PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between John Simons III (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Williams has chosen All the Above- Maino ft. T-Pain as his entrance music. Paul Williams will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Simons III
vs
Williams

172 cm
49
143 lbs
52 - 39 - 2

185 cm
49
140 lbs
50 - 32 - 5

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 52 - 39 - 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 50 - 32 - 5, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Williams!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Williams ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Simons III moves away.
Simons III walks into a jab.
A jab lands there for Williams.
Williams moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Williams has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Nice body kick from Williams.
Williams throws a head kick that misses.
A low kick from Williams is predictable there

and Simons III counters with a single leg into guard. Williams didn't expect that.

Williams has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Simons III is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Simons III is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Williams to keep the fight standing.
Williams wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Simons III has him pressed against the cage.
Simons III is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Williams pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Simons III is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Williams gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Simons III. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Williams has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Williams wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simons III jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Williams walks away with a smile on his face. Simons III gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Simons III tries for a takedown but Williams sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Williams throws a leg kick which misses Simons III's front leg but catches the back leg as Simons III tries to avoid it.
Simons III fails to land the takedown.
Simons III swinging wildly here.
Williams with a jab.
Simons III fails with an attempt to clinch.
Williams ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Williams scores with a head kick. Simons III tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Simons III darts in looking for a takedown but Williams gets double underhooks and turns Simons III into the cage.
Paul Williams seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Simons III fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Williams lands an impressive looking overhand right. Simons III doesn't seem phased though.
Simons III walks into a stiff left hand from Williams.
Williams is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Williams connects with a good right hand that stumbles Simons III. Simons III circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
The crowd cheers as Williams lands an impressive looking overhand right. Simons III doesn't seem phased though.
Simons III throws a leg kick
and Williams makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Simons III looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Williams is fending him off so far but Simons III persists. Nope, Williams circles away and we're back to standing.
Williams connects with an inside leg kick.
Williams misses with a straight left.
Simons III appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Williams scores with a spinning back kick!
Simons III with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Williams to score with a decent uppercut.
Williams throws a lazy uppercut

and Simons III counters with a takedown into side control.

Williams explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Williams has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Williams scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Simons III with that takedown attempt.
Williams lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Simons III takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Williams throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Williams misses with a series of wild punches.
Simons III shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Williams as he avoids it easily.
Williams just misses with a punch to the body.
Simons III changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Simons III shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Williams defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Williams, right into the meat.
Williams uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Williams wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Williams holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Williams blocks an elbow strike from Simons III.
Simons III can't get the takedown.

Williams pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Simons III tries to move into range but Williams moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Williams dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Simons III pushes Williams up against the cage in a clinch.

Williams's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Simons III throws a head kick but Williams moves out of range.
Simons III goes for a double leg but Williams avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Williams continues to drive forward.
Williams jabs at Simons III's body.

Simons III closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Simons III is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Williams knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Williams regains half guard there - taking advantage of Simons III's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Williams gets full guard.
Paul Williams has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simons III trying to control but Williams is working from the bottom.
Simons III wants to pass the guard but Williams is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simons III trying to control but Williams is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Williams controlling Simons III's posture.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Williams keeping moving, preventing Simons III from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Simons III closes this distance looking for a takedown but Williams circles away.
Williams throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Simons III fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Williams to the ground. Simons III is now in Williams's guard.
Simons III wants to control from the top but Williams keeps moving.
Williams looking for a sweep. Not yet Williams, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simons III trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simons III preventing the sweep.
Simons III tries to free his leg and advance position but Williams is retaining full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Simons III sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A head kick by Simons III misses
and Williams cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Simons III throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Williams's waist but Williams gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Simons III off to one side.
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 four minutes gone in the round.
Williams looks to land a combination but Simons III avoids it well.
Simons III half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Simons III takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Williams throws a head kick but Simons III moves out of range.
Williams throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Simons III tries to counter with a takedown but Williams is quick to defend against it.
Williams connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Williams lunges at Simons III with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Simons III's hand.
Simons III avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Simons III changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Williams scores with a jab to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Williams scores with a head kick.
Williams missing with a left hand there. Simons III was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Simons III changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
John Simons III is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Williams feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Simons III's calf.
Simons III has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Williams.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Williams showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Williams throws a body punch but Simons III moves out of range.
Paul Williams seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Williams misses the shot to the body.
Simons III attempts a counter takedown but Williams avoids it well and moves away.
Williams connects with a single shot there.
Williams misses with a wild body shot.

Simons III shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Simons III is just content to waste time from the top position. Williams takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simons III won't allow Williams to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simons III wants to pass the guard but Williams is keeping the position.
Williams can't keep his opponent in guard - Simons III advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Williams has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Simons III is working away from the top position though.

Simons III wants to work for an arm triangle but Williams is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Simons III is looking to advance position but Williams won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Williams tries to roll over but Simons III keeps him under control.
Simons III wants to pass to mount but Williams is defending the position.
Williams keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We've been hearing that Simons III has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Williams tries to get to full guard but Simons III has control of the leg.
Simons III is trying to control. Williams wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Simons III.
Williams lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Simons III tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Williams paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Simons III takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Williams swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Williams scores with a leg kick.
Williams shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Simons III eats them both and turns towards Williams to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Simons III ducks under a wild hook from Williams.
Simons III walks into a left hand.
Simons III dives in for a single leg takedown but Williams sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Williams.
Williams has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Simons III tries for a takedown but Williams circles away easily
and Williams counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
John Simons III has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Simons III. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
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!
Williams misses with a looping right.
Simons III tries to counter with a takedown but Williams is quick to defend against it.
Simons III stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Williams.
Williams throws a nice head kick!
No luck for Simons III with that takedown attempt.
A little jabbing left from Williams on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Jab from Williams.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simons III misses with a takedown attempt - Williams sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Williams comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Williams 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Williams!
Our winner, Paul Williams, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.