Thread: Jon Fitch vs. Paulo Thiago **Spoiler**

JON FITCH (22-3) VS. PAULO THIAGO (11-0)

Round 1: The energy has been sapped for this fight. We're underway, and Fitch works kicks high and low. He then scores a takedown and puts Thiago on his back. Thiago clamps on a guillotine choke, but Fitch continues working shots to the body. Thiago re-tightens it and tries to get to his feet with the submission. Fitch won't let him, but he's still trapped. Thiago remains pateient, as does Fitch. Thiago clamps on a second arm and tightens the hold. Fitch squirms with a sense of urgency and torques to create some breathing room. Three minutes in, and Fitch finally pops out of the submission. Fitch unloads punches and then forces the fight back to the mat when Thiago tries to get back to his feet. Fitch works from half guard and looks to pass to mount. Thiago rolls to his knees and gets to his feet, but Fitch keeps him in a hunched-over position while securing an arm and delivering elbows to the side of the head. Thiago gets to his feet briefly, but Fitch sticks on him like glue. It's a close round and hard to score, but MMAjunkie.com has it 10-9 for Thiago, though Fitch may have convinced the judges otherwise in the final minute.

Round 2: Thiago blocks a head kick, but Fitch clinches and eventually trips him to the mat. Fitch lands in sidemount but has little room to maneuver against the cage. Thiago again slaps on a guillotine from his back, but he doesn't have the grip or position he needs. Thiago tries to work his way free, but Fitch takes his back and tries to sink in his hooks from the standing position. Thiago breaks free and now puts Fitch against the cage. Fitch, though, scores another takedown and takes top position. As Thiago rolls for better position, Fitch takes his back and again tries to lock in his hooks. Fitch secures them and works for the rear-naked choke, though he's a little too high initially. Thiago tries to back out of the hold as Fitch works short punches to the body. Fitch then tries to readjust as Thiago tries to escape from the position. Thiago gets to a kneeling position, but Fitch remains on his back as the round closes. MMAjunkie.com scores it 10-9 for Fitch.

Round 3: Fitch with a few inside leg kicks and then one to the body. He charges in with a combination and then scoops of Thiago and takes him to the mat. Fitch works his way to Thiago's back again. (The crowd, though still here, is absolutely dead.) Fitch hops into the mount position to garner seven cheers, and Thiago then rolls to his knees, which again gives Fitch his back from the standing position. Thiago slams backward onto Fitch's body, but the former Purdue wrestler doesn't break the hold. However, after a little scramble, Fitch nearly goes into the north-south position with a choke. Instead, he ends up on his back with Fitch standing over him. Thiago rolls to his knees and is tagged with punches to the side of the head. Fitch takes his back and locks in his hooks again, and it's so quiet you can hear the fighters talking. Fitch secures a body lock and flattens out Thiago and locks in a rear-naked choke. Thiago defends and then rolls into the cage hoping to cut away Fitch's room to maneuver. Thiago survives the round, which MMAjunkie.com gives to Fitch, 10-9.

Jon Fitch def. Paulo Thiago via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).

Solid performance by Fitch, the dude is unchokable. I think he's one win away from another title shot.