PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jon Fitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cameron Bader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Fitch
vs
Bader

175 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jon Fitch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cameron Bader!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Steve Erwin and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Bader with that takedown attempt.
Fitch fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Fitch has managed to clinch.
Bader stops a takedown attempt from Fitch.
Fitch goes for a takedown attempt but Bader pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Fitch. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fitch gets a clinch.

Bader is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Fitch can't fight it off and eventually Bader manages to take the fight to the floor. Fitch looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fitch has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Fitch manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Fitch is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bader with a poor takedown

and Fitch counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fitch trying to control the pace.
Bader wants to improve his position but Fitch is controlling well.
Fitch passes to side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bader can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bader is looking to get back to his feet here but Fitch is keeping cool and he's managed to take Bader's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bader trying to get back to his feet but Fitch is in full control for now.
Fitch keeps control of the position easily here as Bader tries to buck him off.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Fitch's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bader trying to get back to his feet but Fitch is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bader wants to control his opponent's hands but Fitch gets his hands free.
Bader is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Bader showing good submission defense here.
Fitch missing with strikes from the back.
Fitch is looking to control Bader but Bader is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fitch looking for the choke but no joy.
Fitch gets his hands free as Bader looks to control.
Fitch has good solid back control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fitch is not going to allow Bader to sit and survive in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Fitch dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Fitch fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bader avoids it really well and circles away.
Cameron Bader seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fitch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Fitch gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fitch looking to control.
Bader working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fitch is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bader pushes Fitch off and gets back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fitch is defended easily by Bader.
Fitch misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch dives in and grabs Bader's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bader pushes down on Fitch's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Fitch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fitch wants to clinch up but Bader keeps it at a distance.
Bader has a takedown stuffed.
Fitch is looking to land body kicks.
Bader with a poor takedown
and Fitch counters with a three punch combo that has Bader backing up. Bader nods at Fitch to acknowledge the strikes.

Bader closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Bader throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bader is keen to just control but Fitch is a slippery customer.
Fitch keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bader trying to control from half guard but Fitch is working away.
Bader slips a nice elbow through Fitch's hands, connecting with Fitch's forehead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Bader lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bader looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Fitch with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bader missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bader seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Bader stops Fitch from getting back to his feet.
Bader looks to land a strike but Fitch avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Bader trying to control but Fitch is working from the bottom.
Fitch looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bader postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bader trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cameron Bader has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fitch trying to control the position here.
Bader is in close to Fitch's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bader throwing strikes from guard but Fitch blocks nicely.
Fitch keeping moving, preventing Bader from controlling successfully.
Bader preventing the sweep.
Bader trying to control the position from guard on top but Fitch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bader with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bader is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bader trying to control the position from guard on top but Fitch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fitch is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bader throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fitch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bader controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bader looks for a takedown but Fitch sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cameron Bader showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Fitch's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Bader scores a takedown into full mount!
Fitch bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Bader wants to stand but Fitch is controlling the position.
Fitch controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bader looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fitch is one step ahead there.
Bader working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch landing with the ground and pound.
Fitch is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Fitch throws an elbow that misses. Bader uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fitch's guard. Nice move by Bader!
Bader throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fitch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bader is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bader is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bader wants to pass the guard but Fitch is keeping the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bader's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Fitch is trying to control the position but Bader postures up.
Bader must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bader throws a big elbow that misses.
Fitch is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Bader makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bader.
Fitch fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fitch misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Fitch. No joy for Bader on that attempt.
Bader takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Fitch gets a takedown into half guard.
Fitch is looking to take a break and control but Bader is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fitch throwing shots but Bader is blocking nicely.
Bader moves into full guard.
Fitch won't allow Bader to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitch is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Fitch wants to stand but Bader has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Fitch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Fitch gets to his feet. Bader looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Fitch slaps away a takedown attempt from Bader, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jon Fitch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cameron Bader.

Fitch gets in close and instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jon Fitch.
I think Fitch has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jon Fitch!