PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jon Fitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Fitch
vs
Swanson

175 cm
25
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Blood Bank ($10)

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 3 - 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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jim Swanson!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Fitch.
Swanson loads up on a big right hand but Fitch slips the punch.
Fitch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Swanson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fitch fails with an attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fitch is defended easily by Swanson.
Fitch looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Swanson is fending him off so far but Fitch persists. Nope, Swanson circles away and we're back to standing.
Fitch shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Swanson but Swanson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Fitch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fitch throws a head kick that misses
and Swanson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fitch.
Fitch wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Swanson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fitch.
Fitch moves away from the strike by Swanson.
Fitch fails with a takedown attempt.
Fitch throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jim Swanson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Swanson throws a series of punches but Fitch avoids them all with ease.
Swanson has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Fitch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fitch shoots and misses
and Swanson counters with a straight right hand.
Swanson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fitch.
Fitch looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Swanson is fending him off so far but Fitch persists. Nope, Swanson circles away and we're back to standing.
Fitch is breathing heavily.
Swanson cracks Fitch with an open hand slap.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Swanson.
Fitch tries to close the distance and clinch but Swanson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fitch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Swanson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fitch misses the shot to the body.
Swanson throws a right and a left that Fitch avoids nicely.
Swanson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson misses with a body kick.
Swanson wants to land a leg kick but Fitch is out of range.
Fitch shoots and misses
and Swanson counters with a two punch combo.

Fitch darts in and clinches Swanson up against the cage.
Swanson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Fitch just stands there and leans against the cage.
Swanson wants a takedown.
Swanson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Fitch is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Swanson is keeping busy.
Swanson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Swanson drags the fight down to the ground.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Swanson pulls Fitch in to control the position.
Swanson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fitch is one step ahead there.
Fitch is fighting to break Swanson's control of his arms but Swanson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitch throws a big right hand that misses.

Swanson pushes Fitch off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Fitch shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Swanson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Fitch trying to control but Swanson is working from the bottom.
Fitch sitting in guard here, content to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Swanson seems keen to control Fitch's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Swanson keeping moving, preventing Fitch from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jim Swanson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fitch moves in looking to clinch but Swanson pushes him off.
Swanson stuffs the takedown.
Swanson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fitch.
Swanson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Fitch fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Swanson avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Fitch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fitch looks to land a combination but Swanson avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch with a lazy takedown attempt
and Swanson counters with a good low kick that Fitch was not able to check.
Fitch wants to slow Swanson down by chopping away at his legs.
Sloppy strikes from Fitch. Those never looked like landing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fitch slips a jab and a cross from Swanson.
Swanson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Fitch eats them both and turns towards Swanson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Swanson scoring well with a low kick there.
Swanson misses with a leg kick.
Fitch fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fitch with a poor takedown
and Swanson counters with a left and a right that stings Fitch.
Swanson with a jab.
Fitch misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Fitch or perhaps it was just good defense by Swanson which made him look bad.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fitch dodges the punch combination from Swanson.
Jab by Swanson.
Swanson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fitch tries to clinch there but Swanson circles away.
Swanson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Jim Swanson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Jon Fitch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Swanson looks to land a combination but Fitch avoids it well.
Fitch looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fitch darts in trying to clinch
and Fitch takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Swanson throws a right hand that Fitch ducks under and follows up with a left that Fitch also avoids with ease.
Swanson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Fitch shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Swanson counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitch takes a swing at Swanson's ribcage but misses.
Fitch throws a head kick that misses
and Swanson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jon Fitch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Swanson looks to land a body kick but Fitch moved away.
Swanson misses with a low kick.
Fitch doesn't manage to clinch there - Swanson circles away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Swanson looks to land a right hand but Fitch moved out of range.
Swanson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fitch moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fitch avoids a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Swanson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Fitch tries a head kick but it misses.
Fitch takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Fitch swings for the body but Swanson moves out of range.
Swanson throws a big shot that misses.
Fitch gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Swanson counters with an inside leg kick.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Fitch needs to keep his hands up - Swanson had a free shot at his head there.
Swanson connects with an inside leg kick.
Fitch closes the distance looking to clinch
and Swanson counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch tries to close the distance and clinch but Swanson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fitch tries to clinch
and Swanson counters with a stiff right hand.
Swanson throws a one two combo.
Fitch looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Swanson is fending him off so far but Fitch persists. Nope, Swanson circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fitch slips a straight right by Swanson.
Fitch takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Fitch has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Swanson finds it's way round the side to connect with Fitch's head.
Swanson feints a jab promting Fitch to slip. Swanson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Fitch slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Fitch shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Swanson napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Swanson is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Swanson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fitch stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Swanson throws a shot from downtown. Fitch moves away and avoids it.
Swanson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Fitch is looking to clinch but Swanson is avoiding it.
Fitch tries to clinch but Swanson is having none of it.
Swanson stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Fitch. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Fitch with a lazy takedown attempt
and Swanson counters with a stiff right hand.
The fighters circling - Swanson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A slow jab from Swanson misses its intended target.

Fitch shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Swanson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Swanson holds on and takes a little breather.
Swanson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Fitch!
Fitch tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson wants to control the pace but Fitch is squirming around nicely.
Swanson looking to finish Fitch with some ground and pound. This is bad for Fitch!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Swanson content just to control the position here.
Swanson avoids the attempt from Fitch to control.
Swanson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Jim Swanson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Swanson content just to control the position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee warns Fitch that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Swanson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Swanson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Swanson!