PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sol Fitzsimmons (ranked 976 p4p, 128 weight class) and Jason Knight (ranked 1846 p4p, 235 weight class). Jason Knight has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fitzsimmons
vs
Knight

187 cm
20
215 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

188 cm
27
205 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sol Fitzsimmons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jason Knight!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitzsimmons connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Knight falls off balance throwing a combination
and Fitzsimmons counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fitzsimmons is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Knight.
Knight throws a hook but Fitzsimmons blocks it.
Fitzsimmons moves out of range as Knight strikes.
Fitzsimmons moves to clinch but Knight breaks away
enabling Knight to counter with a crisp jab.
Knight misses with an uppercut.
No joy there for Fitzsimmons, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fitzsimmons lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Knight misses.
Fitzsimmons misses with a hook.
Sol Fitzsimmons seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A shot to the body from Fitzsimmons misses
and Knight counters with a straight right hand.
Fitzsimmons throws a wild body kick that Knight sees coming a mile off.
Fitzsimmons throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Knight cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick which misses Knight's front leg but catches the back leg as Knight tries to avoid it.
Fitzsimmons thows a leg kick but Knight checks it
and Knight counters with a straight right hand.
Fitzsimmons tries a head kick but it misses.
Knight throws a series of strikes that have Fitzsimmons backpedaling.
Knight walks into a straight right hand from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons throws an overhand right that lands on Knight's shoulder, as Knight tries to avoid the shot.
Knight checks a low kick from Fitzsimmons.
Good work by Knight as he checks the leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Knight.
Fitzsimmons looks to throw the jab but Knight is out of range.
Fitzsimmons slips a jab and a cross from Knight.
Knight uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fitzsimmons throws a shot from downtown. Knight moves away and avoids it.
Knight slips under a jab from Fitzsimmons.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fitzsimmons fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Knight, pushing him back against the cage.
Fitzsimmons controlling the action here for a moment.
Knight takes an elbow to the temple.
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.
Fitzsimmons creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Fitzsimmons lands with a short shot to the head.
Fitzsimmons misses with some punches.
Fitzsimmons misses with some punches.
Fitzsimmons effectively controlling the action here.
Fitzsimmons lands a body punch.
Knight throws a punch but it's blocked by Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Fitzsimmons blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knight throws a punch but it's blocked by Fitzsimmons.
Knight tries to break free but Fitzsimmons pushes him back against the cage.
Knight has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Fitzsimmons seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Knight can turn it around.
Knight is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fitzsimmons breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Knight throws a low kick, looking for Fitzsimmons's leg but Fitzsimmons calmly moves out of range.
Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick
and Fitzsimmons takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Fitzsimmons forces Knight back against the cage and clinches.
Fitzsimmons softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Knight throws a punch but it's blocked by Fitzsimmons.
Knight avoids a wild elbow strike from Fitzsimmons.
Knight is trying to break free.
Fitzsimmons blocks an uppercut.
Fitzsimmons blocks an uppercut.
Fitzsimmons blocking some punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knight lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Fitzsimmons backwards.
Knight blocks the elbow strike.
Knight misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fitzsimmons lands a nice elbow.

Fitzsimmons's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knight checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Fitzsimmons lands but Knight takes it in his stride.
Fitzsimmons shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Knight looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Fitzsimmons throws a hook to the side of Knight's head but Knight sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Fitzsimmons dips to his left and cracks Knight with an uppercut!
Knight uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fitzsimmons.
Knight throws out a counter right but Fitzsimmons avoids it with no problem.
A cross from Fitzsimmons lands.
Fitzsimmons looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Fitzsimmons rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Fitzsimmons takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Knight staying out of range there.
Fitzsimmons misses with a hook
and Knight connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A jab from Knight misses.
Fitzsimmons tries to clinch up.
Knight is looking for the big counter here.
Knight 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 tries to clinch but Knight moves away
and Knight counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fitzsimmons throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Knight sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Knight looks to score with a jab to the body but Fitzsimmons is just out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sol Fitzsimmons dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A jab from Fitzsimmons misses.
Knight might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A jab lands there for Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons throws a right and a left that both miss.
Knight walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Fitzsimmons checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Fitzsimmons misses with an uppercut
enabling Knight to counter with a crisp jab.
Knight loads up on a big right hand but Fitzsimmons slips the punch.
Fitzsimmons fails in his attempt to clinch.
Knight throws a hook but Fitzsimmons blocks it.
It appears Fitzsimmons was looking to counter with a kick there.
Fitzsimmons scores with a hook.
Nice uppercut there from Fitzsimmons.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzsimmons waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Knight.
Knight looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Knight missing with a left hand there. Fitzsimmons was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sol Fitzsimmons is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd cheers as Knight lands an impressive looking overhand right. Fitzsimmons doesn't seem phased though.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Fitzsimmons.

Knight breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
An inside leg kick lands from Fitzsimmons.
A head kick by Fitzsimmons misses
and Knight connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Knight misses with a body shot.
Knight dodges the punch combination from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons throws a nice outside leg kick.
Knight lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fitzsimmons circles away quickly and effectively.
Fitzsimmons throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Knight.
As Fitzsimmons backs off Knight throws a huge counter combo but Fitzsimmons manages to avoid it all.
Fitzsimmons throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Knight counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fitzsimmons misses with a looping right.
A little jabbing left from Knight on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Knight lands with an uppercut that bounces Fitzsimmons off the cage and back into range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knight uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons misses with a left hand
and Knight cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Knight misses with a straight left.
Fitzsimmons scoring well with a low kick there.
Fitzsimmons tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Knight is able to avoid easily.
Knight lands a jab to the head.
Knight looks to score with a jab to the body but Fitzsimmons is just out of range.
Fitzsimmons swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Fitzsimmons on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick but Knight sees it coming and moves out of range.
It seemed like Knight was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Fitzsimmons misses with a wild body shot.
Knight checks a low kick from Fitzsimmons.
Knight looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Fitzsimmons throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Knight.
Knight misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knight displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Fitzsimmons throws out the jab.
Fitzsimmons misses with a straight right.
A swing and a miss from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons misses with a two punch combination.
Fitzsimmons misses with an uppercut. Knight saw that one coming.
Fitzsimmons avoids a punch combination nicely.
Fitzsimmons tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Knight manages to circle out of the way.
Knight keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fitzsimmons.
A little jabbing left from Knight on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Knight tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fitzsimmons was well out of range. Poor timing from Knight.
Fitzsimmons connects with the punch.
Fitzsimmons has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Knight tries to keep at a distance but Fitzsimmons has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fitzsimmons misses with a short punch on the inside.
Fitzsimmons taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knight manages to break the clinch.
Knight misses with an uppercut.
Fitzsimmons fires out a quick counter leg kick but Knight just manages to avoid it.
Fitzsimmons tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knight paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fitzsimmons swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Knight to counter with a crisp jab.
Fitzsimmons throws a hook but Knight avoids it easily.
A big left from Fitzsimmons misses.
Knight looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Fitzsimmons throws a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fitzsimmons cracks Knight with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Fitzsimmons throws an overhand right that lands on Knight's shoulder, as Knight tries to avoid the shot.
Knight looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Fitzsimmons on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Knight throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Fitzsimmons sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fitzsimmons misses with an uppercut
enabling Knight to counter with a crisp jab.
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.
Fitzsimmons darts in trying to clinch
and Knight counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sol Fitzsimmons will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

No joy there for Knight, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice uppercut lands for Fitzsimmons. That snapped Knight's head back.
Knight checks the leg kick nicely there.
Knight throws a jab when Fitzsimmons was well out of range.

Fitzsimmons closes the distance and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Knight's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short left from Knight.
A short uppercut from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fitzsimmons doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Fitzsimmons escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzsimmons tries to clinch
and Knight connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Fitzsimmons has closed the distance and engaged Knight in a clinch.
Fitzsimmons tries to work over Knight's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Knight fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fitzsimmons fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Knight wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight presses Fitzsimmons against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Sol Fitzsimmons has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Fitzsimmons keeps control of Knight as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Fitzsimmons working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Knight breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Knight wants to slow Fitzsimmons down by chopping away at his legs.
Knight checks a low kick from Fitzsimmons.
Knight throws a jab when Fitzsimmons was well out of range.
Fitzsimmons uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Knight.
It looked like Fitzsimmons wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Fitzsimmons connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Knight momentarily.
Fitzsimmons misses with a double jab.
Fitzsimmons falls off balance throwing a combination
and Knight counters with a stiff right hand.
Fitzsimmons throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Knight connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Fitzsimmons instigates a clinch.
Jason Knight has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Fitzsimmons or not.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fitzsimmons blocking some punches.
Knight tries to break the clinch but Fitzsimmons is controlling the position.
Knight lands with a short shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Knight breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sol Fitzsimmons is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick
letting Knight counter with a right hand.
Knight throws a nice looking combination but Fitzsimmons bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A good leg kick by Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons misses with a right hand
and Knight counters with a stiff right hand.
Fitzsimmons moves to clinch but Knight breaks away
and Knight counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Knight keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons tries to clinch but Knight is having none of it.

Fitzsimmons gets a clinch.
Knight wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fitzsimmons blocks a body shot from Knight.
Fitzsimmons is trying to stall.
Knight misses with a short punch on the inside.
Knight misses with a punch on the inside.
Knight misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fitzsimmons struggles to land a body shot inside as Knight controls his hands.
Fitzsimmons blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Fitzsimmons.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Knight.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Knight.
Fitzsimmons keeps control of Knight as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Knight tries to circle away but Fitzsimmons has him pinned against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fitzsimmons blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Knight wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fitzsimmons has him pressed against the cage.
Fitzsimmons is leaning against Knight and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Knight avoids the elbow strike from Fitzsimmons, against the cage.
Knight misses with a hook from the clinch.
Knight misses with a punch to the body.
Knight avoids the elbow strike from Fitzsimmons, against the cage.
Fitzsimmons blocking some punches.
Knight avoids a wild elbow strike from Fitzsimmons.
Knight has a couple of punches blocked by Fitzsimmons.
Knight working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Fitzsimmons.
Knight tries a body shot but Fitzsimmons blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jason Knight.
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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sol Fitzsimmons!