PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vevrin Betlach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Simons III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Betlach comes to the cage accompanied by Higher Ground. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that John Simons III was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Betlach
vs
Simons III

176 cm
29
145 lbs
23 - 10 - 0

172 cm
32
143 lbs
24 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Granite chin

Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q
Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q

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 23 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vevrin Betlach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Simons III!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simons III fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
John Simons III seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Simons III shoots in and drives through. Betlach sprawls well.
Betlach misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Simons III.
Simons III misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Simons III wants to clinch.
Simons III wants to clinch up but Betlach keeps it at a distance.
Betlach feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Simons III's calf.
Betlach lets loose with a powerful body kick. Simons III will feel that in the morning.
Betlach connects with an inside leg kick.
Betlach lands with a slapping head kick.
Betlach works Simons III's body with a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simons III misses with a wild body shot.
Simons III shoots and misses
and Betlach counters with a low kick, right behind Simons III 's knee.
Vevrin Betlach has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Simons III.
Simons III shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Betlach but Betlach pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Betlach lands a nice looking body kick.
Simons III on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Betlach swinging wildly here.
Betlach takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Simons III walks into a straight right hand from Betlach.
Betlach throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simons III looks to score with a jab to the body but Betlach is just out of range.
Simons III misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Betlach swats away the attempt to clinch by Simons III.
Vevrin Betlach is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Betlach moves into range and connects with a jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Betlach rushes Simons III and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Betlach.
Simons III tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Simons III pushes off an throws an elbow but Betlach leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Simons III takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Simons III tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Betlach just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simons III is trying to pull guard but Betlach turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Betlach.
Simons III blocks an elbow strike from Betlach.
Simons III tries to pull guard but Betlach forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Betlach tries a body shot but Simons III blocks it.
The referee calls for Betlach to work.
Betlach is pressed up against the cage. Simons III has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Betlach down to the mat. Betlach avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Betlach fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Betlach throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Betlach cracks Simons III with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Betlach fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Simons III closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Betlach looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Simons III is trying desperately to land a takedown but Betlach is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Simons III.
Simons III has Betlach pushed against the cage.
Simons III misses with an elbow over the top.
Simons III trying to land knees to the body.
Simons III jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Betlach walks away with a smile on his face. Simons III gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A head kick misses from Simons III.
Donk. Betlach catches Simons III right on the button with a cross.
Simons III scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Simons III darts in trying to clinch
enabling Betlach to counter with a crisp jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick by Simons III misses

and Betlach counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vevrin Betlach 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.

Simons III misses with a head kick.
Simons III fails with an attempt to clinch.
Betlach avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Betlach connects with a solid leg kick.
Betlach pivots, looking for a leg kick but Simons III is out of range and Betlach settles back down.
Betlach throws a hook but Simons III blocks it.
Simons III wants to clinch up but Betlach keeps it at a distance.
Betlach connects with a high kick.
Betlach displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Simons III.
Simons III gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

It looks like John Simons III has been cut.

Simons III closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Betlach tries a body shot but Simons III blocks it.
Simons III jumps guard but Betlach turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Betlach blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Simons III is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Betlach to keep the fight standing.
Vevrin Betlach has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Simons III.
Betlach makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Simons III's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Betlach.
Simons III throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Simons III is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Betlach to keep the fight standing.
Simons III throws an elbow that misses.
Simons III is trying to pull guard but Betlach turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Betlach prevents the takedown attempt.
Betlach leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simons III is trying to pull guard but Betlach has him pressed against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Betlach - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Simons III takes an elbow to the forehead.
Simons III looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Betlach lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Simons III backwards.
Simons III looking to throw knees to the head but Betlach is blocking nicely.
Betlach missing with knees to the body.
Simons III throws a punch but it's blocked by Betlach.
Betlach lands a right hand.
Betlach blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Simons III is trying to pull guard but Betlach turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Simons III fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Betlach displaying some good clinch control by pressing Simons III up against the cage.
Simons III jumps guard but Betlach stands there with Simons III around his waist. Simons III gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Simons III is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Betlach to keep the fight standing.
Betlach lands a nice uppercut.
Simons III tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Simons III jumps guard but Betlach stands there with Simons III around his waist. Simons III gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Betlach lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Betlach lands a damaging elbow.
Simons III tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Betlach just stands there and leans against the cage.
Betlach digs a right hand into Simons III's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Simons III's gas tank.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Betlach prevents a takedown attempt there.
Simons III is breathing heavily.
Betlach unloads a knee to the mid-section. Simons III lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Simons III tries to pull guard but Betlach holds him up against the cage and eventually Simons III drops back down to his feet.
Betlach makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Betlach lands a damaging elbow.
Simons III tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Simons III jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Betlach walks away with a smile on his face. Simons III gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Simons III fails to land with a series of punches.
Simons III on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Betlach scores with a nice head shot.
Betlach fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Simons III throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vevrin Betlach dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Simons III's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Betlach looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Simons III tries to clinch but Betlach moves out of range.
John Simons III is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Betlach lands with a nice body kick.
Betlach lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Betlach scores with a jab to the head.
Betlach scores with a push kick.
Simons III tries to clinch up but Betlach circles away and keeps his distance.
Betlach stuffs the takedown.
Betlach lands with a thumping leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Betlach lands with a kick to the ribs.
Simons III takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Betlach lands a nice leg kick that just misses Simons III's sensitive parts.
Vevrin Betlach is winning the standup battle so far.
Betlach feints and then cracks Simons III's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Simons III down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simons III swats away the attempt to clinch by Betlach.
Betlach lands a glancing blow to the side of Simons III's head.
Simons III is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Simons III throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Betlach counters with a body kick that stops Simons III in his tracks momentarily.
Betlach throws a head kick but Simons III moves out of range.
Betlach feints and then cracks Simons III's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Simons III down.
Betlach lands a jab to Simons III's midsection.
Betlach throws a sloppy head kick and Simons III moves out of range easily.
Simons III stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Betlach.
Nice takedown defense from Betlach. No joy for Simons III on that attempt.
Simons III has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Betlach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Betlach throws a head kick but Simons III moves out of range.
Simons III tries to clinch but Betlach moves out of range.
Betlach with a nice cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Betlach dips to his left and cracks Simons III with an uppercut!
Betlach lets loose with a powerful body kick. Simons III will feel that in the morning.
Simons III avoids the head kick by Betlach.
Simons III throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Betlach swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Simons III.
A jab from Betlach does it's job there.
Simons III takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Simons III fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vevrin Betlach has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Simons III.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simons III looks to land a combination but Betlach avoids it well.
Betlach sizes up Simons III with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Simons III is rocked!

That has opened up John Simons III's cut even more.
Betlach lands a big head kick that sends Simons III to the canvas! Betlach follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vevrin Betlach!
A victorious Vevrin Betlach thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.