PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Obel Ixtlan (ranked 3955 p4p, 3046 weight class) and Boyd Fitzgerald (ranked 505 p4p, 390 weight class). Obel Ixtlan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ixtlan
vs
Fitzgerald

195 cm
28
285
6 - 5 - 0

192 cm
29
220
6 - 9 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Obel Ixtlan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Boyd Fitzgerald!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Ron Honeybunn and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitzgerald slips under a jab from Ixtlan.
Fitzgerald uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ixtlan.
Fitzgerald throws a leg kick which misses Ixtlan's front leg but catches the back leg as Ixtlan tries to avoid it.

Fitzgerald closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ixtlan's guard.
Ixtlan 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fitzgerald has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ixtlan is proving hard to escape from.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ixtlan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fitzgerald wants to stand but Ixtlan is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ixtlan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ixtlan tries to get out of the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Fitzgerald throws a big shot that misses.

Fitzgerald shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ixtlan's guard.

Ixtlan has an active guard here but Fitzgerald has managed to pass into half guard.
Ixtlan wants to get back to full guard.
Fitzgerald not doing much here.
Ixtlan is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ixtlan wants to control but Fitzgerald is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Fitzgerald tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Ixtlan wants to control but Fitzgerald is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Fitzgerald in particular looking to stall.
Ixtlan tries to get to full guard but Fitzgerald has control of the leg.
Fitzgerald tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ixtlan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ixtlan trying to hold on to Fitzgerald's head to control him but Fitzgerald postures up.
Ixtlan wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Ixtlan wants to control but Fitzgerald is keeping busy.
Fitzgerald prevents Ixtlan from improving his position.
Fitzgerald is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ixtlan tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Ixtlan drops Fitzgerald with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Fitzgerald looks back up at him and smiles so Ixtlan waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

It looks like Boyd Fitzgerald has been cut.
A slapping body kick lands there for Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fitzgerald has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ixtlan is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ixtlan is trying to keep Fitzgerald in close.
Fitzgerald controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ixtlan pulls Fitzgerald in to control the position.
Ixtlan looking to control.

Fitzgerald decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ixtlan, up you get!
Fitzgerald thuds his shin into the meat of Ixtlan's side.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ixtlan connects with a body shot.

Fitzgerald manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ixtlan on his heels. He'll look to pass Ixtlan's guard now, I'm sure.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Boyd Fitzgerald dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Boyd Fitzgerald's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Fitzgerald lands a nice looking kick to the body. Ixtlan takes a step back to recover.
Ixtlan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Fitzgerald counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Obel Ixtlan has been cut.

Fitzgerald looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Fitzgerald has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fitzgerald tries to stand but Ixtlan is controlling from the bottom.
Ixtlan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fitzgerald trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ixtlan's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzgerald 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.
Ixtlan trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ixtlan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Fitzgerald sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Fitzgerald tries to stand but Ixtlan is controlling from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Fitzgerald is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ixtlan's half guard.
Fitzgerald is taking a breather. Ixtlan says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ixtlan wants to get back to full guard but Fitzgerald has passed into side control.
Ixtlan keeps Fitzgerald under control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fitzgerald decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Ixtlan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fitzgerald.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Fitzgerald. Ixtlan shrugs it off though.
Fitzgerald slips a straight right by Ixtlan.
Fitzgerald is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ixtlan smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Fitzgerald shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Fitzgerald stands up from Ixtlan's guard - Fitzgerald perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ixtlan misses with a two punch combination.
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!

Fitzgerald closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ixtlan's guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Fitzgerald. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ixtlan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Ixtlan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fitzgerald is one step ahead there.
Ixtlan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fitzgerald's guard.

Fitzgerald avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ixtlan tries to free his leg and advance position but Fitzgerald is retaining full guard.
Ixtlan won't allow Fitzgerald to get back to his feet.
Ixtlan is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ixtlan tries to free his leg and advance position but Fitzgerald is retaining full guard.
Ixtlan throws a strike but Fitzgerald rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Fitzgerald wants to get up but he can't break Ixtlan's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ixtlan 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fitzgerald wants to control from the top but Ixtlan keeps moving.
Ixtlan will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Ixtlan looking to control.
Ixtlan has a closed guard, preventing Fitzgerald from standing up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Fitzgerald decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ixtlan, up you get!
Ixtlan throws a shot from downtown. Fitzgerald moves away and avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Boyd Fitzgerald showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Fitzgerald scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ixtlan trying to hold on to Fitzgerald's head to control him but Fitzgerald postures up.
Fitzgerald trying to control the action but Ixtlan is working from the bottom.
Ixtlan trying to control from the bottom.
Fitzgerald not doing much here.
Ixtlan is looking to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ixtlan is working hard here to advance position.
Ixtlan wants to get back to full guard but Fitzgerald has mounted him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald looking to control and managing it successfully.

Fitzgerald is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Obel Ixtlan is winning the standup battle so far.

Fitzgerald manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ixtlan on his heels. He'll look to pass Ixtlan's guard now, I'm sure.
Fitzgerald wants to stand but Ixtlan is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ixtlan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ixtlan being controlled here, momentarily.
Ixtlan wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald wants to stand and escape but instead Ixtlan has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Ixtlan working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ixtlan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fitzgerald swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ixtlan looking to sit in guard and control but Fitzgerald gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ixtlan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fitzgerald's guard.

Fitzgerald wants to stand and escape but Ixtlan is having none of it.
Ixtlan trying to control the position from guard on top but Fitzgerald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ixtlan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ixtlan throws a big right hand that misses.
Fitzgerald preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fitzgerald is trying to keep Ixtlan in close.
Ixtlan throws a big elbow that misses.
Ixtlan trying to control the position from guard on top but Fitzgerald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ixtlan pushes down on Fitzgerald's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ixtlan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ixtlan prevents Fitzgerald from improving his position.
Ixtlan is looking to take a break and control but Fitzgerald is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ixtlan thows a huge punch but Fitzgerald dodges it nicely.
Obel Ixtlan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fitzgerald trying to control here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ixtlan lands a nice short elbow.
Ixtlan throwing shots but Fitzgerald is blocking nicely.
Ixtlan lands strikes from half guard.
Ixtlan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fitzgerald keeps working.
Ixtlan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ixtlan lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fitzgerald is holding on to half guard well.
Ixtlan slips a nice elbow through Fitzgerald's hands, connecting with Fitzgerald's forehead.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Obel Ixtlan.
I think Fitzgerald has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boyd Fitzgerald!
After winning the bout, Boyd Fitzgerald thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.