PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rey Mesterio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bronek Simson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mesterio comes to the ring accompanied by Be A Warrior. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mesterio
vs
Simson

175 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
24
175 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rey Mesterio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bronek Simson!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yuuki Gou and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mesterio.
Simson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Simson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Mesterio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Simson throws a head kick but Mesterio moves out of range.
Mesterio stuffs the takedown.
Mesterio doesn't manage to clinch there - Simson circles away.
Mesterio stuns Simson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Simson tries to clinch but Mesterio is having none of it.
Simson tries to clinch there but Mesterio circles away.
Simson blocks a jab.
Mesterio tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice sprawl there from Mesterio as Simson shoots in.
Simson looks to throw the jab but Mesterio is out of range.
Simson fails to land the takedown.
Rey Mesterio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bronek Simson.
Simson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simson moves in looking to clinch but Mesterio pushes him off.
Mesterio shoots in but no luck this time.
Mesterio lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Bronek Simson has been cut.

Mesterio shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mesterio landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Simson controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Simson wants to get back to his feet.
Simson is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mesterio seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Simson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Simson tries to get to full guard but Mesterio has control of the leg.
Mesterio thows a huge punch but Simson dodges it nicely.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Simson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mesterio stops Simson from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesterio frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Mesterio wants to control but instead Simson manages to regain half guard.
Simson wants to control but Mesterio is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Simson tries to kick Mesterio off but Mesterio keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Simson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mesterio is working away from the top position though.

Mesterio wants to work for an arm triangle but Simson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mesterio stops Simson from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simson is looking to improve his position.
Simson trying to control here.
Mesterio working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Simson trying to control from the bottom.
Simson is looking to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Simson keeping hold of Mesterio's head, controlling as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rey Mesterio will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bronek Simson'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.

Simson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Simson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mesterio circles away.
Simson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Simson tries to clinch there but Mesterio circles away.
Mesterio shoots in but no luck this time.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mesterio is defended easily by Simson.

Simson rushes Mesterio and presses him up against the ropes.
Mesterio wants to take the fight to the mat but Simson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rey Mesterio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mesterio tries to score a body lock takedown but Simson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mesterio is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Simson is defending well.
Simson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Mesterio to keep the fight standing.
Mesterio is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mesterio as Simson tries to tie him up.
Simson can't find room to land a body shot as Mesterio controls the action.
Simson leaning his opponent against the ropes.

Mesterio manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simson shoots for a takedown but Mesterio saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Simson is defended easily by Mesterio.
Simson tries to land a front kick but Mesterio steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rey Mesterio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice combination there by Simson.
Mesterio circles away from the clinch attempt.
Simson fails with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Simson is defended easily by Mesterio.
Mesterio is trying hard to land a takedown here. Simson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simson throws a sloppy head kick

and Mesterio counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Simson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mesterio defends well.
Mesterio preventing the sweep.
Mesterio trying to control but Simson is working from the bottom.

Simson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mesterio is aware though and is defending well.
Mesterio controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Simson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mesterio is one step ahead there.
Simson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simson keeping moving, preventing Mesterio from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rey Mesterio.
Mesterio tries to clinch up.
Simson tries to clinch up but Mesterio circles away and keeps his distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Simson closes the distance and pushes Mesterio back into the ropes.
Simson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Simson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mesterio is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Simson to the mat. Simson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Simson has his foot on Mesterio's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mesterio works his way back into a safe position though.
Mesterio is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rey Mesterio will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bronek Simson's cut.
That's time! Mesterio's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Mesterio or perhaps it was just good defense by Simson which made him look bad.

Simson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Simson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Mesterio!
Mesterio regains half guard.
Simson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Mesterio!
Mesterio tries to hold on but Simson postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Simson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Simson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Simson prevents Mesterio from getting the reversal.
Bronek Simson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mesterio is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Simson tries to control but Mesterio wriggling away.
Simson with good strikes from the mount here!
Simson lands a big shot there that rocks Mesterio but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mesterio keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mesterio is squirming around, avoiding Simson's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simson goes for an armbar but Mesterio turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Mesterio.

Simson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Simson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Mesterio wants to control from the top but Simson keeps moving.

Simson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bronek Simson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simson trying to control the position.

Simson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Simson is trying to control the position but Mesterio postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Simson tries to strike from the bottom.
Rey Mesterio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mesterio controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bronek Simson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mesterio has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rey Mesterio!
Rey Mesterio thanked the fans post fight for their support.