PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Fitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Pablo Batallir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juan Pablo Batallir has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fitch
vs
Pablo Batallir

180 cm
20
179 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite 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 1 - 1 - 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, Juan Pablo Batallir!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Batallir with that takedown attempt.

Fitch decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Batallir wants to control but Fitch is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Fitch perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Fitch prevents Batallir from improving his position.
Fitch not doing much here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of John Fitch.
Fitch shoots and misses
and Batallir counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Fitch dives in and grabs Batallir's left leg, looking for a takedown. Batallir pushes down on Fitch's head and hops out.
Batallir shoots in and drives through. Fitch sprawls well.
Batallir fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fitch avoids it really well and circles away.
John Fitch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Pablo Batallir.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Fitch. No joy for Batallir on that attempt.
Juan Pablo Batallir seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Batallir looks gassed!
Batallir shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fitch as he jumps to the side.
Batallir closes the distance and clinches up with Fitch, looking for a takedown. Batallir pushes Fitch against the cage but Fitch circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Batallir does no damage.

Fitch closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Batallir's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fitch decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Fitch shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fitch closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Batallir quickly recovers to half guard.
Fitch is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Batallir tries to roll over but Fitch keeps him under control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fitch stalling.

We're going to have a standup here because John Fitch wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Fitch feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch 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.

Fitch gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Fitch shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Batallir's guard.
Fitch slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Batallir is working an open guard so Fitch takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Fitch looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Batallir is fending him off so far but Fitch persists. Nope, Batallir circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fitch fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Batallir to the ground. Fitch is now in Batallir's guard.
Fitch wants to pass the guard but Batallir is keeping the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fitch is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Fitch decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Fitch shoots in looking for a takedown but Batallir manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fitch's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Batallir stuffs the takedown attempt from Fitch. Fitch gets slowly back to his feet.

Fitch drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
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.

Fitch shoots for a takedown but Batallir saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fitch takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Batallir tries to clinch there but Fitch circles away.
Fitch keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fitch fails with a takedown attempt.
John Fitch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fitch stuffs the takedown attempt from Batallir. Batallir gets slowly back to his feet.
Batallir scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Batallir is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batallir closes the distance and clinches up with Fitch, looking for a takedown. Batallir pushes Fitch against the cage but Fitch circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
John Fitch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Pablo Batallir.

Fitch shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Batallir manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Batallir can't keep his opponent in guard - Fitch advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Fitch escapes and gets back to his feet.
Fitch closes this distance looking for a takedown but Batallir circles away.

Fitch closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Batallir's guard.
Fitch is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
John Fitch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fitch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Batallir swivels though and keeps the full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Fitch stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Fitch tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Batallir swivels and escapes.

Fitch shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Fitch content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fitch stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Fitch shoots in but no luck this time.

Fitch drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fitch takes a little break here. Batallir wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Fitch dominated that second round.
That's time! Fitch's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Batallir slaps away a takedown attempt from Fitch, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Batallir shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Batallir shoots for a double leg takedown but Fitch sprawls well. He's pushed Batallir's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Fitch looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Batallir!
Fitch controlling the position easily from mount.
Batallir takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Batallir for as long as he can get away with.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Fitch wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Fitch shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Batallir's guard.
John Fitch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fitch gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Fitch dives in and grabs Batallir's left leg, looking for a takedown. Batallir pushes down on Fitch's head and hops out.
Batallir fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fitch avoids it really well and circles away.
John Fitch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Pablo Batallir.

Fitch closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Batallir's guard.
Fitch 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch pushes down on Batallir's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Fitch tries to pass to full mount but Batallir defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fitch is figuring out what he wants to do next.

John Fitch has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Fitch shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Batallir as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fitch closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fitch lands in his opponent's guard.
Fitch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Batallir swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fitch showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Fitch showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fitch has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

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