PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Menelik Simmons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janusz Gawrolek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Simmons
vs
Gawrolek

188 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
18
179 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Polskie Odżywki/ Polish Nutrition [PL]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Menelik Simmons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Janusz Gawrolek!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simmons throws a right hand that Gawrolek ducks under and follows up with a left that Gawrolek also avoids with ease.
Simmons throws a low kick but Gawrolek avoids it.
Simmons misses with a low kick.
Simmons tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gawrolek swivels and escapes.
Simmons buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gawrolek shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Simmons sprawls well. Simmons wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gawrolek gets slowly back to his feet.
Simmons closes the distance and clinches up with Gawrolek, looking for a takedown. Simmons pushes Gawrolek against the cage but Gawrolek circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A swing and a miss from Simmons.
Gawrolek shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Simmons as he jumps to the side.
Menelik Simmons seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Simmons. Gawrolek shrugs it off though.

Gawrolek closes the distance and pushes Simmons back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Gawrolek jumps guard.
Simmons trying to control the position from guard on top but Gawrolek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simmons is breathing heavily.
Simmons trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Simmons being controlled here momentarily.
Gawrolek wants to sweep but no luck.
Gawrolek really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Simmons. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gawrolek looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Janusz Gawrolek wasn't active enough on the ground.

Simmons has managed to clinch.
Simmons is trying to break the clinch but Gawrolek has him pressed against the cage.

Gawrolek has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Simmons regains guard immediately.
Gawrolek must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Gawrolek has gone for a leg lock! Simmons slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gawrolek's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Simmons wants to control from the top but Gawrolek keeps moving.
Gawrolek working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Simmons.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gawrolek keeping full guard, as Simmons tries to pass.
Simmons throws a big right hand that misses.
Gawrolek keeping moving, preventing Simmons from controlling successfully.
Simmons throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gawrolek works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Simmons won't allow Gawrolek to sweep him here.
Simmons looking to pass the guard.
Gawrolek has control of Simmons's left arm, preventing Simmons from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Janusz Gawrolek has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gawrolek on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Gawrolek drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Gawrolek wants to stand but Simmons has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gawrolek scoring with some ground and pound.

Gawrolek avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Simmons escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gawrolek gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Gawrolek's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Janusz Gawrolek will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Simmons wants to clinch.

Simmons shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Simmons showed some decent athleticism there.
Gawrolek blocking the ground and pound attempt from Simmons.
Gawrolek is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gawrolek is concentrating on defense, preventing Simmons from advancing position.

Simmons is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gawrolek wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gawrolek wants to get back to full guard.
Gawrolek is controlling Simmons's trapped leg to prevent Simmons from advancing to side control.
Simmons tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gawrolek knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Simmons is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Gawrolek reverses the position - he's now on top in Simmons's guard.
Gawrolek won't allow Simmons to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gawrolek stands up from Simmons's guard - Gawrolek perhaps looking for a knockout.
Simmons misses with a wild combination.
Gawrolek blocks a jab.
Simmons fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gawrolek is out of range.
Simmons wants to slow Gawrolek down by chopping away at his legs.

Simmons tries to keep at a distance but Gawrolek has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gawrolek scores with a shot to the side of Simmons's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gawrolek is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Simmons can't fight it off and eventually Gawrolek manages to take the fight to the floor. Simmons looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

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

Gawrolek stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Gawrolek changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Simmons looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gawrolek is chipping away with strikes.
Gawrolek lands some shots froms side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gawrolek cracks Simmons with a big elbow.
Simmons is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gawrolek is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Simmons has escaped the position, nice work there.
Simmons wants to control but Gawrolek postures up.
Simmons tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Simmons struggling a bit here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Simmons is looking for a sweep.
Gawrolek grinds an elbow into Simmons's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janusz Gawrolek showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Gawrolek shoots in looking for a takedown. Simmons tries to sprawl out of it but Gawrolek keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Simmons manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A slapping body kick lands there for Simmons.
Gawrolek blocks a head kick by Simmons.
Simmons misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Gawrolek closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gawrolek connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Simmons some visible discomfort.

Gawrolek thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Simmons's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons tries to bench press Gawrolek off him but Gawrolek keeps the position.

Gawrolek thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Simmons on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Gawrolek working the ground and pound.
Simmons tries to improve position but can't.
Gawrolek landing strikes.
Gawrolek working the ground and pound.
Simmons tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Simmons can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simmons is looking for a sweep.

Gawrolek wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Simmons, who protects the arm well.
Gawrolek grinds an elbow into Simmons's temple.
Simmons manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Simmons is looking for submissions but instead, Gawrolek has regained full guard.
Simmons tries to free his leg and advance position but Gawrolek is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simmons won't allow Gawrolek to get back to his feet.
Simmons with a flurry of punches that miss.
Simmons throwing strikes from guard but Gawrolek blocks nicely.
Simmons stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gawrolek swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gawrolek pulls Simmons in close to prevent any damage.
Gawrolek keeping moving, preventing Simmons from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gawrolek kicks Simmons off and gets to his feet.
Gawrolek swats away the attempt to clinch by Simmons.
Simmons pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gawrolek shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Simmons as he jumps to the side.
Janusz Gawrolek is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A solid leg kick lands there for Simmons.
Menelik Simmons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Gawrolek changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Simmons looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

And that's the end of the fight!
Janusz Gawrolek comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gawrolek winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Janusz Gawrolek!
An out of breath Janusz Gawrolek thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.