PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jon Fitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Story (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Story has chosen Finish em ALL as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Fitch
vs
Story

186 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jon Fitch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rick Story!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Ryoma Takatsuka and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Story tries to clinch but Fitch moves out of range.

Fitch has managed to clinch.
Story is working for takedown but Fitch is calmly controlling the position for now.
Fitch tries to pull guard but Story forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Story gets control of Fitch's arms and successfully pulls guard. Story will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Fitch sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Fitch looking to pass the guard.
Story is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Fitch is stalling in the full guard.

Jon Fitch has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Story dives in and grabs Fitch's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fitch pushes down on Story's head and hops out.

Fitch scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fitch performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Story trying to hold on to Fitch's head to control him but Fitch postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Jon Fitch wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Fitch is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Story.

Fitch looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Story!
Story looks gassed!
Fitch content just to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitch seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Story for as long as he can get away with.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jon Fitch just wasn't active enough.
Fitch jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Story closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Story breaks from the clinch.
Fitch takes a swing at Story's ribcage but misses.

Fitch pushes Story up against the cage in a clinch.
Fitch drops down looking for an ankle pick but Story pulls his leg out and moves away.
Fitch tries to bum rush Story with a series of wild strikes but Story uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch slaps away a takedown attempt from Story, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jon Fitch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Story.

Fitch closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Story did well to prevent Fitch getting side control.
Fitch controlling the action here.
Story wants to get back to his feet.
Fitch sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jon Fitch.
Story uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fitch.
Fitch lands with a hook. Story tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Fitch throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Story was covering up waiting for the punch and Fitch finishes the takedown easily into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fitch engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitch works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Fitch is taking a breather. Story says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jon Fitch just wasn't active enough.
Fitch thuds his right hand into Story's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

It looks like Rick Story has been cut.
Fitch dips to his left and cracks Story with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Fitch dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rick Story's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Story gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Story wants to sweep but no luck.
Fitch pushing down on Story's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Fitch controlling the action here.
Story is breathing heavily.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jon Fitch just wasn't active enough.
Fitch fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Story manages to avoid it.
Story slips a jab from Fitch.
Rick Story is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fitch instigates a clinch.
Fitch drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Story gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Fitch lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Fitch with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jon Fitch just wasn't active enough.
Story tries to clinch there but Fitch circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitch defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Story.
Fitch shoots in looking for a takedown. Story tries to sprawl out of it but Fitch keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Story manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Story tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fitch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fitch throws a one two combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fitch walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Story checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A big left from Fitch misses.
Fitch misses with an uppercut.

Fitch closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Story's guard.
Fitch content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jon Fitch.

Fitch closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Fitch is controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jon Fitch wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Fitch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fitch stuffs the takedown.

Fitch closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
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!
Fitch working away.
Fitch remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Story prevents Fitch from moving into mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Story is trying to escape the position but Fitch is controlling the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Fitch displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Fitch has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Fitch dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rick Story's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Fitch throws a hook but Story blocks it.
Story tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fitch throws an overhand right that lands on Story's shoulder, as Story tries to avoid the shot.
Fitch changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Fitch lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Fitch closes the distance and clinches.
Story drops down looking for an ankle pick but Fitch pulls his leg out and moves away.
Fitch throws a lazy right hand but Story sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Fitch manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Story on his heels. He'll look to pass Story's guard now, I'm sure.
Fitch pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Story is keeping the position for now.
Fitch sitting in guard here, content to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Jon Fitch has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Story staying out of range there.
Fitch circles away from the clinch attempt.

Fitch gets a takedown into half guard.
Fitch controlling the action here.
Jon Fitch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jon Fitch wasn't doing enough on the ground.
The fight stays on the outside here - Story looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Fitch fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Story, pushing him back against the cage.

Story breaks from the clinch.

Fitch closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Still in half guard, Fitch seems content to control.

We're going to have a standup here because Jon Fitch wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Nice defenses there by Story.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fitch feints and as Story raises his hands in defense, Fitch changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fitch is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Story keeping full guard, as Fitch tries to pass.
Jon Fitch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jon Fitch.

Fitch looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Story!
Fitch controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fitch is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Story can do to turn this around?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jon Fitch just wasn't active enough.
Fitch throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Story stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rick Story has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fitch scores with a punch to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Fitch showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fitch has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Josh West scores the fight for Jon Fitch!
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Jon Fitch!
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight for Jon Fitch!

Jon Fitch wins by unanimous decision!
Post fight, Jon Fitch stared into the camera and said 'Wrestling baby, wrestling wins fights! JFitch, shout out to all my coaches and training partners. Thank you all'.