PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Fitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Der Fisch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Fitch
vs
Fisch

180 cm
20
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
173 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Fitch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Der Fisch!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Wagner Zegers and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fisch moves to clinch but Fitch breaks away

and Fitch counters with a shoot takedown. Fisch fights it but they end up in guard.
Fitch chips away with some ground and pound.
Fisch keeping moving, preventing Fitch from controlling successfully.
Fisch wants to stand up but Fitch is controlling him.
Fitch passes Fisch's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Fitch wants to pass the guard but Fisch is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fitch is trying to work for a kimura but Fisch is defending well.
Fitch tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fisch knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Fitch is working for a kimura but Fisch is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fitch stops Fisch from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fisch keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Fitch wants to work for an arm triangle but Fisch is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Fisch is trying to stand up here but Fitch is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch trying to control the pace.
Fisch tries to kick Fitch off but Fitch keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Fitch wants to stand but Fisch has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Fitch thows a huge punch but Fisch dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Fitch is trying to work for a kimura but Fisch is defending well.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fitch is working for a kimura but Fisch is defending it quite comfortably.

Fitch is working for a kimura but Fisch is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Fitch dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fitch.
Fitch is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

It looks like John Fitch has been cut.
Der Fisch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fisch tries to clinch

and Fitch counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fisch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fitch working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch wants to stand and escape but instead Fisch has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Fisch wanted to stand there but Fitch had control of the position.
Fitch is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Fisch wanted to stand there but Fitch had control of the position.
Fisch being controlled here momentarily.

Fitch has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Fisch off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fisch connects with a high kick.
Fitch circles away from the clinch attempt

and Fitch counters with a nice double leg into side control. Fisch won't be happy with that.

Fitch stands up and beckons Fisch to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fisch tries to clinch but Fitch moves away

and Fitch counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch looking to pass the guard.
Fitch thows a big elbow that misses.
Fitch pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fisch is keeping the position for now.
Fitch would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Fitch stands and steps away. Fisch gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four 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.
Fisch wants to clinch but Fitch slips to the side

and Fitch decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Fisch's guard.

Fitch drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Fisch manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Fitch has Fisch in his guard.
Fitch has a closed guard, preventing Fisch from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fitch trying to control the position here.
Fitch is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Fisch is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Fitch dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Fitch's cut.
That's time! Fitch's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Fisch gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Fitch counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Fisch manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Fitch wants to control from the top but Fisch keeps moving.
Fitch has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fitch prevents Fisch from getting back to his feet.
Fitch in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fitch in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch wants to stand but Fisch is controlling his posture from full guard.
Fitch won't allow Fisch to get back to his feet.
Fisch manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fitch manages to get himself to full guard.
Fitch wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Fisch has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Fitch is proving hard to escape from.
John Fitch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fisch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fitch is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Fitch wants to sweep here but Fisch controlling him for the moment.

John Fitch has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Fitch circles away from the clinch attempt

and Fitch counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
John Fitch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch is controlling the pace.
Fitch looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Fisch is looking for a sweep. Fitch is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Fitch looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Fitch trying to control the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Fitch showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fitch, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Fitch!