PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Potts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Fritz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fritz has chosen Metallica - Enter Sandman as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Paul Potts has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Paul Potts seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Potts
vs
Fritz

175 cm
20
162 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

175 cm
23
164 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

MMA Pro Gear

O'Brannigan's Fightwear
Fortitude Apparel

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 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Paul Potts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Fritz!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Daniel Bishop and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fritz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Potts is fending him off so far but Fritz persists. Nope, Potts circles away and we're back to standing.
Fritz shoots in for a takedown but Potts shows good takedown defense.
Fritz keeps the fight on the outside.
Potts throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Potts looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Potts avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Fritz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Potts doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Potts manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Potts passes Fritz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Potts tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fritz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Fritz is defending against the submission attempts here by Potts.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fritz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Potts is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Fritz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Potts.

Fritz looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Fritz is refusing to be controlled, as Potts sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Potts misses with a double jab.

Potts scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Potts goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Fritz has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Potts but great work by Fritz.

Fritz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Fritz is looking to take a break and control but Potts is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Potts tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fritz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Fritz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Fritz looks gassed!
Potts is looking for a sweep.
Potts is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Fritz off and has taken his back!

Potts working for a choke but Fritz is defending well.
Fritz is keeping busy.
Fritz tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Potts trying to control but Fritz is having none of it.
A nice elbow there by Potts.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Potts goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Fritz turns into him and now he's in Potts's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Potts tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Potts working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fritz doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fritz manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Fritz trying to control but Potts is working from the bottom.
Fritz stands up over Potts, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fritz is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Potts wants to sweep here but Fritz controlling him for the moment.
Potts manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Potts dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Potts closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fritz to the mat! Fritz manages to get full guard.

Fritz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Potts stays in close to Fritz's body and controls the position.
Potts tries to free his leg and advance position but Fritz is retaining full guard.
Fritz is breathing heavily.
Fritz keeping moving, preventing Potts from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potts passes into half guard.
Fritz is trying to get back to full guard.
Potts tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fritz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Potts throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Potts is working for a submission of some sort.
Fritz is refusing to be controlled, as Potts sits in half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Potts scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Potts throws a nice looking combination but Fritz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Paul Potts is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fritz takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Potts fails in his attempt to clinch.
Potts tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fritz paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Potts scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Potts is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Fritz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Potts is trying to get an arm triangle but Fritz is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fritz is trying to control Potts's posture but Potts avoids it.
Fritz managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Potts.
Fritz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Fritz sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Fritz looking for submissions off his back.

Fritz is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Potts pulls his head out easily.

Fritz actively working from the bottom here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Potts, right into the meat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fritz keeps the fight on the outside.
Fritz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Potts.
Potts tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Potts feints and as Fritz raises his hands in defense, Potts changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fritz can't keep his opponent in guard - Potts advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Potts is looking to advance position but Fritz won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Potts dominated that second round.
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 hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Potts doesn't manage to clinch there - Fritz circles away.
Potts paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Paul Potts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Potts is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Fritz feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Potts is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Fritz preventing the sweep.

Fritz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Potts had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Fritz is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Potts Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Fritz's back instead.
Fritz manages to reverse the position and now he's in Potts's guard. Nice work there by Fritz.

Fritz thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Fritz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Fritz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Potts bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fritz's guard.

Fritz is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Potts is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Paul Potts is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fritz is trying to control the position but Potts postures up.
Fritz keeping full guard, as Potts tries to pass.

Fritz looking for subs off his back but Potts has passed one foot through into half guard.
Potts passes to side control.
Potts looks up at the clock and then as Fritz takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Potts smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potts wants to control but Fritz is keeping him busy.
Fritz is trying to escape the position but Potts is controlling the position.
Potts wants to control but Fritz is keeping him busy.
Fritz is looking to reverse the position.
Potts is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Fritz will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Tom Fritz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fritz is looking to regain half guard here but Potts keeps moving and retains side control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Potts fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Fritz sprawls well initially but Potts persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potts controlling the pace.

Potts seems to be working for a kimura but Fritz defends the submission attempt.
Potts trying to mount his opponent but Fritz defends it.
Potts performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Fritz trying to hold on to Potts's head to control him but Potts postures up.
Potts stalling.
Potts wants to take a breather but Fritz is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Potts showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Potts has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Potts!