PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Fitzsimmons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Velasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fitzsimmons comes to the cage accompanied by Rule Britannia. Velasquez has chosen Accept's Balls To The Wall as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Fitzsimmons
vs
Velasquez

188 cm
32
211 lbs
23 - 13 - 1

200 cm
41
222 lbs
34 - 23 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Urban Fighter

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 23 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jim Fitzsimmons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Juan Velasquez!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitzsimmons just misses with a punch to the body.
Fitzsimmons takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Jim Fitzsimmons has been cut.
A jab from Fitzsimmons misses.
Fitzsimmons avoids the body shot from Velasquez.
Velasquez throws a lazy head kick
and Fitzsimmons counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Juan Velasquez has been cut.
A head kick by Velasquez misses
and Fitzsimmons counters with a straight right hand.
Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Velasquez clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzsimmons working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right from Velasquez on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Velasquez as the two fighters clinch.
Fitzsimmons has a couple of punches blocked by Velasquez.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Velasquez blocks a body shot from Fitzsimmons.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons cracks Velasquez with a nice body shot.
I was talking to Fitzsimmons's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A head punch on the inside from Velasquez fails to land.
Velasquez throws a punch but it's blocked by Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons lands with a light punch inside.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body punch.
Fitzsimmons blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Velasquez swings wildly with an uppercut but Fitzsimmons uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fitzsimmons lands a shoulder strike.
Fitzsimmons misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fitzsimmons.
Velasquez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Fitzsimmons backwards.
Velasquez throws a head punch that misses.

Fitzsimmons breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fitzsimmons lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Fitzsimmons rushes Velasquez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Velasquez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Velasquez blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez cracks Fitzsimmons with a nice body shot.
Velasquez lands a body shot in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A left hand lands to the body for Velasquez.
Fitzsimmons is breathing heavily.
Velasquez working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Velasquez scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Velasquez fails to land.
Velasquez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Velasquez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A head punch on the inside from Velasquez fails to land.
Fitzsimmons takes a shot to the head.
Velasquez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Velasquez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fitzsimmons blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fitzsimmons misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Velasquez pushes Fitzsimmons back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Velasquez lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Velasquez fails to land.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body punch.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fitzsimmons.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Fitzsimmons.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fitzsimmons.

Fitzsimmons escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Velasquez drives through and clinches with Fitzsimmons against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fitzsimmons.
Velasquez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Velasquez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Fitzsimmons tries a body shot but Velasquez blocks it.
Velasquez misses with a short punch on the inside.

Fitzsimmons breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Velasquez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Velasquez.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Velasquez.
Fitzsimmons working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velasquez tries a body shot but Fitzsimmons blocks it.
Velasquez throws a punch but it's blocked by Fitzsimmons.
Velasquez misses with some punches.
Fitzsimmons is leaning against Velasquez and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Fitzsimmons tries a body shot but Velasquez blocks it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Velasquez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Velasquez swings wildly with an uppercut but Fitzsimmons uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Velasquezs head.
Still in the clinch, Fitzsimmons scores with a nice short uppercut.
Velasquez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A nice right hand lands inside from Fitzsimmons.
Velasquez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fitzsimmons doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fitzsimmons misses with an elbow strike.
Nice body punch from Velasquez.
Velasquez blocking some punches.
A right hook to the body lands for Fitzsimmons.
Velasquez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Velasquez dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A punch combination from Velasquez misses.
Velasquez throws a right hand that Fitzsimmons ducks under and follows up with a left that Fitzsimmons also avoids with ease.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Velasquez in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Fitzsimmons misses with an attempted mid kick.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body shot.
Velasquez throws a head kick but Fitzsimmons moves out of range.
Velasquez scores with a jab to the body.
Velasquez moves out of range as Fitzsimmons strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Velasquez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Velasquez lands an overhand right.
Velasquez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fitzsimmons moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Juan Velasquez seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Velasquez.
Fitzsimmons half committed to a counter leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Velasquez.
Velasquez throws a sloppy head kick
and Fitzsimmons counters with a thumping low kick.
Velasquez ducks under a wild hook from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons throws a low kick, looking for Velasquez's leg but Velasquez calmly moves out of range.
Velasquez unleashes a big counter combination but Fitzsimmons bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Fitzsimmons tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Velasquez was well out of range. Poor timing from Fitzsimmons.

Fitzsimmons closes the distance and clinches.
Fitzsimmons misses with a hook to the ribs.

Velasquez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fitzsimmons looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Velasquez goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons throws a solid leg kick but Velasquez takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Fitzsimmons.
Velasquez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Velasquez lands with a hook. Fitzsimmons tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Velasquez tries a head kick but it misses.
Velasquez blocks the body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fitzsimmons tries to land a front kick but Velasquez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Velasquez moves into the clinch.
Velasquez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Juan Velasquez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Velasquez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Velasquez blocks an uppercut.
Fitzsimmons tries a body shot but Velasquez blocks it.
Velasquez misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons working aggressively here.
Fitzsimmons throws a punch but it's blocked by Velasquez.
Fitzsimmons scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Velasquez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Velasquez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fitzsimmons's elbow.
Fitzsimmons works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Velasquez looking to stall.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Velasquez.
Velasquez avoids the elbow strike from Fitzsimmons, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Velasquez fails to land.
Velasquez swings wildly with an uppercut but Fitzsimmons uses good head movement to avoid it.

Velasquez breaks the clinch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Velasquez.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fitzsimmons. Velasquez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Velasquez scores with a push kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Velasquez looks to land a combination but Fitzsimmons avoids it well.
Velasquez throws a sloppy head kick
and Fitzsimmons counters with a solid body kick.
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!
Velasquez takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Fitzsimmons pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Velasquez misses with the combination.
Velasquez throws a hook but Fitzsimmons avoids it easily.
Velasquez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fitzsimmons.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Velasquez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Fitzsimmons's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Fitzsimmons is looking to score with low kicks.
Velasquez throws a series of punches but Fitzsimmons moves out of range.
Fitzsimmons attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Juan Velasquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Velasquez clinches up with Fitzsimmons and pushes him back against the cage.
Fitzsimmons lands with a left to the head.
Velasquez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Velasquez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Velasquez managing to block the knees to the body from Fitzsimmons.
Velasquez misses with a punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hand to the body from Fitzsimmons.
Velasquez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Velasquez backwards.
Fitzsimmons blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Fitzsimmons goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Velasquez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velasquez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fitzsimmons lands an uppercut.

Velasquez is rocked!
Fitzsimmons dips a shoulder and cracks Velasquez with a mighty uppercut! Velasquez falls back against the cage and Fitzsimmons unloads with a barrage of strikes! Velasquez is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Fitzsimmons screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:17 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jim Fitzsimmons!
Jim Fitzsimmons took some time post fight to say the following; 'A jolly good scrap, old chum! I say, will you join me for a spot of gin and tonic?'.