PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Simons III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donald Kerabatsos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Simons III has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Simons III
vs
Kerabatsos

172 cm
35
143 lbs
28 - 19 - 2

170 cm
27
147 lbs
15 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 28 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Simons III!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Donald Kerabatsos!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Daniel Cesar and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kerabatsos with a jab.
Kerabatsos buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Simons III takes one on the button.
Kerabatsos swings for the body but Simons III moves out of range.
Kerabatsos lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Simons III circles away quickly and effectively.
Kerabatsos pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Good leg kick by Kerabatsos there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Simons III looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kerabatsos is fending him off so far but Simons III persists. Nope, Kerabatsos circles away and we're back to standing.
Kerabatsos throws a body punch but Simons III moves out of range.
Simons III misses with a takedown attempt - Kerabatsos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Simons III tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kerabatsos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kerabatsos scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kerabatsos cracks the inside of Simons III's front leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simons III thows a body shot but no joy.
Kerabatsos misses the jab.
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.
Kerabatsos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Simons III manages to avoid it.

Kerabatsos gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Simons III to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Simons III drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kerabatsos manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Simons III has Kerabatsos in his guard.
Simons III wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Simons III has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kerabatsos is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Simons III.
Simons III is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerabatsos is staying tight to Simons III's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Simons III is trying to get back to half guard.
Simons III is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Simons III is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kerabatsos pulls his head out easily.

Simons III actively working from the bottom here.
Simons III is pressing down on Kerabatsos's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Simons III looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kerabatsos passes into side control.
Simons III sneaks back into half guard.

Simons III looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Simons III actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Simons III trying to get back to full guard but Kerabatsos takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
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 John Simons III will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kerabatsos ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Simons III moves away.
Kerabatsos with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Simons III fails to land the takedown.
Simons III changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kerabatsos tries to avoid it but Simons III manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kerabatsos to the ground. Kerabatsos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kerabatsos throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kerabatsos with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Simons III shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Simons III. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kerabatsos misses with a jab to the body

and Simons III counters with a single leg into guard. Kerabatsos didn't expect that.
Kerabatsos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
John Simons III overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Simons III looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simons III sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kerabatsos's guard.

Simons III is looking for a kimura here.

Simons III is working for a kimura but Kerabatsos is defending it quite comfortably.

Simons III is trying to work for a kimura but Kerabatsos is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Simons III seems to be looking for submissions.
Kerabatsos tries to roll over but Simons III keeps him under control.

Simons III wants to work for an arm triangle but Kerabatsos is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Simons III is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kerabatsos is just riding it out for now. Simons III eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simons III throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Simons III is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Simons III wants to control from the top but Kerabatsos keeps moving.
Simons III is really struggling to control Kerabatsos but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerabatsos manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kerabatsos controlling the position easily from mount.
Simons III tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Simons III is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Simons III dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Kerabatsos misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Simons III.
Simons III doesn't manage to clinch there - Kerabatsos circles away.
Kerabatsos scores with a jab to the head.
Simons III blocks a head kick by Kerabatsos.
Kerabatsos swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kerabatsos throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Simons III shoots in but Kerabatsos avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kerabatsos. That's going to slow Simons III down.
Kerabatsos throws a low kick, looking for Simons III's leg but Simons III calmly moves out of range.
That kick from Kerabatsos tenderised Simons III's leg. Simons III is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kerabatsos's jab looks to have found its range, popping Simons III under the eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simons III gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kerabatsos counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Simons III has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Simons III. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kerabatsos tries to work over Simons III's front leg with a kick but Simons III checks it.
Simons III stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kerabatsos.
Simons III throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kerabatsos's waist but Kerabatsos gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Simons III off to one side.
Simons III tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kerabatsos is looking to slow Simons III down with leg kicks.
Kerabatsos scores with a leg kick.
Kerabatsos dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Simons III moves out of range of the body kick.
Donald Kerabatsos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerabatsos with a hook.
Donald Kerabatsos seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Simons III uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kerabatsos.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Simons III is defended easily by Kerabatsos.
Simons III is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Simons III shoots and misses
and Kerabatsos counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kerabatsos throws a leg kick but Simons III sees it coming and moves out of range.
Simons III avoids a kick to the body.
Kerabatsos checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kerabatsos misses with a wild combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Simons III moves out of range of the leg kick from Kerabatsos.
Simons III keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
John Simons III is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simons III takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Simons III changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kerabatsos tries to avoid it but Simons III manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kerabatsos to the ground. Kerabatsos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Simons III on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kerabatsos. Kerabatsos obviously looking to wear him down.
An inside leg kick lands from Kerabatsos.
Kerabatsos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kerabatsos misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Simons III.
Donald Kerabatsos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kerabatsos tries to score with a low kick but Simons III moves his leg out of the way.
Simons III keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Simons III misses with a takedown attempt - Kerabatsos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kerabatsos throws a leg kick

and Simons III counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kerabatsos won't be happy with that.
Kerabatsos wants to control but Simons III postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Simons III goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Kerabatsos rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Simons III's guard! Nice work there by Kerabatsos!

Simons III throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kerabatsos uses it to pass to side control.
Simons III can't do much from the bottom here.
Kerabatsos working the head with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Simons III is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Simons III's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donald Kerabatsos comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Simons III 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Simons III!
John Simons III thanked the fans post fight for their support.