PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Simenkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Koa Polunu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koa Polunu will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Simenkov
vs
Polunu

165 cm
35
169 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

176 cm
27
164 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sergei Simenkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Koa Polunu!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Chad Campbell and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Polunu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Polunu throws a leg kick that misses.
Simenkov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Polunu defends well and Simenkov ends up having to push Polunu into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Simenkov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Simenkov is trying to break free.
Polunu tries a body shot but Simenkov blocks it.

Simenkov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Polunu can't fight it off and eventually Simenkov manages to take the fight to the floor. Polunu looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Polunu pulls Simenkov in close to prevent any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Polunu is on top in guard.
Polunu slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
It looks like Polunu might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simenkov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Polunu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Simenkov is trying to control the position but Polunu postures up.

We're going to have a standup here because Sergei Simenkov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Simenkov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Simenkov goes for a double leg but Polunu avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Polunu continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Simenkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Polunu misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simenkov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Polunu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Polunu lands a shoulder strike.
Polunu swings wildly with an uppercut but Simenkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right hand to the body from Polunu.
A bit of stalling here from Polunu.
The crowd are getting on Polunu's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Simenkov tries to score a body lock takedown but Polunu shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Polunu makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Polunu creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
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 short left from Polunu.
A short right from Polunu.
Simenkov blocking some punches.
A short left from Polunu.
Polunu gets underhooks to prevent Simenkov's takedown attempt.
Polunu wants to stall.
Nice body punch from Polunu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simenkov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Polunu blocks an uppercut.
Polunu gets through Simenkov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Polunu breaks from the clinch.
Polunu throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Simenkov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Simenkov misses with a head kick.
Polunu circles away from the clinch attempt

and Polunu counters with a single leg into guard. Simenkov didn't expect that.
Simenkov trying to keep a closed guard but Polunu is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Polunu sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Polunu stopping the sweep attempt from Simenkov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polunu engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Polunu prevents Simenkov from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Koa Polunu was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Polunu slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Simenkov throws a head kick that misses

and Polunu counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Polunu wants to control but Simenkov is keeping him busy.
Simenkov sneaks back into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koa Polunu dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Simenkov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
You can see the frustration on Polunu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Simenkov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Polunu tries to improve position but can't.
Simenkov throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simenkov throwing strikes but Polunu manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Simenkov stops Polunu from passing to mount.
Simenkov gets back to half guard.
Polunu stops Simenkov from getting back to his feet.
Simenkov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simenkov is trying to control but Polunu manages to pass to mount!
Polunu controlling the position easily from mount.
Polunu trying to control but Simenkov is having none of it.
Simenkov sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Simenkov wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simenkov is working hard here to advance position.
Simenkov pushes Polunu off but Polunu dives into side control.
Simenkov tries to improve position but can't.
Simenkov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Polunu is controlling him well.
Polunu staying calm.
Polunu trying to control the action but Simenkov is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simenkov tries to bench press Polunu off him but Polunu keeps the position.
Simenkov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Polunu is controlling him well.
Simenkov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Polunu advances to mount.
Simenkov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polunu looking to ground and pound but Simenkov is blocking nicely.
Polunu misses with a head shot.
Koa Polunu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Simenkov regains half guard.
Still in half guard, Polunu seems content to control.
Simenkov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Polunu performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Simenkov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Simenkov misses with a head kick.
Simenkov slips a jab and a cross from Polunu.
Polunu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Simenkov dives in for a single leg takedown but Polunu sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Simenkov has Polunu pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Polunu manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Simenkov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Polunu avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Simenkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Polunu keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Simenkov's efforts to push away.
Polunu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Polunu lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Polunu lands a hook that snaps the head of Simenkov backwards.
Polunu lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Polunu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Polunu is looking to control Simenkov's arms but Simenkov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Polunu has his back to the cage.
Polunu misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simenkov tries for a takedown. No joy.

Simenkov breaks the clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Polunu.
Simenkov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Polunu as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Simenkov has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Polunu.
Polunu lands a nice looking body shot.
Polunu cracks Simenkov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Simenkov jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Simenkov tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Polunu counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Polunu is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Simenkov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polunu's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Koa Polunu has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Polunu wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Simenkov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Polunu defends it nicely.
Polunu throws the kick towards the body but Simenkov avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simenkov misses with a body shot.
Sergei Simenkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice sprawl there from Polunu as Simenkov shoots in.
Polunu throws a low kick, looking for Simenkov's leg but Simenkov calmly moves out of range.
Polunu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Simenkov was well out of range. Poor timing from Polunu.
Horrible takedown by Simenkov or perhaps it was just good defense by Polunu which made him look bad.

Polunu looking to score a takedown here. Simenkov is defending well but Polunu drives through and ends up in Simenkov's guard.
Polunu seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Polunu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Simenkov wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Polunu is now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Polunu in particular looking to stall.
Simenkov is trying to stand up here but Polunu is controlling him well.
Simenkov wants to control but Polunu is keeping busy.
Well, if Polunu is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Polunu stops Simenkov from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Koa Polunu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Polunu 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Koa Polunu!
Koa Polunu thanked the fans post fight for their support.