PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Simons III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeffson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Gracie's choice of entrance music: Cliff Richard - Summer Holiday. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Simons III
vs
Gracie

172 cm
40
143 lbs
42 - 25 - 2

160 cm
37
155 lbs
27 - 20 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 42 - 25 - 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 27 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jeffson Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Leandro Rodrigues and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie rushes Simons III and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Simons III avoiding damage as Gracie throws knees to the body.
Gracie misses with a knee to the head.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Simons III leaning against his opponent.
Simons III goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gracie prevents it.
Simons III wants a takedown but no success here.

Simons III jumps guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Simons III's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Gracie must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Simons III is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Simons III has escaped and now he's on top!
Gracie is adopting a defensive guard.
Simons III sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie's guard.
Simons III passes to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simons III is trying to take his opponent's back.
Simons III is working hard here to advance position.

Simons III has control of Gracie's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Gracie regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Simons III prevents Gracie from getting the reversal.
Gracie keeps trying to improve his position.
Gracie is still trying to improve position.
Gracie squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Simons III goes for an armbar but Gracie turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Gracie.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Simons III swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Simons III is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
Simons III wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Simons III is keeping the position.

Simons III has his foot on Gracie's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gracie works his way back into a safe position though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Simons III lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gracie!
Gracie tries to hold on but Simons III postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Simons III.

Simons III goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Gracie turns into him and now he's in Simons III's guard.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Simons III is keeping the position.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Simons III's guard.
Simons III is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Simons III moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Simons III has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Gracie 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 avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Gracie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simons III is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Simons III is trying to get back to full guard.
Gracie wants to lay and pray for a moment but Simons III keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Simons III is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Simons III keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

Simons III working for a triangle but Gracie defends it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie looking to sit in guard and control but Simons III gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Simons III dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Simons III shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gracie's guard.
Simons III wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Simons III wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Simons III defends it easily.
Simons III trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
Simons III wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie content to stall in guard here.

Simons III escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracie gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
My spies in The Warehouse inform me that Gracie has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Gracie controlling from the top position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Simons III is looking for a triangle but Gracie pushes his legs off easily.
Simons III manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gracie manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to sweep but no luck.
Simons III stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie has control of Simons III's left arm, preventing Simons III from doing any damage.
Simons III preventing the sweep.
Gracie looking to control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Simons III slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Simons III wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.

Simons III wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gracie, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simons III looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gracie is looking for a sweep.
John Simons III overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie is trying to control Simons III's posture but Simons III avoids it.
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Simons III advances to full mount.
Gracie avoids a series of strikes thrown by Simons III.

Simons III goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Gracie is on top in guard.

Simons III isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Gracie stacks Simons III on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Gracie!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simons III sneaks back into half guard.
Gracie lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Simons III is trying to get back to full guard.
Simons III moves into full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gracie won't allow Simons III to sweep him here.
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 triangle here but Gracie uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Gracie has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Simons III is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Gracie yanks on the arm and Simons III is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Gracie.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jeffson Gracie!
During a confident post fight interview, Jeffson Gracie thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.