PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ronaldo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Fitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Souza
vs
Fitch

183 cm
28
179 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
179 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ronaldo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Fitch!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitch misses with a body shot

and Souza counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fitch keeping moving, preventing Souza from controlling successfully.
Souza is really struggling to control Fitch but he's trying to hold on to the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Ronaldo Souza wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Souza tries for a takedown but Fitch circles away easily

and Fitch counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch throwing strikes from guard but Souza blocks nicely.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Fitch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fitch postures up.

Ronaldo Souza has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Souza takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Fitch lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fitch closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Souza quickly recovers to half guard.
Fitch looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Souza is trying to maintain the position but Fitch is very close to passing his half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Fitch.

Fitch fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Souza sprawls well initially but Fitch persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fitch wants to stand up but Souza has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. John Fitch wasn't active enough on the ground.
Souza fails with the takedown
and Fitch counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Fitch counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fitch performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza wants to control but Fitch is keeping busy.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. John Fitch wasn't active enough on the ground.
Fitch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souza with a lazy takedown attempt
and Fitch counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Souza shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Fitch counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Fitch 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.

Souza fails with the takedown

and Fitch counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Souza's guard now.
Souza looking to control.
Fitch controls from within his opponent's guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Ronaldo Souza wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Fitch counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Fitch.
Fitch showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Fitch.
Souza fails with the takedown

and Fitch counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fitch is controlling the pace.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Souza wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Fitch.

Fitch manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Souza on his heels. He'll look to pass Souza's guard now, I'm sure.
Souza wants to sweep but no luck.
Souza is controlling Fitch's posture.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ronaldo Souza wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Fitch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Souza moves away.
Souza uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fitch.
Souza shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Fitch counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Fitch counters with a straight right hand.
Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Fitch counters with a takedown into side control.
Fitch in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Souza manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Fitch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Fitch misses with a body kick.
Souza with a lazy takedown attempt

and Fitch counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Souza!
Souza really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Fitch controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. John Fitch hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Fitch connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fitch looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Souza shoots and misses
and Fitch counters with a two punch combo.
John Fitch is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fitch shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
John Fitch has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fitch tries to free his leg and advance position but Souza is retaining full guard.
Fitch must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fitch content to stall in guard here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. John Fitch wasn't active enough on the ground.
Souza shoots and misses

so Fitch counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fitch trying to control the position from guard on top but Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

John Fitch has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Souza has his takedown stuffed

and Fitch counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Fitch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch sitting in guard, not really doing much.

OK we're going to have a standup here. John Fitch hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Fitch connects with a good right hand that stumbles Souza. Souza circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A punch combination from Fitch misses.
Fitch looks for a takedown but Souza sprawls well.

Fitch is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Souza's half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitch looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ronaldo Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Fitch prevents Souza from improving his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. John Fitch wasn't active enough on the ground.
Souza tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fitch was well out of range. Poor timing from Souza.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Fitch comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Fitch has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30

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