PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Fitzsimmons (ranked 167 p4p, 18 weight class) and Solomon Kahn (ranked 295 p4p, 39 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Fitzsimmons
vs
Kahn

188 cm
42
203 lbs
42 - 22 - 1

188 cm
34
213 lbs
22 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING
Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

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 42 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Fitzsimmons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Solomon Kahn!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitzsimmons dips to his left and cracks Kahn with an uppercut!

It looks like Solomon Kahn has been cut.
Fitzsimmons takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Fitzsimmons misses with a low kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kahn, as that shot connected.
Kahn ducks under a wild hook from Fitzsimmons.
Kahn moves away from the strike by Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons throws a looping overhand right but Kahn ducks down to avoid it.
Fitzsimmons sets himself, and Kahn steps forward looking for the clinch! Fitzsimmons avoids it this time.
Kahn keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Solomon Kahn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kahn lands a glancing blow to the side of Fitzsimmons's head.
Kahn lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Fitzsimmons throws a hook but Kahn blocks it.
Fitzsimmons looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kahn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kahn manages to avoid it.
Kahn misses with a body shot
and Fitzsimmons connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fitzsimmons throws a hook but Kahn avoids it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kahn connects with a nice looking jab.
Kahn darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kahn turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body punch
letting Kahn counter with a right hand.
A jab from Kahn finds it's way through Fitzsimmons's defenses.
Kahn jabs Fitzsimmons right on the nose. Fitzsimmons blinks but takes it well.
Kahn throws a hook to the side of Fitzsimmons's head but Fitzsimmons sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fitzsimmons slips a straight right by Kahn.
Fitzsimmons was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Fitzsimmons does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kahn ducks under a wild hook from Fitzsimmons.
A left lands for Kahn.
Fitzsimmons swings widly with a right hand
and Kahn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fitzsimmons walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Fitzsimmons throws a right hand that misses
and Kahn counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fitzsimmons connects with a solid leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kahn throws out a loose jab but Fitzsimmons uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kahn throws an overhand right that lands on Fitzsimmons's shoulder, as Fitzsimmons tries to avoid the shot.
Kahn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons throws a jab when Kahn was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kahn looks to throw the jab but Fitzsimmons is out of range.
Kahn connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kahn's jab looks to have found its range, popping Fitzsimmons under the eye.
Kahn throws a hook to the side of Fitzsimmons's head but Fitzsimmons sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fitzsimmons tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Fitzsimmons bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Fitzsimmons throwing a counter right hand but Kahn manages to avoid it.
Kahn throws a jab but it's blocked by Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kahn.
Fitzsimmons walks into a straight right hand from Kahn.
A big left from Fitzsimmons misses.
Fitzsimmons looks to land a combination but Kahn avoids it well.
Kahn lands an overhand right.
Fitzsimmons misses with a hook.
A bone on bone clash there as Kahn blocks the leg kick.
Fitzsimmons throws a body punch but Kahn moves out of range.
Fitzsimmons takes a swing at Kahn's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahn lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Fitzsimmons misses the shot to the body.
Kahn lands a head shot.
Kahn scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kahn attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Fitzsimmons is looking to counter punch.
Kahn thows a leg kick but Fitzsimmons checks it
and Fitzsimmons counters with a stiff right hand.
Fitzsimmons avoids a kick to the body.
Kahn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fitzsimmons.
Kahn throws the left hand but Fitzsimmons avoids the punch easily.
Kahn is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Fitzsimmons had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Fitzsimmons moves out of range as Kahn strikes.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kahn, right into the meat.

Kahn has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fitzsimmons can't find room to land a body shot as Kahn controls the action.
Kahn throws a punch but it's blocked by Fitzsimmons.
Nice body punch from Kahn.
Kahn lands a shoulder strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice right hand lands inside from Fitzsimmons.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons prevents a body shot from Kahn.
Kahn makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fitzsimmons holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A body shot lands from Kahn.
Kahn lands a left hand.
Fitzsimmons has a couple of punches blocked by Kahn.
Fitzsimmons blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kahn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fitzsimmons scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kahn misses with a punch on the inside.
A bit of stalling here from Fitzsimmons.
Kahn has a couple of punches blocked by Fitzsimmons.
Kahn scores with a shot to the side of Fitzsimmons's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kahn is working Fitzsimmons over against the cage.
Kahn lands a shoulder strike.
Kahn working aggressively here.
Kahn lands an uppercut.
Kahn lands a hook that snaps the head of Fitzsimmons backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Kahn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Solomon Kahn's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Fitzsimmons has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Fitzsimmons there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kahn bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kahn lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kahn chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Fitzsimmons throws a shot to the body.
Kahn pivots, looking for a leg kick but Fitzsimmons is out of range and Kahn settles back down.
Fitzsimmons throws a lazy uppercut
and Kahn counters with a stiff right hand.
Fitzsimmons looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kahn scores with a leg kick.
Kahn connects with a good right hand that stumbles Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Fitzsimmons lands a jab to Kahn's midsection.
Kahn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kahn throws a jab but it's blocked by Fitzsimmons.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fitzsimmons dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kahn. That did some damage!
A slow jab from Fitzsimmons misses its intended target.

Kahn has taken the fight to the clinch.

Fitzsimmons pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kahn closes the distance and pushes Fitzsimmons back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kahn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fitzsimmons goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fitzsimmons lands a shoulder strike.
Kahn's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Fitzsimmons takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Fitzsimmons blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body punch.
Still in the clinch, Kahn scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kahn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Fitzsimmons lands a body punch.
A right hand to the body from Kahn.
Fitzsimmons's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Kahn blocks a body shot from Fitzsimmons.
Kahn lands a shoulder strike.
A short right from Kahn on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fitzsimmons breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fitzsimmons misses with an uppercut

and Kahn holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kahn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
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!
Kahn lands with a short shot to the head.
Kahn misses with a punch to the body.
Fitzsimmons will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kahn up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kahn.
Solomon Kahn seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kahn throws a punch but it's blocked by Fitzsimmons.

Kahn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kahn throws a hook but Fitzsimmons avoids it easily.
Fitzsimmons appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kahn is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick but Kahn checks it.
Fitzsimmons throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fitzsimmons on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kahn connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Kahn does it's job there.
Kahn slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Fitzsimmons with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kahn to score with a decent uppercut.
Kahn connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Fitzsimmons misses with a hook to the body
and Kahn counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kahn wants to land a leg kick but Fitzsimmons is out of range.
Fitzsimmons is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Fitzsimmons dodges the punch combination from Kahn.
Kahn misses with an uppercut. Fitzsimmons saw that one coming.
A jab from Kahn does it's job there.
Fitzsimmons tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kahn was well out of range. Poor timing from Fitzsimmons.
Kahn changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
The fighters circling - Kahn throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fitzsimmons throwing a counter right hand but Kahn manages to avoid it.
Kahn misses with a hook. Fitzsimmons ducked under it nicely.
Kahn checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kahn avoids the body shot from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons connects with a body shot that sends Kahn's belly button to the back.
Solomon Kahn seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kahn scores with the left hand. Fitzsimmons knows he should have avoided that one.

Kahn closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kahn scores with a shoulder strike.
Fitzsimmons taking a breather.
Fitzsimmons controlling the action here for a moment.
Kahn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kahn lands with a left to the head.
Kahn blocks a body shot from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons tries to throw a body punch but Kahn avoids it by throwing Fitzsimmons back against the cage.
Fitzsimmons taking a breather.
Kahn lands with a short shot to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Fitzsimmons - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kahn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fitzsimmons's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Kahn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Solomon Kahn's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Fitzsimmons keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
It looked like Fitzsimmons wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A big right from Kahn misses.
Kahn lands a jab to Fitzsimmons's midsection.
Kahn throws a front kick aimed at Fitzsimmons's knee but Fitzsimmons avoids it well.
An attempted straight right counter from Fitzsimmons misses the target.
Fitzsimmons takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Fitzsimmons misses with a right hand
and Kahn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kahn throws a jab when Fitzsimmons was well out of range.
Fitzsimmons fails to land with a series of punches.
Kahn takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kahn moves out of range of the strikes.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kahn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fitzsimmons manages to avoid it.
Fitzsimmons is looking to counter punch.
Fitzsimmons ducks right into an uppercut from Kahn.
Fitzsimmons motions for Kahn to come forward. Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Fitzsimmons lands a body shot.
Kahn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kahn catches Fitzsimmons with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kahn lands a nice hook to Fitzsimmons's body. Fitzsimmons takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Fitzsimmons takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kahn scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Fitzsimmons throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fitzsimmons digs a good body shot into Kahn's ribs.
Kahn misses with a wild combination.
Kahn avoids the body shot from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons misses with a hook.
Fitzsimmons cracks Kahn with a right hand to the side of the head.
Fitzsimmons throws a looping overhand right but Kahn ducks down to avoid it.
Fitzsimmons misses with a hook.
Fitzsimmons dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A lazy left from Kahn finds it's target.
Fitzsimmons takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kahn.
Kahn throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Fitzsimmons on the side of the head.
Fitzsimmons connects with an inside leg kick.
Fitzsimmons is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kahn.
Kahn scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kahn throws a head kick that misses.
Kahn lands with a cross.
Kahn lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kahn tries to clinch but Fitzsimmons is having none of it.
Fitzsimmons was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kahn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fitzsimmons was well out of range. Poor timing from Kahn.
A punch lands to the side of Fitzsimmons 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Kahn lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Kahn.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fitzsimmons misses with a hook to the ribs.
A body shot lands from Kahn.
Kahn letting Fitzsimmons take a breather here.
Kahn blocking some punches.
Fitzsimmons misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fitzsimmons blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Fitzsimmons cracks Kahn with a nice body shot.

Kahn manages to break the clinch.
Fitzsimmons on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Fitzsimmons is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kahn cracks Fitzsimmons with a good jab.
Fitzsimmons is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kahn.
Kahn keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Jim Fitzsimmons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kahn lands a jab to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fitzsimmons swings for the body but Kahn moves out of range.
Kahn slips a straight right by Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body shot
and Kahn counters with an outside leg kick.
Fitzsimmons on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kahn scores with a nice strike.
Kahn closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kahn keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Kahn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Fitzsimmons, pushing him back against the cage.
Fitzsimmons lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kahn lands a body shot.
Solomon Kahn is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kahn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kahn has a couple of punches blocked by Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A nice left hand lands by Kahn.
Fitzsimmons tries to work over Kahn's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Solomon Kahn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kahn 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Solomon Kahn!
A very excited looking Solomon Kahn rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.
In defeat, Jim Fitzsimmons stepped up to the mic, saying 'A jolly good scrap, old chum! I say, will you join me for a spot of gin and tonic?'.