PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Travis Fitzgerald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Plude (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Travis Fitzgerald has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Fitzgerald
vs
Plude

174 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

177 cm
20
176 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Juce Wear
Yuber Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Travis Fitzgerald!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daniel Plude!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Plude misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Fitzgerald has Plude up against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Plude.
Plude wants to break the clinch but can't.
Fitzgerald misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Plude.

Fitzgerald turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Fitzgerald manages to end up in side control.
Plude wants to control but Fitzgerald postures up.
Plude tries to improve position but can't.
Plude looking for a sweep but Fitzgerald has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Plude working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Plude bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Plude wants to control from the top but Fitzgerald keeps moving.
Plude scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plude is fighting to break Fitzgerald's control of his arms but Fitzgerald is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Plude looking to pass the guard.

Fitzgerald looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Fitzgerald escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Plude gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Plude wants to control from the top but Fitzgerald keeps moving.
Fitzgerald wants to sweep but no luck.
Plude trying to control but Fitzgerald is working from the bottom.
Plude thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
No joy there for Fitzgerald, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fitzgerald fails with the takedown.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Plude throws a nice looking combination but Fitzgerald bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Plude misses with a double jab.
Fitzgerald tries to clinch there but Plude circles away.
Fitzgerald tries a head kick but it misses.
Fitzgerald is breathing heavily.

Fitzgerald gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Fitzgerald gets underhooks to prevent Plude's takedown attempt.
Plude wants to break the clinch but can't.
Plude drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fitzgerald gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Fitzgerald using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Plude has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Plude can't get the takedown.
Travis Fitzgerald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Plude.

Plude turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Fitzgerald tries to buck Plude off but Plude is having none of it.
Fitzgerald defending against the ground and pound.
Fitzgerald is trying to get back to half guard.
Plude working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Fitzgerald thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Fitzgerald decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Some wild striking there from Plude.

Plude gets caught flat footed, as Fitzgerald shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Plude manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fitzgerald manages to get himself to full guard.
Plude trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Plude trying to control the position from guard on top but Fitzgerald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fitzgerald wants to sweep but no luck.
Fitzgerald can't keep his opponent in guard - Plude advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Plude wants to pass the guard but Fitzgerald is defending well.
Plude looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Plude is trying to control the action in half guard but Fitzgerald is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Plude is stalling here. Fitzgerald is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Plude seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Fitzgerald has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Plude prevents Fitzgerald from improving position.
Plude sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Plude wants to control but Fitzgerald is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Fitzgerald landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Plude keeping hold of Fitzgerald's head, controlling as best he can.
Plude slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Plude trying to keep a closed guard but Fitzgerald is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Plude misses the shot to the body.

Fitzgerald rushes Plude and presses him up against the cage.
Fitzgerald landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Plude drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Fitzgerald gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Fitzgerald is pressed up against the cage. Plude has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Fitzgerald down to the mat. Fitzgerald avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Plude throws a low kick but it's checked well by Fitzgerald.
Good leg kick by Plude there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Fitzgerald fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Plude.
Fitzgerald tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Plude swivels and escapes.
Plude misses with a combination

and Fitzgerald counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Fitzgerald.
Plude wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Fitzgerald is now in half guard.
Plude is trying to get back to full guard.
Plude is breathing heavily.

Fitzgerald seems to be looking for submissions.
Plude moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plude tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Plude wants to control but Fitzgerald passes easily into half guard.
Plude moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Plude has control of Fitzgerald's left arm, preventing Fitzgerald from doing any damage.
Plude manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Plude scoring with strikes but Fitzgerald is staying in there.
Plude fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Plude trying to control but Fitzgerald is having none of it.
Plude landing punches.

Fitzgerald is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Plude breaks from Fitzgerald's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Oh Fitzgerald is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fitzgerald tries to hold on but Plude postures up.
Plude lands a big elbow.
Fitzgerald tries to reverse the position but Plude maintains control.
Plude is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Fitzgerald can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Plude landing shots from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Plude lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Fitzgerald hang on?
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Plude cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Fitzgerald sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Fitzgerald is trying to stand back up but Plude is controlling him
Plude slows the pace down in half guard.
Plude wants to control but Fitzgerald is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plude seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Fitzgerald misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Fitzgerald is pressing down on Plude's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fitzgerald seems to have got his legs back now.
Plude wants to control from the top but Fitzgerald keeps moving.
Fitzgerald is controlling Plude's posture.
Plude preventing the sweep.
Plude working some strikes from top position.
Fitzgerald being controlled here, momentarily.
Fitzgerald preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four 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.
Plude trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Plude won't allow Fitzgerald to sweep him here.
Plude stops Fitzgerald from standing up.
Plude trying to control the position from guard on top but Fitzgerald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Fitzgerald lands with a kick to the temple. Plude shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Plude throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fitzgerald's waist but Fitzgerald gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Plude off to one side.
Travis Fitzgerald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Plude.
Plude is looking to clinch.
Fitzgerald throws a sloppy head kick and Plude moves out of range easily.
Plude connects with a looping right hand.
Fitzgerald keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Plude misses with a wild body shot.

Plude shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Plude showed some decent athleticism there.
Plude is looking to take a break and control but Fitzgerald is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Daniel Plude has got the better of the ground game so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fitzgerald gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Plude showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Plude misses with a few strikes there.
Fitzgerald lands with a kick to the temple. Plude shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Plude is rocked!
Plude throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Plude is still on wobbly legs! Can Fitzgerald finish him?

Fitzgerald gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Plude seems to have recovered his senses.
Fitzgerald using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Plude has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Plude has Fitzgerald pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Fitzgerald manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Knees to the body from Fitzgerald.
Plude tries to pull guard but Fitzgerald won't allow it.
Fitzgerald lands a nice knee to the body.

Fitzgerald gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Fitzgerald with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fitzgerald chips away with some ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Plude looking to control.
Plude scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Fitzgerald passes Plude's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Plude regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fitzgerald stands up out of Plude's guard for a moment - Plude manages to land a nice upkick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fitzgerald looking to pass the guard.
Plude has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzgerald stopping the sweep attempt from Plude.
Fitzgerald tries to stand but Plude is controlling from the bottom.
Fitzgerald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Plude swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fitzgerald stopping the sweep attempt from Plude.
Plude is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Plude sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fitzgerald defending well though.
Fitzgerald tries to get to full guard but Plude has control of the leg.
Fitzgerald tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's two 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.
Plude wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fitzgerald keeps working.
Plude trying to control from Fitzgerald's half guard. Fitzgerald has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Fitzgerald escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Plude gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Plude missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Plude landing with the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fitzgerald shoots in and drives through. Plude sprawls well.
Plude tries to clinch
and Fitzgerald counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Plude is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Fitzgerald fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fitzgerald wants to clinch up but Plude keeps it at a distance.
Plude moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Travis Fitzgerald is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Plude scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Plude tries to clinch up.
Plude takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Plude looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Fitzgerald keeping moving, preventing Plude from controlling successfully.
Plude throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Plude prevents Fitzgerald from getting back to his feet.
Plude stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fitzgerald swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Plude trying to control but Fitzgerald is working from the bottom.
Plude controls from within his opponent's guard.
Plude passes Fitzgerald's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Plude wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fitzgerald keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fitzgerald looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Fitzgerald kicks Plude off and gets back to his feet.
Plude swinging wilding here.
Fitzgerald tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Plude paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fitzgerald throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fitzgerald throws a sloppy head kick and Plude moves out of range easily.
Fitzgerald misses with a takedown

and Plude counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Travis Fitzgerald. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Plude sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fitzgerald defending well though.
Fitzgerald wants to improve his position but Plude is controlling well.
Plude trying to control the action but Fitzgerald is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fitzgerald is trying to maintain the position but Plude is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Travis Fitzgerald did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Fitzgerald scores with a takedown into Plude's guard.
Plude throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Plude tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fitzgerald trying to control the position from guard on top but Plude is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Plude wants to improve his position but instead Fitzgerald has moved into half guard.
Plude tries to get to full guard but Fitzgerald has control of the leg.
Plude is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Fitzgerald scores with a couple of nice shots.
Fitzgerald passes the guard and advances to mount!
Fitzgerald lands a big shot there that rocks Plude but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Fitzgerald prevents Plude from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plude is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Plude bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Plude seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Plude wants to control from the top but Fitzgerald keeps moving.
Plude is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Plude trying to control but Fitzgerald is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Plude slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Plude trying to control but Fitzgerald is working from the bottom.

Despite being in the dominant position, Daniel Plude just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Fitzgerald closes the distance and clinches.
Fitzgerald prevents the takedown attempt.
Plude can't get the takedown.
Plude blocks the elbow strike.
Fitzgerald gets underhooks to prevent Plude's takedown attempt.
Travis Fitzgerald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Plude.
Plude tries to score a body lock takedown but Fitzgerald shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Fitzgerald scores a nice knee to the body.

Plude has picked Fitzgerald up - he's going for a ride! Plude dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Plude with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Plude trying to mount his opponent but Fitzgerald defends it.
Plude is trying to control the action in half guard but Fitzgerald is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzgerald is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Plude scores with a couple of nice shots.
Plude wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fitzgerald keeps working.
Plude thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Fitzgerald to regain full guard.
Plude with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Plude working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Fitzgerald's head.
Fitzgerald being controlled here, momentarily.
Plude trying to control the position from guard on top but Fitzgerald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Plude looking to sit in guard and control but Fitzgerald gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Fitzgerald trying to control the position from guard on top but Plude is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fitzgerald accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Plude throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fitzgerald throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Plude keeping full guard, as Fitzgerald tries to pass.
Plude tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Fitzgerald tries to clinch but Plude moves out of range.

Fitzgerald clinches up with Plude and pushes him back against the cage.
Plude letting Fitzgerald take a breather here.
Fitzgerald looking to slow down the pace here.

Plude has clasped his hands together around Fitzgerald's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Fitzgerald wants to get back to his feet but Plude drags him back down.
Fitzgerald is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Daniel Plude will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Fitzgerald slips a jab and a cross from Plude.
Plude takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Fitzgerald tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Plude paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Plude gets a takedown into half guard.
Plude not doing much here.
Plude tries to pass to full mount but Fitzgerald defends it.
Plude stops Fitzgerald from getting back to his feet.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Plude looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Fitzgerald is trying to get back to full guard.
Plude looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plude moves into full mount! Fitzgerald won't be happy about that!
Fitzgerald takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Fitzgerald is looking to improve his position but Plude isn't that keen on the idea.
Plude is trying to control here but Fitzgerald has managed to regain half guard.
Plude trying to control from half guard but Fitzgerald is working away.

Fitzgerald has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Plude escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Plude!
Fitzgerald is looking to regain half guard here but Plude keeps moving and retains side control.
Fitzgerald is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Plude throws an elbow but Fitzgerald slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Plude tries to move into full mount but can't pass Fitzgerald's legs.
Fitzgerald is not content to let Plude control the position.
Fitzgerald is working to avoid the ground and pound but Plude connects with a decent elbow.
Plude is looking to take a break and control but Fitzgerald is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Plude working away.
Plude passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Fitzgerald!
Fitzgerald is looking to improve his position but Plude isn't that keen on the idea.
Plude lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plude trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Fitzgerald in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Plude lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Fitzgerald hang on?
Fitzgerald slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Plude takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Plude wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fitzgerald keeps working.
Plude uses his free foot to push down on Fitzgerald's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald working to try and regain half guard.
Fitzgerald is in a horrible position here. Plude smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Plude has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Fitzgerald's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Plude wants to control the pace but Fitzgerald is squirming around nicely.
Plude tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Plude throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
A nice elbow there by Plude.
Plude can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fitzgerald is looking to escape.
Fitzgerald is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Plude comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Plude 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 47:48
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 47:48
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Plude!
Daniel Plude is the new welterweight champion!