PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Christopher Fitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sufjan Stevens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fitch kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Motörhead - "Orgasmatron". Stevens has chosen They Are Zombies as his entrance music. 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.

Fitch
vs
Stevens

176 cm
27
156 lbs
8 - 5 - 1

176 cm
28
156 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Christopher Fitch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sufjan Stevens!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Russell Pearce and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitch looks to score with a jab to the body but Stevens is just out of range.

Fitch shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevens wants to improve his position but Fitch is controlling well.
Fitch missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fitch wants to control but Stevens is keeping him busy.
Stevens trying to control from the bottom.
Stevens is concentrating on defense, preventing Fitch from advancing position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Stevens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stevens changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fitch tries to avoid it but Stevens manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fitch to the ground. Fitch escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Christopher Fitch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Fitch!

Fitch feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Fitch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stevens swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stevens tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch content to stall in guard here.
Stevens throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Fitch trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Christopher Fitch.
Stevens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Fitch is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stevens's half guard.
Fitch looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Fitch is looking to take a break and control but Stevens is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stevens tries to get to full guard but Fitch has control of the leg.
Fitch lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevens looking for submissions off his back.
Stevens avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Fitch.
Ground and pound from Fitch.
Fitch takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Fitch wants to work for an arm triangle but Stevens is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Fitch wants to control but Stevens is keeping him busy.
Stevens trying to control but Fitch postures up.
Fitch is pressing down on Stevens's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stevens is holding on for now.
Fitch takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Fitch lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stevens defending well though.
Stevens trying to control but Fitch postures up.
Fitch is trying to control. Stevens wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stevens is trying to maintain the position but Fitch is very close to passing his half guard.
Fitch looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Fitch wants to work for an arm triangle but Stevens is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ground and pound from Fitch.
It looks like Fitch is going to stand back up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Fitch wants to pass to mount but Stevens is defending the position.
Stevens is trying to maintain the position but Fitch is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Fitch is looking to advance position but Stevens won't allow it.
Fitch with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Stevens has hold of Fitch's hands but Fitch slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Stevens gets full guard.
Stevens is trying to control the position but Fitch postures up.
Fitch won't allow Stevens to sweep him here.
Fitch tries to free his leg and advance position but Stevens is retaining full guard.
Fitch thows a big elbow that misses.
Fitch distracts Stevens with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Fitch wants to pass the guard but Stevens is keeping the position.

Stevens working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fitch doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fitch manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Fitch dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Fitch looks for a takedown but Stevens sprawls well.
Jab, jab by Fitch - just one landing.
Stevens uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fitch.
Fitch blocks the body kick.
Stevens throws a head kick that misses.
Stevens moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Fitch throws out a loose jab but Stevens uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stevens with a lazy takedown attempt

and Fitch counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fitch connects with a couple of short punches.
Stevens is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Fitch stopping the sweep attempt from Stevens.
Stevens is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fitch stands and steps away. Stevens gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Fitch throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stevens looks for the body kick but Fitch saw that one coming.
Fitch looks to land a combination but Stevens avoids it well.
Fitch scores with the left hand. Stevens knows he should have avoided that one.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Stevens.
Fitch slips under a jab from Stevens.
A head kick misses from Stevens.
Stevens ducks right into an uppercut from Fitch.
Stevens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Christopher Fitch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sufjan Stevens.
Stevens dodges the punch combination from Fitch.
Fitch thows a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevens takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Fitch closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Stevens quickly recovers to half guard.
Fitch takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Fitch is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Stevens!

Fitch is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Stevens is surviving well by controlling Fitch's body position as best he can.
Stevens is wriggling around trying to escape.
Fitch cracks Stevens with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Fitch landing shots from mount.
Stevens in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Christopher Fitch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fitch pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fitch landing punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevens manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Stevens is trying to get back to full guard.
Fitch is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Fitch.
Stevens is refusing to be controlled, as Fitch sits in half guard.

Stevens is defending against the submission attempts here by Fitch.
Stevens moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Fitch stops Stevens from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitch landing with the ground and pound.
Stevens lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Fitch!
Fitch tries to hold on but Stevens postures up.
Stevens lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevens throws some wild stikes that Fitch manages to avoid easily.
Fitch really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Fitch dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stevens connects with a leg kick. Fitch looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Fitch throws a big shot that misses.
Fitch fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Stevens shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fitch as he jumps to the side.

Fitch gets caught flat footed, as Stevens shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Stevens won't allow Fitch to sweep him here.
Fitch manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Fitch landing punches.
Fitch blocks Stevens's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fitch landing strikes from the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch working Stevens over with strikes here.
Stevens is bucking up trying to escape but Fitch cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Fitch lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Stevens hang on?
Fitch working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Fitch unloading with bombs!
Fitch looking to control but Stevens is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Fitch cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Stevens is trying desperately to improve position.
Stevens is in a horrible position here. Fitch smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Fitch is working for a guillotine from mount but Stevens frees his head quite easily.
Fitch in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sufjan Stevens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitch fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Fitch looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Stevens is trying to escape the mount.
The referee warns Stevens that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stevens sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Fitch perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch lands with a punch from half guard.
Stevens is looking for a sweep. Fitch is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fitch tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Fitch drops an elbow to the side of Stevens's head.
Fitch lands strikes from half guard.
Stevens manages to get to full guard.
Fitch working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fitch makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Fitch is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Fitch trying to control but Stevens is working from the bottom.
Stevens controls Fitch momentarily but Fitch frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitch lands a couple of digs.

Fitch got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stevens has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fitch has managed to get both his arms back between Stevens's legs - danger averted.

Stevens throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Fitch postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Fitch postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fitch's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stevens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fitch postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fitch postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Christopher 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight for Christopher Fitch!
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight for Christopher Fitch!
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight for Christopher Fitch!

Christopher Fitch wins by unanimous decision!