PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between William Sims (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Foe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sims
vs
Foe

159 cm
25
143 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

160 cm
31
148 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, William Sims!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Foe!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Eliza Hachem and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Foe throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sims tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Foe is in Sims's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sims controls Foe momentarily but Foe frees himself.
Foe is in close to Sims's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sims controls Foe momentarily but Foe frees himself.
Foe pushes down on Sims's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Foe is looking to take a break and control but Sims is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sims avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Foe.
Sims blocking the ground and pound attempt from Foe.
Sims wants to control but Foe is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Foe tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sims knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sims wants to control but Foe is keeping busy.
Sims is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foe seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Foe trying to pass the guard but Sims defending well.
Foe is thwarting Sims's attempts to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Sims moves into the clinch.
Sims looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sims is looking to control Foe's arms but Foe gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sims has his back to the cage.
Foe tries to work over Sims's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Foe is struggling to control the position.
Sims wants to break free but Foe has control.
Sims has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Sims manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sims working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Foe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Foe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sims striking off his back but it's not causing Foe any problems.
Foe wants to get up but he can't break Sims's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Sims looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Foe preventing the sweep.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sims keeping moving, preventing Foe from controlling successfully.
Foe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sims is keeping the position for now.
Foe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Foe landing with the ground and pound.
Foe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Foe trying to control but Sims is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sims escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Foe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Foe trying to control the position from guard on top but Sims is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Foe's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sims tries to strike from the bottom.

Foe drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Foe jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Sims had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Foe defends it easily.

Sims is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Foe pushes down on Sims's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foe wants to control but Sims is keeping him busy.
Sims moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Sims throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Sims trying to keep a closed guard but Foe is proving a slippery customer.
Foe postures up in Sims's guard and throws a big left but Sims blocks it.
Foe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Foe throws a big elbow that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sims trying to keep a closed guard but Foe is proving a slippery customer.

Foe got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sims has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Foe has managed to get both his arms back between Sims's legs - danger averted.

Foe decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Foe dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sims throws a nice looking combination but Foe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sims tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Foe was well out of range. Poor timing from Sims.

Foe clinches with his opponent.
Sims wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sims is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Foe gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Foe tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sims avoids it.

Foe pulls guard successfully.
Sims trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Foe is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sims defends well.
Foe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sims accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Foe looking to control.
Sims working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Foe throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sims works over Foe with some ground and pound from guard.
Sims has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sims distracts Foe with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Foe looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sims trying to control but Foe is working from the bottom.
Sims throwing strikes from guard but Foe blocks nicely.
Sims stopping the sweep attempt from Foe.
Sims looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sims postures up in Foe's guard and throws a big left but Foe blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Foe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sims gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Foe tries to strike from the bottom.

Foe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sims landing some decent shots from guard.

Foe has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sims can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Foe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sims throws a strike but Foe rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Foe pushes down on Sims's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foe throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Foe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sims makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sims.
Foe would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Foe stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Sims thows a body shot but no joy.
William Sims is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Foe bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Foe tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Foe is putting a hurting on Sims here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sims wants to control but Foe postures up.
Joe Foe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Foe wants to control but Sims is keeping him busy.
Foe lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sims manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Foe is just content to waste time from the top position. Sims takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Foe scoring with some ground and pound.
Foe trying to control but Sims is working from the bottom.
Sims trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Sims looking to hit a scissor sweep but Foe is one step ahead there.
Sims wants to control the position but Foe says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Foe content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Foe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sims tries to clinch but Foe is having none of it.
Sims throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Foe sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Foe instigates a clinch.
Sims looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Foe avoiding damage as Sims throws knees to the body.
Foe scores with a nice hook to the head.

Foe pulls guard effortlessly.
Foe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Foe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sims makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Foe controls Sims momentarily but Sims frees himself.
Foe wants to sweep but no luck.
Sims throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sims trying to control but Foe is working from the bottom.
Sims tries to free his leg and advance position but Foe is retaining full guard.
Foe is trying to keep Sims in close.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Foe looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sims throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sims with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sims working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sims trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sims trying to control the position from guard on top but Foe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Foe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Foe wants to stand and escape but Sims is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sims postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sims scoring with some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sims throws a big right hand that misses.

Foe throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sims chips away with some ground and pound.
Sims postures up.
Foe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sims.

Foe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Foe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Foe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sims gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sims postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foe throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Sims trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sims postures up and lands a big shot to Foe's brow.
Sims trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sims is working Foe over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sims working some strikes from top position.
Sims chips away with some ground and pound.
Sims won't allow Foe to sweep him here.
Foe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sims scoring with punches to the head and body.
Foe trying to keep a closed guard but Sims is proving a slippery customer.
Sims postures up and lands a big shot to Foe's brow.
Sims working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sims throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foe is pulling down on Sims's head. It's preventing any offense from Sims, at least for the moment.
Sims won't allow Foe to sweep him here.
Sims scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Foe holds on and takes a little breather.
Sims working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Foe's head.
Sims loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Foe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sims is one step ahead there.
Foe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Joe Foe is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sims lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
William Sims has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sims loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
William Sims showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Foe has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Foe!