PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between BJ North (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Sims (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). BJ North looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

North
vs
Sims

190 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
190 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, BJ North!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Sims!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Joseph Jones and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sims displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from North.

Sims bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Sims is trying to get an arm triangle but North is defending well.

Sims tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sims has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Sims looks gassed!
North dodges the ground and pound from Sims.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sims is looking to take a break and control but North is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Sims working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Sims wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by North, who protects the arm well.
North can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
North manages to get back to half guard.
North flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
North is looking to clinch but Sims is avoiding it.
North is looking to clinch.

Sims closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
North can't do much from the bottom here.

Sims swings around for an armbar but North sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Sims's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sims is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
North advances position into side control!
Sims is trying to escape the position but North is controlling the position.

North is trying to get an arm triangle but Sims is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sims can't do much from the bottom here.
North in side control, throwing shots but Sims defends.
Sims tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but North wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
North lands some shots froms side control.
Sims is not content to let North control the position.
Sims avoids any damage from the ground and pound of North.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josh Sims will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

No luck for North with that takedown attempt.

North gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sims accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sims trying to control the position from guard on top but North is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as North holds on and takes a little breather.

Sims has gone for a leg lock! North slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sims's guard.
North passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sims moves into full guard.
North throws a big right hand that misses.
North trying to control the position from guard on top but Sims is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sims pulls North in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
North trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sims is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Sims working for a triangle but North defends it easily.
Sims working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

North drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sims looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sims looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sims!
North is trying to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sims tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sims has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Sims wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by North, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Sims showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

North circles away from the clinch attempt

and North counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sims's guard now.

Sims has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes North off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

North closes the distance and pushes Sims back into the cage.
North wants a takedown but no success here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
North drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Sims gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
North is trying to stand back up but Sims is controlling him

Sims is working for a kimura but North is defending it quite comfortably.
North is looking to improve his position.
Sims is thwarting North's attempts to control the position.
Sims wants to take a breather but North is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
North manages to get to full guard.

North is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sims trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sims tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but North paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Josh Sims is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sims throws a big shot that misses.
North fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sims misses with a takedown
and North cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sims avoids the body shot from North.
Sims on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by North. North obviously looking to wear him down.
Sims tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and North counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
BJ North is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sims throws a quick inside leg kick.
BJ North has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
North stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and North wants it to stay on the feet.
North shoots in but Sims avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ North. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sims closes the distance and clinches.

North gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sims slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Sims has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but North can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
BJ North showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sims has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Sims!