blocking nicely.
Fitzgerald throwing shots but Jiannotti is blocking nicely.
Fitzgerald scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Jiannotti on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Fitzgerald trying to control from half guard but Jiannotti is working away.
Fitzgerald not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jiannotti avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jiannotti's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santo Fitzgerald dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Fitzgerald instigates a clinch.
Jiannotti letting Fitzgerald take a breather here.
Fitzgerald leaning his opponent against the cage.
Jiannotti is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Fitzgerald pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzgerald tries for a takedown but Jiannotti manages to get underhooks.
Jiannotti is breathing heavily.
Fitzgerald has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Jiannotti avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jiannotti is trying to break the clinch but Fitzgerald has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald has Jiannotti pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Jiannotti manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santo Fitzgerald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jiannotti softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Fitzgerald prevents the takedown attempt.

Fitzgerald pulls guard.
Jiannotti trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fitzgerald's guard.
Fitzgerald not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jiannotti wants to pass the guard but Fitzgerald is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jiannotti controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Fitzgerald throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Fitzgerald controls Jiannotti momentarily but Jiannotti frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Fitzgerald tries for a takedown but Jiannotti sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jiannotti let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Jiannotti clinches.
Jiannotti managing to block the knees to the body from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald tries to pull guard but Jiannotti won't allow it.
Fitzgerald is looking to control Jiannotti's arms but Jiannotti gets an underhook and turns him. Now Fitzgerald has his back to the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Jiannotti's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Jiannotti fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jiannotti goes for a takedown attempt but Fitzgerald pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jiannotti misses with a takedown attempt - Fitzgerald sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Fitzgerald shoots in looking for a takedown. Jiannotti tries to sprawl out of it but Fitzgerald keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jiannotti manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jiannotti tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Fitzgerald swivels and escapes.

Jiannotti gets tackled into the cage by Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald maintains the clinch.

Fitzgerald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fitzgerald closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Jiannotti's guard.

Jiannotti uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Fitzgerald tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jiannotti swivels and escapes.
Jiannotti takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jiannotti throws a right and a left that Fitzgerald avoids nicely.
Fitzgerald throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Jiannotti.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jiannotti shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fitzgerald defends it nicely.
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 Santo Fitzgerald will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Fitzgerald closes the distance and clinches.
Fitzgerald throws a head punch that misses.
Jiannotti lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Fitzgerald backwards.

It looks like Santo Fitzgerald has been cut.
Jiannotti misses with a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzgerald misses with a punch to the body.
Jiannotti on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fitzgerald pressing his opponent against the cage.
Jiannotti takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fitzgerald tries to pull guard but Jiannotti holds him up against the cage and eventually Fitzgerald drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald is trying to pull guard but Jiannotti has him pressed against the cage.
Jiannotti dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald tries to work over Jiannotti's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Fitzgerald tries to pull guard but Jiannotti won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santo Fitzgerald. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Fitzgerald lands a nice knee to the body.
Fitzgerald is struggling to control the position.
Fitzgerald is pressed up against the cage. Jiannotti has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Fitzgerald down to the mat. Fitzgerald avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jiannotti is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jiannotti tries to clinch but Fitzgerald moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jiannotti.
Fitzgerald was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald wants to clinch.
Fitzgerald looks for a takedown but Jiannotti sprawls well.
Jiannotti closes the distance and clinches up with Fitzgerald, looking for a takedown. Jiannotti pushes Fitzgerald against the cage but Fitzgerald circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A counter left hand to the body from Fitzgerald misses its target.
Fitzgerald thuds his shin into the meat of Jiannotti's side.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jiannotti looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jiannotti stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jiannotti wants it to stay on the feet.
Fitzgerald shoots in but Jiannotti avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fitzgerald blocks a head kick by Jiannotti.
Fitzgerald throws a quick counter kick to the body but Jiannotti avoids it.
Fitzgerald avoids the head kick by Jiannotti.
Jiannotti misses with the combination.
It appears Fitzgerald was looking to counter with a kick there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fitzgerald fails with a takedown attempt.

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 Santo Fitzgerald.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fitzgerald, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!