PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Simons III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aydine Antona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antona has chosen Laid to Rest by Lamb of God as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Simons III
vs
Antona

172 cm
43
143 lbs
45 - 29 - 2

170 cm
39
156 lbs
34 - 24 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

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 45 - 29 - 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 34 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aydine Antona!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Antona keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Simons III blocks the body kick.
Antona throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Antona cracks Simons III with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Antona moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Antona throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Simons III sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Antona throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Antona misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Simons III.
Antona fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Antona throws a sloppy head kick and Simons III moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Antona throws a hook to the side of Simons III's head but Simons III sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Antona tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Simons III tries to score a power double leg takedown but Antona sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Simons III somewhat.
Antona looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Antona throws a head kick that misses.
Simons III swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Antona scores with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simons III fails with the takedown
and Antona counters with an outside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Simons III. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Antona fails to land with a series of punches.
Simons III showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Antona.
Simons III blocks the body kick.
Antona explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Simons III steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Antona.
Antona throws a head kick but Simons III moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Simons III.
Simons III shoots in for a takedown but Antona shows good takedown defense.
Antona scores with a shot to the body.
Antona with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Antona lands a body shot.
Antona misses with a few strikes there.
Simons III seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Antona. Simons III shrugs it off though.
Antona throws a hook but Simons III avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antona pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Antona pivots, looking for a leg kick but Simons III is out of range and Antona settles back down.
Simons III checks a leg kick nicely.
Simons III misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Antona lands a nice shot that snaps Simons III's head back.
Aydine Antona is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Antona will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head kick from Antona lands but Simons III takes it in his stride.

It looks like John Simons III has been cut.
Antona stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aydine Antona dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Simons III's cut.
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.

Antona misses with a body shot.
John Simons III is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Antona is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Simons III.
Aydine Antona seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Simons III has a takedown stuffed.
Antona swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Simons III blocks a jab.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Simons III might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Antona lands a head kick!
Simons III tries to move into range but Antona moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simons III moves out of range of the strikes.
Simons III takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A good leg kick by Antona.
Aydine Antona seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Simons III ducks under a wild hook from Antona.
Simons III tries for a takedown but Antona circles away easily
and Antona counters with a nice kick to the body.
Simons III takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Simons III walks into a jab.
Simons III with a lazy takedown attempt
and Antona makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Simons III really felt that one!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Simons III. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Antona pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Simons III walks forward, straight into a front kick from Antona.
Antona fails to land with a series of punches.
Antona throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
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 big right from Antona misses.

Simons III throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Antona tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Simons III is in Antona's guard.
Simons III wants to pass the guard but Antona is keeping the position.
Simons III won't allow Antona to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simons III drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Simons III jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Antona wants to sweep here but Simons III controlling him for the moment.
Simons III trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Simons III won't allow Antona to sweep him here.
Simons III wants to control from the top but Antona keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Antona has Simons III pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Simons III dodges the punch combination from Antona.
Antona has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Antona scores with a decent looking hook.
Simons III takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Simons III shoots and misses
and Antona counters with an inside leg kick.
Antona throws a nice looking combination but Simons III bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Antona listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Simons III fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Antona avoids it really well and circles away.
Antona is looking to land body kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aydine Antona showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Simons III's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Antona throws a shot from downtown. Simons III moves away and avoids it.
Antona is looking to score with low kicks.
Antona connects with a jab.
Antona throws a lazy right hand but Simons III sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Antona!
Simons III defending well as Antona loads up on a big left hand.
Simons III will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simons III keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Antona.
Antona lands a slapping body shot.
Antona showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Simons III.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simons III keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Antona fails to land with a series of punches.
A solid leg kick lands there for Antona.
Antona ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Simons III moves away.
Simons III doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Antona finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Antona throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Antona lands an impressive looking overhand right. Simons III doesn't seem phased though.
Antona throws a right and a left that both miss.
Antona throws a nice looking combination but Simons III bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Simons III shoots in but Antona avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Antona throws a big shot that misses.
Simons III fails with the takedown
enabling Antona to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Simons III. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simons III avoids the body shot from Antona.
Simons III shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Antona as he jumps to the side.
Antona misses with a hook. Simons III ducked under it nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Antona.
Simons III misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Simons III tries for a takedown but Antona circles away easily
and Antona counters with a left and a right that stings Simons III.
John Simons III has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aydine Antona is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Horrible takedown attempt by Simons III or perhaps it was just good defense by Antona, which made it look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antona scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Antona stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Antona wants it to stay on the feet.
Antona finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Antona thumps Simons III with a low kick.
Simons III takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Antona misses with a jab, cross combination.
Antona looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aydine Antona comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Antona winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 25:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 25:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aydine Antona!
A relieved looking Aydine Antona thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.