PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bill Newton (ranked 1624 p4p, 1576 weight class) and Sol Fitzsimmons (ranked 243 p4p, 236 weight class). Bill Newton could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Sol Fitzsimmons's chin.

Newton
vs
Fitzsimmons

184 cm
45
202
43 - 30 - 5

187 cm
35
215
24 - 19 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Shadow Realm Apparel
Fantasy Threads

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 43 - 30 - 5, fighting out of Tokyo, Bill Newton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sol Fitzsimmons!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitzsimmons connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Fitzsimmons throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fitzsimmons looks to score with a jab to the body but Newton is just out of range.
Newton uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Fitzsimmons has time to react.
Newton takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Fitzsimmons slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Newton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fitzsimmons.
Newton throws a poor cross that misses
and Fitzsimmons counters with a nice low kick that buckles Newton's knee momentarily.
Newton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fitzsimmons.
Newton half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Newton gets the takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Newton looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Newton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Newton working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Fitzsimmons's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons manages to get back to half guard.
Fitzsimmons wants to get back to full guard.
Fitzsimmons has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Newton is trying to work for a kimura but Fitzsimmons is defending well.

Newton seems to be working for a kimura but Fitzsimmons defends the submission attempt.

Newton is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Fitzsimmons still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Fitzsimmons has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Fitzsimmons working the ground and pound.
Newton is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Fitzsimmons lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Newton regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fitzsimmons scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Newton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fitzsimmons can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Newton has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Newton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fitzsimmons.

Newton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fitzsimmons is aware though and is defending well.

Fitzsimmons avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Fitzsimmons decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Newton, up you get!
Sol Fitzsimmons is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fitzsimmons ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Newton dives in and grabs Fitzsimmons's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fitzsimmons pushes down on Newton's head and hops out.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Newton shoots in for a takedown but Fitzsimmons shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Newton shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Fitzsimmons to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bill Newton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A decent looking cross lands there for Fitzsimmons.
Newton fails with a takedown attempt.
Fitzsimmons stuns Newton with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Newton on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Fitzsimmons lands.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fitzsimmons. Newton does a little dance to reset his feet.
Newton shoots in for a double leg but Fitzsimmons sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Newton throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fitzsimmons's waist but Fitzsimmons gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Newton off to one side.
Newton is breathing heavily.
Fitzsimmons just misses with a punch to the body.
Fitzsimmons lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Newton shoots in for a takedown but Fitzsimmons shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fitzsimmons paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Newton is rocked!
Fitzsimmons paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Oh Newton is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
No luck for Newton with that takedown attempt.
Fitzsimmons is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Newton had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Fitzsimmons cracks Newton with a hook to the temple - Newton is on wobbly legs here! Fitzsimmons swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Newton falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Fitzsimmons wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Sol Fitzsimmons!
During a confident post fight interview, Sol Fitzsimmons thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.