PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ronaldo Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Fitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Souza
vs
Fitch

183 cm
28
176 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

180 cm
21
179 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ronaldo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Fitch!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Albert Achterberg and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Fitch counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Souza is pulling down on Fitch's head to control his posture.
Souza is trying to control the position but Fitch postures up.

We're going to have a standup here because Ronaldo Souza wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Fitch darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Souza trying to hold on to Fitch's head to control him but Fitch postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fitch must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Souza is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Souza is looking to advance position but Fitch won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza thows a huge punch but Fitch dodges it nicely.
Souza not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fitch defending well though.
Souza has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Fitch is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Souza trying to pass the guard but Fitch defending well.
Fitch gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fitch avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Souza not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fitch can do anything to dispel that myth.
Souza postures up in Fitch's guard and throws a big left but Fitch blocks it.
Souza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Souza throws a big right hand that misses.

Souza drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Souza jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza tries to free his leg and advance position but Fitch is retaining full guard.
Souza is working hard here to advance position.
Souza throws a big elbow that misses.
Souza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fitch is keeping the position for now.
Souza wants to control from the top but Fitch keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Souza thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronaldo Souza dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Souza shoots and misses

and Fitch counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Souza desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Well, if Fitch is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. John Fitch wasn't active enough on the ground.
Fitch shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Souza sprawls well. Souza wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fitch gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Fitch counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Souza's guard now.
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.
Souza wants to sweep but no luck.
Fitch sitting in guard, not really doing much.

John Fitch has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Fitch fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza with a lazy takedown attempt

and Fitch counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronaldo Souza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Souza wants to sweep but no luck.
Fitch controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Fitch was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Souza with a poor takedown

and Fitch decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Souza's guard.
Souza is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Souza tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ronaldo Souza just wasn't active enough.
Souza doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Fitch counters with a single leg into guard. Souza didn't expect that.
Fitch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Souza swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fitch controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
John Fitch has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. John Fitch wasn't active enough on the ground.
Fitch shoots in for a double leg but Souza sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fitch looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Nice sprawl there from Fitch as Souza shoots in.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souza leaves Fitch with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Fitch drives through with a takedown into Souza's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Fitch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Fitch fails to land the takedown.

Fitch drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Souza controls Fitch momentarily but Fitch frees himself.
Fitch trying to move into half guard but instead Souza has managed to sweep!
Souza tries to free his leg and advance position but Fitch is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza advances to half guard.
Souza throwing shots but Fitch is blocking nicely.
Souza throwing shots but Fitch is blocking nicely.
Souza wants to pass to mount but Fitch is defending the position.
Souza uses his free foot to push down on Fitch's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Fitch.

Souza is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Fitch has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Fitch!
Fitch preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souza manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fitch manages to get himself to full guard.
Fitch keeping full guard, as Souza tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Fitch's guard.
Souza throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Fitch controlling the position for now.
Fitch really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Souza. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Souza looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Fitch wants to improve his position but Souza is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza throwing shots but Fitch is blocking nicely.
Souza thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Fitch avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Souza.
Souza wants to free his trapped foot but Fitch is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Souza thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fitch's head.
Fitch won't allow Souza to pass to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ronaldo Souza showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Souza 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronaldo Souza!