PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jorge Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patrick Fitzpatrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fitzpatrick has chosen The Wild Rover as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rua
vs
Fitzpatrick

189 cm
18
196 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jorge Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Patrick Fitzpatrick!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Thiago Cunha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fitzpatrick shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Fitzpatrick showed some decent athleticism there.
Fitzpatrick not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fitzpatrick is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Rua reverses the position - he's now on top in Fitzpatrick's guard.
Rua tries to stand but Fitzpatrick is controlling from the bottom.
Fitzpatrick doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Fitzpatrick wants to hit a switch here but Rua passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Fitzpatrick there!
Fitzpatrick throwing hammer fists to the chest of Rua. What's that going to do exactly?
Rua trying to control but Fitzpatrick is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick is looking to get to half guard.
Fitzpatrick is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Fitzpatrick throwing hammer fists to the chest of Rua. What's that going to do exactly?
Fitzpatrick is looking to get to half guard.
Fitzpatrick really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rua. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fitzpatrick throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Fitzpatrick working to try and regain half guard.
Fitzpatrick slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Fitzpatrick tries to roll over but Rua keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Fitzpatrick striking from half guard on the bottom.
Rua will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fitzpatrick is staying active underneath Rua, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Fitzpatrick regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Fitzpatrick wants to sweep but no luck.
Fitzpatrick throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Fitzpatrick tries to strike from the bottom.
Fitzpatrick throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick is looking to sweep but instead, Rua has passed into half guard.
Fitzpatrick makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Fitzpatrick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Fitzpatrick scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Fitzpatrick punching to the body, from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fitzpatrick doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Fitzpatrick wants to sweep here but Rua controlling him for the moment.

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.
Fitzpatrick throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Fitzpatrick will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Fitzpatrick drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fitzpatrick cracks Rua with a solid left hand.
Fitzpatrick lands a couple of elbows.
Fitzpatrick lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Fitzpatrick postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fitzpatrick postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Fitzpatrick stands up over Rua, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fitzpatrick is in close to Rua's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fitzpatrick preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Fitzpatrick dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Fitzpatrick closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Rua looking for submissions off his back.
Fitzpatrick working over Rua with some ground and pound. Rua looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fitzpatrick working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Rua's thigh. Rua counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Fitzpatrick makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Fitzpatrick is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Fitzpatrick chips away with some ground and pound.
Fitzpatrick landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fitzpatrick lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick scoring with punches to the head and body.
Fitzpatrick working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rua's head.
Fitzpatrick keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rua's head.
Fitzpatrick pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rua is keeping the position for now.
Fitzpatrick scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Fitzpatrick must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fitzpatrick cracks Rua with a solid left hand.
Fitzpatrick working some strikes from top position.
Fitzpatrick lands a couple of elbows.
Fitzpatrick distracts Rua with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fitzpatrick makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Fitzpatrick is in close to Rua's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fitzpatrick chips away with some ground and pound.
Fitzpatrick lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Fitzpatrick is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Fitzpatrick with a nice head shot there.

Rua looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fitzpatrick postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fitzpatrick stands up over Rua, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Patrick Fitzpatrick has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fitzpatrick scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzpatrick landing with the ground and pound.
Fitzpatrick lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Fitzpatrick lands a couple of digs.
Fitzpatrick connects with a couple of short punches.
Fitzpatrick is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Fitzpatrick lands a couple of elbows.
Fitzpatrick is working Rua over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rua has momentary wrist control but Fitzpatrick slips an elbow through the middle.
Fitzpatrick scoring with some ground and pound.
Fitzpatrick connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua has momentary wrist control but Fitzpatrick slips an elbow through the middle.
Fitzpatrick landing with the ground and pound.
Fitzpatrick lands a couple of elbows.
Rua has momentary wrist control but Fitzpatrick slips an elbow through the middle.
Fitzpatrick working some strikes from top position.
Fitzpatrick with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fitzpatrick tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fitzpatrick postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fitzpatrick landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Fitzpatrick showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rua misses with a head kick.
Rua lands a two punch combo.
Rua pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Fitzpatrick drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rua is trying to control Fitzpatrick's posture but Fitzpatrick avoids it.
Rua wants to get back to his feet but Fitzpatrick drags him back down.
Fitzpatrick lands some shots froms side control.
Fitzpatrick cracks Rua with a big elbow.
Fitzpatrick is working Rua over with some ground and pound from side control.

Rua is rocked!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fitzpatrick lands a strong strike to the head of Rua. That's dazed him! Fitzpatrick looking to finish here. Rua is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Fitzpatrick lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Patrick Fitzpatrick!