PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Fitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Allen Iverson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Iverson has chosen The Champ-nelly as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Fitch
vs
Iverson

182 cm
23
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
27
185 lbs
2 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Fitch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Allen Iverson!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iverson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Iverson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Fitch!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Fitch is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Fitch wants to control but Iverson postures up.
Iverson in side control, throwing shots but Fitch defends.
Fitch sneaks back into half guard.
Fitch moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Fitch working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Iverson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Iverson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Iverson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Fitch looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fitch is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Fitch on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Fitch tries to get out of the position.
Fitch tries to strike from the bottom.
Fitch tries to strike from the bottom.
Iverson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Iverson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch is trying to control the position but Iverson postures up.

Fitch looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Iverson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Iverson throwing strikes from guard but Fitch blocks nicely.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Iverson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Iverson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Fitch has his foot on Iverson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Iverson works his way back into a safe position though.
Fitch looking for a sweep. Not yet Fitch, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Iverson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Iverson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fitch has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Iverson has managed to get both his arms back between Fitch's legs - danger averted.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Iverson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fitch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Fitch is looking for a triangle but Iverson pushes his legs off easily.

Fitch working for a triangle but Iverson defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fitch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Iverson defends it easily.
Iverson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Iverson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fitch has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Iverson has managed to get both his arms back between Fitch's legs - danger averted.
Iverson throws a big elbow that misses.
Iverson postures up in Fitch's guard and throws a big left but Fitch blocks it.
Iverson throwing strikes but missing.
Iverson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Fitch is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Iverson is looking to work some ground and pound but Fitch has wrist control.
Iverson is looking to work some ground and pound but Fitch has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Iverson is looking to work some ground and pound but Fitch has wrist control.
Iverson is looking to work some ground and pound but Fitch has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Iverson's guard.
Fitch is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Iverson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Fitch drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Iverson dives on top into guard.
Fitch is looking to stand up but Iverson isn't so interested in that idea.
Fitch wants to sweep here but Iverson controlling him for the moment.
Fitch trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iverson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Fitch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Iverson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fitch has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Iverson has managed to get both his arms back between Fitch's legs - danger averted.
Fitch is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Iverson pushing down on Fitch's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fitch landing small, sideways elbows.

Fitch looking for submissions off his back.
Fitch wants to improve his position but Iverson is controlling well.
Iverson throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Fitch to regain full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Fitch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Iverson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Iverson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Fitch dominated that round.
That's time! Fitch's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

No luck for Fitch with that takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Iverson.
Iverson misses with a head kick.
Iverson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Fitch manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Iverson.

Fitch shoots in and bounces Iverson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Iverson striking off his back but it's not causing Fitch any problems.
Michael Fitch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Iverson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Fitch trying to control but Iverson is working from the bottom.
Fitch trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Iverson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fitch doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fitch manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Fitch drops back, looking for a kneebar! Iverson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Iverson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Iverson!
Fitch sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Fitch is trying to control but can't.
Fitch gets back to full guard.

Fitch throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fitch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Fitch throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fitch bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Iverson's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitch advances to half guard.

Iverson is defending against the submission attempts here by Fitch.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Fitch lands a nice short elbow.

Fitch is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Iverson defends it well.
Fitch lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Fitch trying to work for an americana but Iverson has managed to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Iverson's guard.

Fitch is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Iverson is just riding it out for now. Fitch eventually gives up the hold.

Fitch is working for a submission of some sort.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitch is keen to just control but Iverson is a slippery customer.
Iverson pushes Fitch off looking to stand but Fitch dives back in and keeps control.
Iverson is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fitch working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Fitch is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Fitch is looking for submissions but instead, Iverson has regained full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Fitch dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Fitch darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Fitch looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Iverson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Fitch is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Fitch is looking for submissions but instead, Iverson has regained full guard.
Fitch looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fitch has gone for a leg lock! Iverson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Fitch's guard.
Fitch throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Iverson is looking to work some ground and pound but Fitch has wrist control.

Fitch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Iverson defends it easily.
Fitch is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Iverson can do to turn this around?

Fitch looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Fitch throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fitch throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iverson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Iverson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Iverson throwing strikes but missing.
Iverson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Iverson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Fitch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Iverson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Iverson throws a strike but Fitch rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Fitch postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Iverson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Fitch, into his guard.
Iverson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fitch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Iverson defends it easily.

Fitch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Iverson defends well.
Iverson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Michael Fitch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fitch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Iverson.
Iverson is looking to work some ground and pound but Fitch has wrist control.

Fitch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Iverson defends it easily.
Iverson throws a big right hand that misses.

Iverson is posturing up here but Fitch has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Iverson tries to roll out but it's too tight and Iverson has to tap! Slick submission there by Fitch!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Michael Fitch!
Michael Fitch decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.