PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Baraka Simengwa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Virgil Keller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Simengwa might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Afande Sele feat Ditto - Darubini kali. Keller has chosen War Music as his entrance music. Virgil Keller has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Simengwa
vs
Keller

185 cm
29
195 lbs
20 - 18 - 0

184 cm
30
197 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

GREEN!160
Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Baraka Simengwa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Virgil Keller!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Atkins and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keller misses with a hook.
Simengwa dives in for a single leg takedown but Keller sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Simengwa moves into the clinch.
Simengwa misses with a punch on the inside.
Keller lands a right hand that snaps the head of Simengwa backwards.
Keller is looking to break free of the clinch but Simengwa has double underhooks.
Keller presses Simengwa against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Keller tries to stall but Simengwa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Keller is leaning against Simengwa and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Keller wants to break the clinch but can't.
Keller swings wildly with an uppercut but Simengwa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Simengwa tries for a takedown. No joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in the clinch, Keller scores with a nice short uppercut.
Simengwa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Keller avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Baraka Simengwa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Simengwa manages to pull guard.
Keller must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Simengwa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Keller trying to control the position from guard on top but Simengwa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Simengwa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Keller trying to control the position from guard on top but Simengwa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Keller throws a big elbow that misses.
Keller won't allow Simengwa to sweep him here.
Keller pushes down on Simengwa's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Keller looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Keller tries to pass the half guard into mount. Simengwa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Keller is trying to control the action in half guard but Simengwa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Simengwa'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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Simengwa manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Simengwa working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keller looking to pass the guard.

Simengwa looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Keller passes into side control.
Keller postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Simengwa struggling a bit here.
Keller advances nicely into full mount.
Simengwa wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Simengwa tries to escape but Keller has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Keller not allowing Simengwa to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simengwa can't escape the position.
Simengwa trying to control the action but Keller just sinks the hooks in.
Keller lands shots from the back.
Keller struggling to keep hold of the position.
Keller struggling to land strikes to the head as Simengwa covers up.

Keller looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Simengwa taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Virgil Keller!
A relieved looking Virgil Keller thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.