PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Fitzsimmons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Austin Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fitzsimmons comes to the cage accompanied by Scotland The Brave. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Fitzsimmons
vs
Anderson

188 cm
28
211 lbs
17 - 9 - 1

185 cm
38
215 lbs
24 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jim Fitzsimmons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Austin Anderson!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anderson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fitzsimmons.
Anderson shoots in looking for a takedown. Fitzsimmons tries to sprawl out of it but Anderson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fitzsimmons manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A big left from Anderson misses.
Fitzsimmons dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Anderson. That did some damage!
Anderson tries to clinch but Fitzsimmons is having none of it.
Anderson fails with a takedown attempt.
Fitzsimmons with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fitzsimmons throws a body punch but Anderson moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzsimmons slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A jab lands there for Anderson.
Fitzsimmons checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Fitzsimmons looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Fitzsimmons fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Anderson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Anderson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anderson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Fitzsimmons's coaches at have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Fitzsimmons blocking the ground and pound attempt from Anderson.
Fitzsimmons gets full guard.
Fitzsimmons working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Anderson.
Fitzsimmons working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Anderson.
Anderson throws an elbow that misses. Fitzsimmons uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Anderson's guard. Nice move by Fitzsimmons!

Anderson looking for a sweep. Not yet Anderson, not yet.
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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anderson pulls Fitzsimmons in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson has a closed guard, preventing Fitzsimmons from standing up.
Anderson wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anderson working a defensive guard here.

Fitzsimmons stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Anderson misses.
Fitzsimmons was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Anderson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fitzsimmons misses with a hook.
Fitzsimmons swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nice uppercut there from Anderson.
Jim Fitzsimmons is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fitzsimmons cracks the inside of Anderson's front leg.
Fitzsimmons ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Anderson moves away.
Anderson tries to clinch but Fitzsimmons is having none of it.
Anderson looks to score with a jab to the body but Fitzsimmons is just out of range.
Fitzsimmons fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Anderson is out of range.
Anderson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Anderson scores with a body shot.
Anderson shoots in looking for a takedown but Fitzsimmons manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Anderson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Jim Fitzsimmons has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Austin Anderson.
Fitzsimmons steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Anderson.
Fitzsimmons appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Anderson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
It appears Fitzsimmons was looking to counter with a kick there.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Anderson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fitzsimmons throws a hook to the side of Anderson's head but Anderson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fitzsimmons throws a solid leg kick but Anderson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fitzsimmons thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Anderson if he has to take too many more of those.
Fitzsimmons swats away the attempt to clinch by Anderson.
Nice cross by Fitzsimmons.
Anderson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Anderson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Fitzsimmons lands a nice leg kick that just misses Anderson's sensitive parts.
Anderson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Anderson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Anderson doesn't manage to clinch there - Fitzsimmons circles away.
Anderson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Fitzsimmons counters with a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Anderson misses with the combination.
Anderson cracks Fitzsimmons with a right hand to the side of the head.
Fitzsimmons bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Fitzsimmons fires out a quick counter leg kick but Anderson just manages to avoid it.
Austin Anderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fitzsimmons fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Anderson is out of range.
Fitzsimmons with a hook.
Anderson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Fitzsimmons throws out the jab.
Anderson slips a straight right by Fitzsimmons.
Anderson checks a leg kick.
A little jabbing left from Anderson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Fitzsimmons blocks a head kick by Anderson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anderson blocks a jab.
Fitzsimmons motions for Anderson to come forward. Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Anderson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Fitzsimmons walks into a jab.
Fitzsimmons ducks under a wild hook from Anderson.
Anderson digs a good body shot into Fitzsimmons's ribs.
Anderson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fitzsimmons paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons throws a low kick, looking for Anderson's leg but Anderson calmly moves out of range.
Anderson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fitzsimmons manages to avoid it.
Fitzsimmons will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Fitzsimmons avoids the head kick by Anderson.
A chopping leg kick lands by Fitzsimmons.
Anderson misses with an uppercut. Fitzsimmons saw that one coming.
Jim Fitzsimmons is winning the standup battle so far.
Fitzsimmons tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Fitzsimmons fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Anderson checks it well.
Fitzsimmons takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick but Anderson checks it.
Fitzsimmons pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Anderson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Fitzsimmons misses with a low kick.
Fitzsimmons misses with an uppercut. Anderson saw that one coming.
Fitzsimmons avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Anderson swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Fitzsimmons counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Fitzsimmons moves out of range as Anderson strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick but Anderson moved away.
Anderson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Fitzsimmons will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Anderson misses with a jab to the body
and Fitzsimmons counters with a low kick, right behind Anderson 's knee.
Fitzsimmons avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick
and Anderson counters with a nice leg kick.
Fitzsimmons keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Fitzsimmons lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Anderson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Anderson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Fitzsimmons misses with a low kick.
Anderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fitzsimmons moves away.
Fitzsimmons cracks Anderson with an open hand slap.
Fitzsimmons tries to work over Anderson's front leg with a kick but Anderson checks it.
Anderson throws a body punch but Fitzsimmons moves out of range.
Fitzsimmons fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Anderson checks it well.
Anderson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Anderson moves out of range of the body kick from Fitzsimmons.
Anderson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Anderson scores with a nice strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fitzsimmons. Anderson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Anderson throws a wild body kick that Fitzsimmons sees coming a mile off.
Fitzsimmons will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Good standup being displayed there by Anderson as he connects with a hook.
Fitzsimmons misses with a leg kick
and Anderson counters with a low kick, right behind Fitzsimmons 's knee.
Fitzsimmons cracks Anderson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Anderson gets a clinch.
Anderson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fitzsimmons blocks a body shot from Anderson.
Fitzsimmons doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Anderson blocking some punches.
Fitzsimmons pushes Anderson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body punch.
Anderson gets through Fitzsimmons's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Fitzsimmons.
Anderson throws a head punch that misses.
Anderson swings wildly with an uppercut but Fitzsimmons uses good head movement to avoid it.
Anderson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A right hook to the body lands for Anderson.
Fitzsimmons tries a body shot but Anderson blocks it.
Anderson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Fitzsimmons throws a head punch that misses.

Fitzsimmons breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Anderson lands a right hook to the body.
Anderson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Anderson throws a solid leg kick but Fitzsimmons takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Anderson.
Anderson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Horrible takedown attempt by Anderson or perhaps it was just good defense by Fitzsimmons, which made it look bad.
Anderson misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Austin Anderson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Fitzsimmons throws a low kick but it's checked well by Anderson.
Fitzsimmons slips a straight right by Anderson.
Anderson throws a shot to the body.
Fitzsimmons throws a right hand that misses
and Anderson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fitzsimmons shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Anderson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A nice combination there by Anderson.
Fitzsimmons works Anderson's body with a nice hook.
Anderson checks a leg kick.
Fitzsimmons on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Fitzsimmons throws a wild body kick that Anderson sees coming a mile off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anderson misses with a series of wild punches.
Anderson throws a body punch but Fitzsimmons moves out of range.
Fitzsimmons misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson throws a hook but Fitzsimmons avoids it easily.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body kick.
Anderson steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Anderson misses with a looping left.
Fitzsimmons went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Fitzsimmons misses with a looping left.
Anderson moves forwards but Fitzsimmons connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Anderson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fitzsimmons looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Anderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fitzsimmons buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Anderson is looking to clinch but Fitzsimmons is avoiding it.
Fitzsimmons misses with the combination.
Anderson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Anderson scores with a four punch combination!

Fitzsimmons gets caught flat footed, as Anderson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Fitzsimmons pushes Anderson off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anderson connects with a body shot.
Fitzsimmons misses with a low kick.
Fitzsimmons fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Anderson is out of range.
Anderson checks a low kick from Fitzsimmons.
Anderson let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Anderson misses with a low kick.
Anderson tries to clinch but Fitzsimmons moves out of range.
Anderson goes for a double leg but Fitzsimmons avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Fitzsimmons continues to drive forward.
Fitzsimmons swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Anderson connects with a jab.
Anderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fitzsimmons moves away.
Anderson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fitzsimmons.
Anderson now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Fitzsimmons. Anderson shrugs it off though.
Fitzsimmons lands a nice leg kick that just misses Anderson's sensitive parts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Fitzsimmons counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Anderson misses with a hook to the body
and Fitzsimmons counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Anderson thinking.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Anderson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Fitzsimmons avoids the head kick by Anderson.
Anderson throws a sloppy head kick and Fitzsimmons moves out of range easily.
Anderson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fitzsimmons is looking to slow Anderson down with leg kicks.
Anderson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Fitzsimmons.

Anderson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Fitzsimmons wants to improve his position but Anderson is controlling well.
Anderson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fitzsimmons is trying to stand back up but Anderson is controlling him
Fitzsimmons blocking the ground and pound attempt from Anderson.

Anderson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Fitzsimmons doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Anderson.
Anderson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Anderson throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Fitzsimmons to regain full guard.
Anderson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Anderson works over Fitzsimmons with some ground and pound from guard.
Fitzsimmons avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

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 Jim Fitzsimmons.
I think Fitzsimmons 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Fitzsimmons!
Jim Fitzsimmons made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'A jolly good scrap, old chum! I say, will you join me for a spot of gin and tonic?'.