PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rashon Fitzgerald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gosta Nunes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Fitzgerald
vs
Nunes

197 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
166 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rashon Fitzgerald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gosta Nunes!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitzgerald gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nunes counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Nunes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Fitzgerald is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nunes tries to stand but Fitzgerald is controlling from the bottom.
Nunes controlling from the top position.

Fitzgerald looking for a guillotine here but Nunes defends easily.
Fitzgerald is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Fitzgerald really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nunes controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gosta Nunes was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Nunes feints and as Fitzgerald raises his hands in defense, Nunes changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nunes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Nunes decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Fitzgerald, up you get!

Nunes clinches.
Fitzgerald has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nunes is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Fitzgerald tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rashon Fitzgerald. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nunes breaks from the clinch.
Fitzgerald fails with a takedown attempt.
Fitzgerald is breathing heavily.

Fitzgerald gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nunes wants to get up but he can't break Fitzgerald's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nunes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Fitzgerald has his foot on Nunes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nunes works his way back into a safe position though.
Fitzgerald will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nunes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Nunes is looking to stand up but Fitzgerald won't let him.
Nunes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Nunes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Gosta Nunes hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Fitzgerald takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nunes drives through with a takedown into guard.

Fitzgerald is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nunes is aware though and is defending well.
Nunes sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fitzgerald throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nunes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fitzgerald is keeping the position for now.
Nunes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Gosta Nunes was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Fitzgerald tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Nunes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nunes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fitzgerald fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Nunes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fitzgerald gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nunes performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters are battling for position here. Fitzgerald manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gosta Nunes dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nunes thuds his right hand into Fitzgerald's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Fitzgerald fails to land the takedown.

Nunes has Fitzgerald up against the cage in a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Nunes.
Fitzgerald wants a takedown.
Nunes lands with a short shot to the head.

Nunes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fitzgerald shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rashon Fitzgerald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nunes throws a right and a left that Fitzgerald avoids nicely.
Fitzgerald walks into a jab.
Nunes connects with a leg kick. Fitzgerald looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Nunes scores with a nice body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fitzgerald is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Nunes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Nunes shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nunes showed some decent athleticism there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nunes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Fitzgerald trying to control here.
Nunes not doing much here.
Gosta Nunes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fitzgerald wants to get back to full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Nunes is figuring out what he wants to do next.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Gosta Nunes hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
The crowd cheers as Nunes lands an impressive looking overhand right. Fitzgerald doesn't seem phased though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald fails with the takedown
and Nunes counters with a nice low kick that buckles Fitzgerald's knee momentarily.
Nunes lands a head kick. Fitzgerald smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Fitzgerald gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fitzgerald is trying to control the position but Nunes postures up.

Fitzgerald is looking for a triangle but Nunes pushes his legs off easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nunes decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Fitzgerald, up you get!
Fitzgerald dodges the punch combination from Nunes.
Fitzgerald tries for a takedown but Nunes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nunes throws a nice head kick!
Fitzgerald shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nunes closes the distance and pushes Fitzgerald back into the cage.
Nunes is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Nunes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nunes lands with a kick to the temple. Fitzgerald shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Nunes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fitzgerald moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nunes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nunes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Fitzgerald is proving hard to escape from.

Fitzgerald had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nunes defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Nunes stands up and waves to Fitzgerald to follow him.
Fitzgerald shoots in looking for a takedown but Nunes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fitzgerald's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Nunes has taken the fight to the clinch.

Nunes lands a takedown into guard.

Fitzgerald is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nunes defends well.

Fitzgerald is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nunes is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Fitzgerald looking for a guillotine here but Nunes defends easily.
Fitzgerald not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gosta Nunes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Nunes fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Fitzgerald to the ground. Nunes is now in Fitzgerald's guard.
Fitzgerald wants to sweep but no luck.
Nunes connects with a couple of short punches.
Nunes controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nunes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Fitzgerald's head.
Nunes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Fitzgerald's head.
Nunes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nunes controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fitzgerald is trying to keep Nunes in close.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald keeping full guard, as Nunes tries to pass.
Nunes not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Gosta Nunes wasn't active enough on the ground.

Nunes closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nunes lands in his opponent's guard.
Nunes trying to control the position from guard on top but Fitzgerald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Fitzgerald looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nunes chips away with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fitzgerald is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nunes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nunes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Fitzgerald manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fitzgerald gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nunes counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Nunes moves into range and clinches up with Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Nunes is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Nunes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nunes misses with an uppercut. Fitzgerald saw that one coming.
Jab, jab by Fitzgerald - just one landing.
Gosta Nunes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fitzgerald misses with a takedown attempt

and Nunes counters with a single leg into guard. Fitzgerald didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rashon Fitzgerald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fitzgerald is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Fitzgerald working for a triangle but Nunes defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nunes controlling from the top position.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Rashon Fitzgerald!