Welterweight: Luigi Fioravanti (171 lbs) vs. Jon Fitch (171 lbs)
The UFC has event production down to a science. The audio and video on the six projection screens is crisp. I'm very impressed with the level of enthusiasm of the fans here and these are just the undercard matches.
The fans are clearly in the corner of Purdue grad Jon Fitch in this one. Fitch appears to control the first round, taking Fioravanti to the ground before Fioravanti patiently gets the fight back on its feet. I give the first round to Fitch.
In the second round, Fitch executes a Matt Hughes-esque slam that draws cheers from the fans and finishes off the fight with a rear naked choke that has Fioravanti tapping out at 3:05.
Official result: Fitch wins by tap out due to rear naked choke at 3:05 of 2nd round
In his post-match interview with Joe Rogan, Fitch says he wants to fight Karo Parisyan next.
Cool ringside fact: The press is given the judges' scorecards for the earlier two fights during this fight. Nothing special. The scorecards are blank forms with the judges' handwriting on them, scoring each round and signed by each judge at the bottom.






Kevin Richardson has been a fan of mixed martial arts competition ever since UFC 3, when 600-pound sumo wrestler Emmanuel Yarborough was beaten by Keith Hackney. Kevin will cover the world of MMA — in Baltimore, nationally and internationally. He plans to take readers into the locker rooms and MMA schools, where they'll hear from local fighters and trainers. If you have a news tip or suggestions for the blog, please 