PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Beth Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Fitz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liam Fitz is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Phoenix
vs
Fitz

170 cm
24
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
175 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Hilo Nutrition (video proof)

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, Beth Phoenix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Liam Fitz!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Phoenix closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fitz gets back to half guard.
Fitz wants to get back to his feet.
Phoenix slips a nice elbow through Fitz's hands, connecting with Fitz's forehead.
Fitz keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Phoenix is working for a submission of some sort.
Well, if Phoenix is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitz is looking for a sweep. Phoenix is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Phoenix wants to work for an arm triangle but Fitz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Fitz has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Phoenix escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Phoenix!
Fitz can't do much from the bottom here.
The strikes coming from Phoenix are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitz wants to control but Phoenix postures up.
Fitz takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
You can see the frustration on Fitz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Fitz prevents Phoenix from improving position.
Fitz tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Phoenix easily slips into full mount!
Phoenix prevents Fitz from getting the reversal.
Phoenix sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Fitz tries to hold on but Phoenix pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitz looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Phoenix working for the choke.
Phoenix is trying to stick to Fitz's back but Fitz is turning into Phoenix. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Phoenix's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Fitz.
Phoenix keeping full guard, as Fitz tries to pass.
Phoenix trying to keep a closed guard but Fitz is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix trying to control the position here.
Phoenix has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Phoenix wants to sweep but no luck.

Phoenix is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fitz is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Phoenix bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fitz's guard.

Fitz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Beth Phoenix dominated that round.
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.

Fitz tries to clinch up.
Phoenix shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Phoenix is looking to clinch but Fitz is avoiding it.
Fitz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fitz fails with the takedown

and Phoenix counters with a takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Fitz's face as Phoenix controls the position.
Fitz is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Fitz is breathing heavily.

Phoenix is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fitz wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Phoenix seems content to control.
Fitz wants to control but Phoenix is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Phoenix is taking a breather. Fitz says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Phoenix is looking to take a break and control but Fitz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Beth Phoenix.
Fitz throws a head kick but Phoenix moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fitz is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Phoenix looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fitz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Phoenix as he avoids it easily.
Beth Phoenix has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Fitz.
Fitz darts in trying to clinch
and Phoenix counters with a thumping low kick.

Phoenix closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Phoenix lands in his opponent's guard.
Fitz is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Phoenix might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Phoenix seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Fitz for as long as he can get away with.
Fitz is trying to control the position but Phoenix postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Beth Phoenix wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Fitz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Phoenix avoids it really well and circles away.

Phoenix closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Fitz's guard.
Fitz trying to keep a closed guard but Phoenix is proving a slippery customer.
Phoenix passes Fitz's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fitz misses with some strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Beth Phoenix dominated that second 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Phoenix forces Fitz back against the cage and clinches.

Phoenix has clasped his hands together around Fitz's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Fitz is looking for a sweep.
Fitz holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Phoenix blocks the strikes from Fitz.
Phoenix working the ground and pound from side control.
Fitz wants to control but Phoenix postures up.

Phoenix decides to stand back up. Phoenix steps back and let's Fitz get back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Fitz or perhaps it was just good defense by Phoenix which made him look bad.
Fitz moves out of range of the body kick from Phoenix.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix misses with a series of wild punches.

Phoenix closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fitz to the mat! Fitz manages to get full guard.

Fitz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Phoenix content to stall in guard here.
Fitz is trying to control the position but Phoenix postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix forces his way into half guard.
Phoenix sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Phoenix is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Fitz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phoenix escapes and gets back to his feet.

Phoenix shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Fitz's guard.
Fitz keeping full guard, as Phoenix tries to pass.
Phoenix is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Phoenix is looking to work some ground and pound but Fitz has wrist control.

Phoenix drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Fitz manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Phoenix has Fitz in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitz trying to control but Phoenix is working from the bottom.
Fitz must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Phoenix looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fitz wants to control from the top but Phoenix keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fitz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Beth Phoenix showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Phoenix 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Beth Phoenix!