PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jack Beam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Fitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Beam
vs
Fitch

180 cm
24
180 lbs
16 - 12 - 1

175 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Jack Beam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Fitch!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fitch decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Fitch is looking for a kimura but Beam is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Fitch to get the leverage.
Fitch thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Beam keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Beam looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Fitch thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Beam's head.

Beam actively working from the bottom here.

Beam has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Fitch escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Fitch!
Fitch grinds an elbow into Beam's temple.
Beam being controlled for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beam parries the strikes from Fitch easily there. Fitch is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Beam to escape.
Beam is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Fitch's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Beam looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Beam slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Beam has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fitch can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fitch passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitch thows a huge punch but Beam dodges it nicely.
Fitch sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Beam is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fitch pulls his head out easily.
Fitch landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Fitch throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fitch throwing shots but Beam is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beam is pressing down on Fitch's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fitch throws and elbow that misses. Beam uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fitch's guard. Nice move by Beam!
Fitch wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Beam manages to pass to side control.
Beam thows a huge punch but Fitch dodges it nicely.

Fitch manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Beam gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Fitch to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Fitch throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Beam works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitch advances to half guard.

Beam is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fitch pulls his head out easily.
Fitch is nestled in close to Beam, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Fitch throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Beam keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Beam actively working from the bottom here.
Beam is looking for a sweep. Fitch is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Beam looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Beam looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Fitch 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.

Beam shoots for a takedown but Fitch saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fitch fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Fitch fails with the takedown

and Beam counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Beam throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fitch wants to get back to his feet.
Mike Fitch has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fitch throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Fitch is trying to stand.

Beam is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Fitch doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Beam.

Fitch kicks Beam off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch shoots in for a takedown but Beam shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jack Beam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Fitch.

Fitch shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Fitch was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Beam is trying to escape the mount.
Fitch lands with some strikes.
Fitch with a couple of short strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fitch wants to finish this one by submission but Beam is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Fitch.
Fitch landing strikes, looking to finish!
Fitch lands a heavy elbow.
Beam keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Beam is working hard here to advance position.
Fitch postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Beam looks a forlorn figure.
Beam in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fitch raining down shots from the mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch lands with some strikes.
Beam is wriggling around trying to escape.
Fitch dominating with strikes here.
Fitch trying to control but he's not successful this time.
A nice elbow there by Fitch.
Beam tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Fitch lands a nice shot to the head.

Beam is rocked!
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!
Beam is trying desperately to improve position.
Fitch can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Beam is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fitch swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Beam is now in Fitch's guard. A big mistake from Fitch there, giving up the dominant position!
Beam prevents Fitch from getting back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Beam postures up in Fitch's guard and throws a big left but Fitch blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Fitch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Beam misses with an uppercut.
Beam misses with a straight left.
Beam connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Beam misses the jab.
Fitch fails with the takedown

and Beam counters with a takedown into side control.

Beam is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Fitch looks calm but he's in trouble here. Beam gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Fitch is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Beam lets go of the hold and Fitch can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jack Beam!