GSP vs. Jon Fitch in the main event–this fight could be much more competitive than wagering odds are suggesting. Quick look at odds–GSP -420 at BetDSI, meaning he’s been bet up from the -350 that we saw all over the place yesterday. From strictly a value standpoint getting +350 with a fighter of Fitch’s quality is hard to pass up. Fitch has some of the consistently best entrance music in the sport, and tonight he enters to the sounds of an American hero, Johnny Cash, with his great cover of the Soundgarden song “Rusty Cage”. This appeared on his 2nd American Recordings CD that he did with veteran rap and metal producer Rick Rubin. Guarantee that his entrance music will be better than GSP’s…

That was a no brainer…Johnny Cash >>>>>>>> French Canadian hip hop. GSP wearing his blank all black gi–Affliction has been paying some of their UFC guys to not wear any other sponsor logos. Kinda funny since there’s a huge Fleur de lis on the back of his garb which is essentially the Affliction logo turned upside down. Being French Canadian he can get away with it. Boxing great Scott LeDoux is announced as the head of the Minnesota Sports Comission–he also worked with Brock Lesnar on his striking prior to his UFC debut. GSP in great shape as always, and he’ll be warmed up from having to wrestle his way into those disturbingly tight man-panties. He’s also got a big Affliction logo…er…fleur de lis….on his trunks…Fitch hearing boos from the crowd, more of the “you’re fighting the guy we like” type boos as opposed to “we hate you” boos.

Wonder if Dana would like to see GSP lose due his Affliction loyalty??

ROUND ONE:

Fighters touch gloves to start the bout and immediately GSP takes Fitch down like a sack of potatoes. Goldberg note an insane fact–that no one has ever passed guard on Fitch during his UFC career. Fitch has great BJJ which doesn’t get the respect it deserves. He recently earned his BJJ black belt having gone all the way from a while belt, meaning he came as a complete novice and worked his way up. USA chant goes up, which always sounds really dumb when the American is fighting a guy from a place like Canada–its not like he’s a Soviet during the Cold War era. Straight right by GSP rocks Fitch he’s scrambling to get out of trouble. Fitch just trying to survive now and Yves Lavigne watching the action closely. ‘GSP’ chant goes up from the crowd and Fitch pulls a tight guard to survive. GSP doing the “looking up at the big screen to see his opponent’s positioning” thing. Fitch gets back to his feet and he’s getting pounded again. GSP lands a couple of big blows and Fitch goes down again. Fitch pulls full guard and all he gets for the trouble is a face full of French Canadian elbows. GSP in half guard now, and then GSP passes into side control–that was the first time Fitch has had his guard passed in his UFC career. Fitch gamely fighting out, Goldberg makes an awkward comment that “Fitch may make it to the round that is labeled #2″. Just a monstrous performance by GSP. SAVSCI card goes 10-8 for the champion in round 1…

ROUND TWO:

GSP and Fitch back in standup, GSP with an short right, Fitch responds with a good bodyshot. Punch kick combo by GSP. GSP has become such a takedown and wrestling monster that you forget how sharp he is on his feet. GSP just misses with a head kick–Fitch looks to have recovered from his first round beating but he’s still not done anything on offense against the champ. GSP lands a jab and then a low kick. GSP is so quick and graceful its sick. Fitch with a big knee, tries to tie up GSP but he extricates himself. Midway through the 2nd round now, GSP partially connects with a spinning back kick. Combination by GSP, Fitch misses with a big overhand right. Low kick by GSP. GSP slipping his opponent’s punches nicely. Fitch lands a good left hand and is still coming forward. A minute left now, Fitch could steal this round with a flurry to end it. GSP shoots and for the first time in ages it gets blocked. Fitch lands a nice combination and is coming forward now putting together nice combinations. GSP lands a big left and partially connects with a spinning back kick as the horn sounds. We’ll call it 10-9 GSP, but it could have gone the other way…10-9 GSP, he leads 20-17

ROUND THREE:

GSP lands a nasty punch that sends Fitch to the ground. GSP appears to be cut, and he’s trying to keep Fitch close to minimize the ground and pound damage. GSP tries to wriggle close to the cage wall, but in the process he’s taking some shots. Blood on GSP could be from Fitch–GSP finds a little room and quickly extricates himself, and now he’s got a reverse chinlock on Fitch, but the fight quickly moves back to the center of the cage. Low kick by GSP. Fitch has a nasty cut–can’t really see the exact placement but its somewhere around the eye. GSP lands knees and kicks, the ballsy Fitch throws a knee of his own. Fitch looks wobbly now and is a bloody mess. He may not make it to the round that is labeled #4 with 30 seconds left and GSP letting his hands go followed by a takedown. He’ll make it to the 4th now as the horn sounds. GSP’s round–Fitch did some work to keep it from being a 10-8. 30-26 GSP leads..

ROUND FOUR:

Fitch still coming forward though GSP parrying and slipping his punches with ease. Fitch’s cut is beneath the eye, and it now appears that GSP has been cut–apparently one of the punches it looked like he slipped landed. Can’t really see the placement of the cut from this angle. Nice combination by GSP, then snaps the jab. The conventional wisdom in MMA is that committing too much to a boxing style jab leaves a fighter open for kicks to the body as a counter, but GSP is demonstrating what an effective weapon it can be. Pace has slowed somewhat, but GSP still controlling the proceedings with his superior boxing skills. Fitch lands a one-two but doesn’t have much on it. Two minutes left in round four–again, credit to the Target Center crowd. It’s a slower pace now but the fans are just sitting and watching–almost like the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo–with some anticipation but no boos and “boring” chants. Good takedown again by Fitch, who could still this round–or at least he could have until GSP gets on top and in his guard. He’s smushed up against the cage wall so its a tough position and he’ll likely eat some punches in that cut eye during the final 20 seconds. He’s actually doing a nice job protecting himself and may run out the clock without additional damage. Ref Lavigne calling for the doctor to look at Fitch’s eye–it looks bad but assuming the doctor knows what he’s doing he’ll let it continue since its not impacting his vision.

ROUND FIVE:

GSP lands a left hook, Fitch swinging for the fences. Fitch was on the verge of a TKO loss in the first but has shown nothing but toughness and grit since, even though he really hasn’t generated much offense. GSP lands a spinning backfist that rocks Fitch. GSP takes Fitch down with ease. He’s up against the cage wall and in a bad position now–Fitch good fighting off of his back but may be too tired and beaten up to do much here. GSP landing some hard fists from the top. GSP increases the distance and lands a couple of nasty punches. Fitch grabs an arm looking for a submission but doesn’t have the strength left to exploit it and GSP quickly defends. Yves Lavigne yells at the fighters to pick up the pace, to which GSP responds by throwing another pair of big strikes to Fitch’s head. GSP lands another nasty jab and gets another takedown. Fitch exhausted at this point and just surviving off of his guts and ample heart. Announcers talking up a potential BJ Penn/GSP fight–the dominant opinion here at SAVSCI is that GSP would teabag Penn. GSP appears content to ride out a decision, and a dominant one at that. Final 10 seconds run off as GSP puts the exclamation point on a dominant performance. Always classy GSP does the cool Muay Thai thing where he bows to his opponent, and Fitch responds. Yep–here’s some more bad role models for America’s youth–Fitch and GSP sitting almost knee to knee congratulating each other while their respective cut men work on their wounds. Should be a landslide for GSP

50-43
50-44
50-44

GEORGES ST. PIERRE WINS BY UNANIMOUS DECISION

In yet another bad example for America’s (and Canada’s) youth Fitch hugs GSP and hoists him off the ground in celebration. That’s the guy he just *beat* hoisting him in the air–and now GSP apologizes for spitting out a mouthful of water in the cage. BJ Penn enters the cage and he’s hearing more boos than KJ Noons in Stockton–Penn doesn’t do any stupid KJ Noons type stuff but he does the basic challenge stuff. GSP wants to talk some more but the feed goes off the air as they quickly take the mic from him out of fear that he’ll give a shout out to Tom Acencio….