PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Maurice Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Fitzpatrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith's entrance music is Bow Down (to no man). A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Fitzpatrick

169 cm
26
142 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

165 cm
26
138 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maurice Smith!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Liam Fitzpatrick!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitzpatrick tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Smith throws the left hand but Fitzpatrick avoids the punch easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fitzpatrick. Smith does a little dance to reset his feet.
Fitzpatrick shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with an outside leg kick.
Smith seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Fitzpatrick misses with a left hand
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.
Smith thows a leg kick but Fitzpatrick checks it

and Fitzpatrick decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Smith's guard.
Fitzpatrick with a flurry of punches that miss.
Fitzpatrick throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fitzpatrick loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fitzpatrick pushes down on Smith's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Fitzpatrick is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Fitzpatrick missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Fitzpatrick controlling the action here.
Fitzpatrick throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fitzpatrick looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Fitzpatrick uses his free foot to push down on Smith's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Smith.
Smith wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Fitzpatrick.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fitzpatrick looking to finish with strikes here!
Fitzpatrick throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Smith because Fitzpatrick loaded up on that one.

Fitzpatrick is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Smith is surviving well by controlling Fitzpatrick's body position as best he can.
Fitzpatrick looking to ground and pound but Smith is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Fitzpatrick.

Smith defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick thowing shots but they're missing.
Smith is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Fitzpatrick is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Smith is surviving well by controlling Fitzpatrick's body position as best he can.
Fitzpatrick thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Fitzpatrick controlling the pace for now.

Fitzpatrick swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Liam Fitzpatrick!
Liam Fitzpatrick is the new bantamweight champion!