PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Julius Schoonover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Earl Simmons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Schoonover might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Daylight - Matt and Kim. Simmons is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by DMX - Who We Be. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Schoonover
vs
Simmons

185 cm
29
221 lbs
16 - 5 - 1

180 cm
29
206 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Julius Schoonover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Earl Simmons!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Simmons clinches up against the cage.
Schoonover fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Simmons landing knees to the body.
Schoonover misses with a short punch on the inside.
Simmons connects with a nasty looking knee right to Schoonover's face.
Simmons trying to land knees to the body.
Simmons tries a knee to the head but Schoonover blocks it.
Simmons with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Schoonover goes for a takedown attempt but Simmons pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Simmons takes the fight into the clinch.
Simmons missing with knees to the body.
Schoonover managing to block the knees to the body from Simmons.
Schoonover scores with a nice hook to the head.
Simmons tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Simmons obliges.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch on the inside from Schoonover fails to land.
Schoonover throws a punch but it's blocked by Simmons.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Julius Schoonover has been cut.

Simmons escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Simmons moves into the clinch.
Schoonover is trying to stall.
Simmons dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Schoonover misses with a hook from the clinch.

Schoonover jumps guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Simmons tries to stand but Schoonover is controlling from the bottom.
Schoonover tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Simmons stands up and waves to Schoonover to follow him.
Schoonover fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julius Schoonover. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Simmons clinches up against the cage.
Schoonover avoiding damage as Simmons throws knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Simmons misses with a knee to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Simmons.
A head punch on the inside from Schoonover fails to land.
Simmons with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Schoonover is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Simmons tries to land knees in the clinch but Schoonover avoids the damage to the body.
Simmons tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Simmons blocking some punches.
A body shot lands from Simmons.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schoonover tries for a takedown. No joy.
Schoonover tries to score a body lock takedown but Simmons shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Simmons using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Schoonover has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Simmons blocks a body shot from Schoonover.
Simmons stalls.
Schoonover swings wildly with an uppercut but Simmons uses good head movement to avoid it.
Schoonover on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Simmons landing knees to the head.
Simmons stalling the fight.
Simmons tries to land knees in the clinch but Schoonover avoids the damage to the body.
Simmons lands an elbow that stopped Schoonover in his tracks for a moment.
A short right from Simmons on the inside.

Schoonover tightens his grip and picks Simmons up, before dumping him to the ground. Simmons manages to land in guard.
Schoonover sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Schoonover wants to pass the guard but Simmons is keeping the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Schoonover is working hard here to advance position.
Simmons is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Simmons wants to get back to his feet but Schoonover is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Schoonover trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Earl Simmons dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Julius Schoonover's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Simmons clinches up against the cage.

Simmons breaks from the clinch.

Simmons closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Schoonover working hard to break the clinch.
Schoonover on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Simmons tries to land a knee to the head but Schoonover blocks with his arms.
Simmons trying to land knees to the body.
Schoonover wants to stall.
Simmons using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Schoonover has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Schoonover tries to stall but Simmons uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Simmons missing with knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Simmons landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Simmons as Schoonover tries to tie him up.
Simmons lands a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Schoonover successfully pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Simmons decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Schoonover, up you get!
Schoonover throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Simmons sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Simmons instigates a clinch.
Earl Simmons seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Simmons breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Schoonover misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Schoonover shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Simmons rushes Schoonover and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Simmons looks to throw an elbow but misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Schoonover.
Simmons misses with a knee to the head.
Schoonover managing to block the knees to the body from Simmons.
Schoonover tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Simmons tries a knee to the head but Schoonover blocks it.
Stalling in the clinch from Schoonover.
Schoonover takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Simmons with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Simmons landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Simmons landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Schoonover takes a knee right on the jaw!
Simmons scores with a knee to the head.

Julius Schoonover's cut is getting worse.
Simmons scores with a knee to the head.
Simmons lands with a right to the head.
Simmons comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Simmons lands a knee to the body.
Schoonover avoiding damage as Simmons throws knees to the body.
Simmons utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Simmons landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Simmons lands a damaging elbow.
Simmons connects with a nasty looking knee right to Schoonover's face.
Simmons tries a knee to the head but Schoonover blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simmons breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Schoonover motions for Simmons to come forward. Schoonover throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Simmons closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Simmons tries a knee to the head but Schoonover blocks it.
Schoonover on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Schoonover tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julius Schoonover. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Simmons with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Simmons misses with a knee to the head.
Simmons lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Julius Schoonover's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Schoonover working aggressively here.
Simmons with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Simmons with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Schoonover jumps guard but Simmons turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Simmons looking to throw knees to the head but Schoonover is blocking nicely.
Simmons tries to land a knee to the head but Schoonover blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schoonover doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Simmons content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Schoonover throws a head punch that misses.
Simmons misses with a knee to the head.
Simmons using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Schoonover has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Simmons has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Simmons throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Schoonover blocks it with crossed arms.

Simmons breaks the clinch.

Simmons pushes Schoonover up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Simmons with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Schoonover manages to break the clinch.

Simmons darts in and clinches Schoonover up against the cage.
Schoonover is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Earl Simmons showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Julius Schoonover's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Simmons closes the distance and clinches.
Simmons looking to throw knees to the head but Schoonover is blocking nicely.
Simmons is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Schoonover breaks from the clinch.
Earl Simmons seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Simmons has Schoonover up against the cage in a clinch.
Simmons missing with knees to the body.
Schoonover on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Simmons working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Simmons crunches a lovely knee into Schoonover's ribcage.
Simmons misses with a knee strike.
Simmons with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Schoonover managing to block the knees to the body from Simmons.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schoonover pulls guard successfully.
Simmons would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Simmons takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Schoonover is working an open guard so Simmons takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Schoonover works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Simmons displaying some good clinch control by pressing Schoonover up against the cage.
Simmons landing knees to the body.
Simmons tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Schoonover tries to pull guard but Simmons forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Julius Schoonover has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simmons throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Schoonover blocks it with crossed arms.
A knee to the head by Simmons.
Simmons tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Schoonover drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Simmons.
Simmons scores with a knee to the head.

Schoonover escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Schoonover is defended easily by Simmons.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julius Schoonover. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Simmons closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Simmons tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A nice left hand lands by Schoonover.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simmons lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Simmons utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Simmons throws a knee to the head but misses.
Schoonover wants a takedown but no success here.
Simmons with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Knees to the body from Simmons.
Simmons landing knees to the head.
Simmons connects with a knee to the head.

Jeez, Julius Schoonover's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Simmons lands a good knee to the midsection. Schoonover won't want to take too many of those.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Simmons lands a knee to the head.
Simmons scores with a knee to the head.
Schoonover misses with some punches.
Schoonover throws a head punch that misses.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schoonover working a defensive guard here.
Simmons must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Simmons trying to stand up but can't free himself from Schoonover's guard.

Simmons gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Simmons clinches up against the cage.
Earl Simmons is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Simmons taking a breather.
Schoonover misses with a hook from the clinch.
Simmons taking a breather.
Schoonover misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Schoonover blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Simmons.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Simmons.
Simmons blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Earl Simmons comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Simmons has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

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