PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Arturo Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Simmons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ward
vs
Simmons

175 cm
19
154 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

167 cm
22
152 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very confident

Smoke'n Herb's Medicinal Supply

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arturo Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Richard Simmons!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Simmons.
Ward looks to throw the jab but Simmons is out of range.
Simmons swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Simmons looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Simmons goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Simmons uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ward.
Ward uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Simmons.
Simmons just misses with a punch to the body.
Simmons throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Simmons uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ward.
Ward throws a hook but Simmons avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward misses the jab.
Ward misses with a hook

and Simmons counters with a shoot takedown. Ward fights it but they end up in guard.
Ward bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Simmons's guard.
Ward pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Simmons is keeping the position for now.
Simmons will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Simmons pulls Ward in close to prevent any damage.
Ward preventing the sweep.
Simmons is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ward pushes down on Simmons's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Ward is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Simmons is just riding it out for now. Ward eventually gives up the hold.
Simmons is looking for a sweep. Ward is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Simmons is pressing down on Ward's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ward wants to control from the top but Simmons keeps moving.
Simmons is trying to control the position but Ward postures up.
Simmons wants to sweep here but Ward controlling him for the moment.
Ward tries to free his leg and advance position but Simmons is retaining full guard.

That's two 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.
Ward trying to control but Simmons is working from the bottom.

Simmons pushes Ward off and gets back to his feet.
Ward tries to bum rush Simmons with a series of wild strikes but Simmons uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ward throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Simmons counters with a takedown into side control.
Ward takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Simmons really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ward. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ward can't do much from the bottom here.
Simmons is looking to take a break and control but Ward is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Simmons lands an elbow.
Simmons scoring with punches from side control.
Ward is working to avoid the ground and pound but Simmons connects with a decent elbow.
Simmons looks up at the clock and then as Ward takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Simmons smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Simmons working the head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simmons creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Ward is trying to get back to half guard.
Simmons cracks Ward with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Simmons is chipping away with strikes.
Simmons scoring with punches and elbows.
Ward tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Simmons working the head with strikes.
Simmons lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ward is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ward is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ward manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Simmons prevents Ward from getting back to his feet.
Ward is breathing heavily.
Simmons trying to control the position from guard on top but Ward is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simmons in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Simmons wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.
Simmons must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ward is on top in guard.
Ward preventing the sweep.
Ward trying to control the position from guard on top but Simmons is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simmons lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ward!
Ward is trying to escape the mount.
Simmons lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Ward wants to control but Simmons is having none of it.
Simmons with good strikes from the mount here!
Ward tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ward regains half guard.
Simmons trying to control the action but Ward is working from the bottom.
Ward wants to improve his position but Simmons is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Simmons dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Simmons misses with a looping left.
Ward throws a hook to the side of Simmons's head but Simmons sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ward throws a right hand that Simmons ducks under and follows up with a left that Simmons also avoids with ease.
Ward misses with a double jab.
Ward looks to land a left hand but Simmons moved out of range nicely.
Simmons takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Richard Simmons is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ward looks to land a right hand but Simmons moved out of range.
Simmons keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ward's corner calls for a 1-2. Ward obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Simmons shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Simmons showed some decent athleticism there.
Simmons seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Simmons scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Simmons passes to full mount!
Simmons working the ground and pound effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons lands with some strikes.
Ward wants to control but Simmons is having none of it.
Ward regains half guard.

Ward looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Simmons prevents Ward from improving his position.
Ward tries to kick Simmons off but Simmons keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Simmons lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Simmons passes the guard and advances to mount!
Richard Simmons has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ward is trying desperately to improve position.
Simmons is landing with some decent strikes but Ward is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simmons tries to control but Ward wriggling away.
Simmons cracks Ward with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Simmons wants to control the pace but Ward is squirming around nicely.
Simmons prevents Ward from getting the reversal.
Ward tries to lock up and control but Simmons gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ward is looking to improve his position but Simmons isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
A nice elbow there by Simmons.
Ward tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Simmons pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Simmons with shots to the head and body - Ward looks very uncomfortable down there.
Ward is desperately trying to improve his position but Simmons has a good base and remains in mount.
Simmons landing strikes from the mount.
Ward is in a horrible position here. Simmons smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Simmons with shots to the head and body - Ward looks very uncomfortable down there.
Simmons landing strikes, looking to finish!
Simmons breaks from Ward's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward can't escape the position.
Ward is working hard here to advance position.
Simmons punishing his opponent with strikes.
Simmons prevents Ward from getting the reversal.
You get the feeling that Ward really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Simmons lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Ward slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ward is looking to escape.
Ward wants to control but Simmons is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ward slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ward lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Simmons!

Ward is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Simmons has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Ward mounts Simmons! Really nice guard pass there!
Simmons slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ward is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Simmons is just riding it out for now. Ward eventually gives up the hold.
Ward frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Simmons has left one of his arms exposed and Ward doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Simmons screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Arturo Ward!