PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Russell Simon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Micheals (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Micheals has chosen Throw it up as his entrance music. Russell Simon has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Simon
vs
Micheals

192 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
135 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Russell Simon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jimmy Micheals!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Topper Green and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simon slaps away a takedown attempt from Micheals, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Simon is looking to counter the offense by Micheals and move into the clinch.
Micheals with a poor takedown

and Simon moves into the clinch.

Simon pulls Micheals into guard.
Micheals preventing the sweep.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Micheals's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Micheals won't allow Simon to sweep him here.
Micheals is fighting to break Simon's control of his arms but Simon is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Micheals stopping the sweep attempt from Simon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Micheals trying to control but Simon is working from the bottom.
Micheals missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Simon seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Micheals throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Micheals tries to close the distance and clinch but Simon swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Micheals looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Simon shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Micheals not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Simon is looking to work some ground and pound but Micheals has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Micheals is trying to control the position but Simon postures up.
Simon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Micheals wants to stand and escape but Simon is having none of it.
Simon throws a strike but Micheals rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Micheals would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Simon wants to improve his position but instead Micheals has moved into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simon tries to get to full guard but Micheals has control of the leg.
Simon has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Micheals is working away from the top position though.
Simon gets full guard.
Simon is trying to keep Micheals in close.
Simon managing to control the position.

That's four 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.
Micheals wants to pass the guard but Simon is keeping the position.
Micheals trying to control the position from guard on top but Simon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Simon drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Simon is chipping away with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Simon dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Micheals doesn't manage to clinch there - Simon circles away.
Micheals fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Simon moves into range and clinches up with Micheals.
Micheals tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Micheals tries to score a body lock takedown but Simon shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Russell Simon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Micheals.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Simon has Micheals pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Simon pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Micheals tumbling to the mat - Simon dives into Micheals's guard.

Micheals looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon preventing the sweep.
Simon landing with the ground and pound.

Micheals looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Simon has picked Micheals up and slammed him! Micheals can't keep hold of the triangle and Simon manages to pass to side control!
You can see the frustration on Micheals's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Simon working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simon landing strikes.
Simon working the ground and pound.
Simon landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Simon working the ground and pound.
Simon working the ground and pound but Micheals is defending the strikes.
Russell Simon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Micheals is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Micheals is breathing heavily.
Simon lands with a punch from half guard.

Simon is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Simon lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simon is nestled in close to Micheals, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Micheals manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Simon keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Simon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Micheals shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Simon as he jumps to the side.
Simon appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

Simon gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simon keeps control of Micheals as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Micheals has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Simon regains guard immediately.
Simon trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Simon has his hands on Micheals's head, controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russell Simon dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

A head kick by Micheals misses

and Simon counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Simon.
Simon prevents a takedown attempt there.
Micheals has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Simon avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Simon jumps guard and drags Micheals to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Simon is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Micheals stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Simon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Micheals stands up out of Simon's guard for a moment - Simon manages to land a nice upkick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Micheals trying to control the position from guard on top but Simon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simon wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Micheals preventing the sweep.
Simon is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Micheals darts in looking for a takedown but Simon gets double underhooks and turns Micheals into the cage.
Russell Simon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Micheals.
Micheals takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Simon closes the distance and clinches.
Simon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Micheals looking to throw knees to the head but Simon is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Micheals working hard to break the clinch.

Simon gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Micheals is trying to escape back to his feet but Simon uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Simon scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Micheals to see if he's OK.

Simon is trying to get an arm triangle but Micheals is defending well.
Micheals manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simon wants to sweep but Micheals has passed to side control!
Simon tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Micheals wants to control for a moment but Simon uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Simon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Micheals on the ground.
Micheals is keen to just control but Simon is a slippery customer.

That's four 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.
Micheals prevents Simon from improving his position.
Simon is trying to maintain the position but Micheals is very close to passing his half guard.
Micheals seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Micheals is trying to control the action in half guard but Simon is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Micheals might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Simon haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jimmy Micheals has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Russell Simon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Micheals prevents Simon from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russell Simon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Simon has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 30:27
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russell Simon!