PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harris Stafford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bootsie Fitz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stafford
vs
Fitz

213 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
21
211 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harris Stafford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bootsie Fitz!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Franklyn Lucas and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fitz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Fitz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Fitz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fitz is staying tight to Stafford's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Stafford is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Stafford is trying to control Fitz's posture but Fitz avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fitz stands up and beckons Stafford to his feet.

Fitz clinches.
Stafford jumps guard but Fitz stands there with Stafford around his waist. Stafford gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stafford has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Fitz after a bit of a struggle.

Stafford has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Fitz uses from the top position.
Fitz wants to get up but he can't break Stafford's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Fitz stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Fitz closes the distance and clinches.
Stafford really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Fitz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Fitz clinches with his opponent.
Stafford changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Fitz fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harris Stafford. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fitz shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Fitz stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stafford looks like he's trying to stand up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Fitz in particular looking to stall.
Stafford makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Stafford.
Stafford 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.
Stafford wants to stand but Fitz is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitz stays in close to Stafford's body and controls the position.
Stafford is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fitz stopping the sweep attempt from Stafford.
Fitz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Stafford is looking to stand up but Fitz isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Fitz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stafford tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Fitz smiles and moves away.

Fitz gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stafford has Fitz pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Fitz manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Fitz successfully pulls guard.
Fitz is looking to stand up but Stafford isn't so interested in that idea.
Fitz keeping moving, preventing Stafford from controlling successfully.

Fitz wriggles free and stands up.
Fitz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stafford is looking to counter the offense by Fitz and move into the clinch.

Fitz gets caught napping as Stafford dives in and scores a takedown. Fitz manages to retain guard.
Stafford is breathing heavily.
Stafford wants to stand but Fitz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Fitz looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bootsie Fitz 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.

Fitz throws a head kick that misses
and Stafford counters with a stiff right hand.

Fitz changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stafford looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Stafford is not content to let Fitz control the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Fitz working away.

Fitz decides to stand up, so the ref orders Stafford to his feet.

Fitz closes the distance and pushes Stafford back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitz gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Stafford.
Stafford goes for a takedown in the clinch but Fitz prevents it.
Stafford tries to pull guard but Fitz forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harris Stafford. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fitz has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Stafford is trying to keep an underhook but Fitz manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Stafford manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Fitz keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stafford is trying to pull guard but Fitz has him pressed against the cage.

Fitz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Fitz closes the distance and clinches.
Stafford jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Fitz walks away with a smile on his face. Stafford gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Fitz gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Fitz pulls Stafford into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stafford won't allow Fitz to sweep him here.
Fitz wants to stand up but Stafford is controlling him.

Fitz wriggles free and stands up.
A head kick by Fitz misses

and Stafford counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitz throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Fitz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fitz misses with a head kick.

Fitz gets the takedown into side control.

Stafford throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Fitz misses with a few strikes there.
Stafford is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fitz sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Fitz 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.
Fitz trying to control the position from guard on top but Stafford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bootsie Fitz has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fitz stays in close to Stafford's body and controls the position.
Stafford manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fitz manages to get himself to full guard.

Fitz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stafford trying to control but Fitz is working from the bottom.
Fitz throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Fitz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Stafford is one step ahead there.

Stafford decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Fitz, up you get!
Stafford keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Stafford tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Fitz manages to circle out of the way.

Fitz closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fitz lands in his opponent's guard.

Stafford has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Fitz is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stafford tries to pull guard but Fitz holds him up against the cage and eventually Stafford drops back down to his feet.

Fitz breaks the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Fitz.
Stafford struggling a bit here.
Fitz in side control, just content to control the action for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bootsie Fitz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Fitz stuffs the takedown attempt from Stafford. Stafford gets slowly back to his feet.
Fitz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stafford circles away quickly and effectively.
Stafford chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Fitz can pounce on him.
Fitz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fitz throws a head kick that misses.

Fitz manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Stafford on his heels. He'll look to pass Stafford's guard now, I'm sure.

Stafford had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fitz defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stafford wants to sweep here but Fitz controlling him for the moment.
Stafford wants to stand up but Fitz is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stafford wants to sweep but no luck.

Stafford looking for a guillotine here but Fitz defends easily.

Fitz gets to his feet - Stafford follows without any prompting.
Fitz swinging wildly here.
Stafford appears to be looking for a big counter.
Fitz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Stafford counters by moving into the clinch.

Fitz breaks from the clinch.

Fitz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stafford, pushing him back against the cage.
Fitz lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Stafford fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stafford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Fitz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fitz's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Fitz breaks the clinch.

Fitz drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Stafford tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fitz controlling the position easily from mount.

Fitz is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitz lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Fitz misses with a kick to the body.

Fitz gets a takedown into half guard.
Fitz stalling.

Stafford manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Fitz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Fitz tries a head kick but it misses.

Fitz darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Fitz stands up from half guard.
Fitz throws a push kick but Stafford slaps the foot to one side.
A counter left hand to the body from Stafford misses its target.

Fitz looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Stafford!
Stafford is trying to improve his position.
Bootsie Fitz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Stafford wants to control but Fitz postures up.
Fitz just content to control the position.
Fitz tries to advance to mount but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bootsie Fitz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Fitz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bootsie Fitz!