PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gregory Simmons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Felix Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Simmons
vs
Jones

175 cm
25
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
26
144 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite 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 Rio de Janeiro, Gregory Simmons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Felix Jones!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jones closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Simmons pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Jones moves into the clinch successfully.
Simmons is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Simmons pressing his opponent against the cage.

Simmons manages to pull guard.
Jones chips away with some ground and pound.
Jones not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Simmons is working an open guard so Jones takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simmons throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jones swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jones gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Simmons counters with a three punch combo that has Jones backing up. Jones nods at Simmons to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Jones stands up from half guard.
A combination from Simmons does no damage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jones is defended easily by Simmons.
Gregory Simmons has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felix Jones.

Simmons scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Jones tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Jones has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simmons trying to control the position but Jones is working away.
Simmons tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jones can do anything to dispel that myth.
Simmons tries to move to mount but Jones blocks the move with his legs.
Jones has one of Simmons's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Simmons trying to control the position but Jones is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Simmons knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jones on the ground.
Simmons working away.
Jones tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Simmons wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Jones is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Jones dodges the ground and pound from Simmons.

Simmons is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Jones knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Simmons is staying tight to Jones's torso, preventing him from escaping.

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.
Jones dodges the ground and pound from Simmons.
A lull in the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Simmons throws a sloppy head kick and Jones moves out of range easily.

Jones instigates a clinch.
Simmons has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Jones after a bit of a struggle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simmons wants a takedown.
Jones has Simmons pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Simmons manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Jones gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gregory Simmons will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jones avoids a punch combination nicely.
Simmons tries to close the distance and clinch but Jones swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Jones clinches up against the cage.
Jones misses with a hook to the ribs.

Simmons's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jones tries to clinch there but Simmons circles away.
Jones moves in looking to clinch but Simmons pushes him off.
Jones fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jones fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Simmons sprawls well initially but Jones persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Simmons defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Simmons wants to get back to his feet but Jones is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Simmons throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Simmons is looking to sweep but instead, Jones has passed into half guard.
Jones takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Jones wants to control but Simmons is keeping him busy.

Simmons actively working from the bottom here.
Simmons tries to get to full guard but Jones has control of the leg.

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.
Simmons slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Simmons working a defensive guard here.
Simmons has his hands on Jones's head, controlling the position.
Simmons tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones dives in for a single leg takedown but Simmons sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Simmons went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Gregory Simmons is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice sprawl there from Jones as Simmons shoots in.
Jones unleashes a big counter combination but Simmons bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Jones fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gregory Simmons has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felix Jones.
Simmons fails with a takedown attempt.
Jones tries to clinch up but Simmons circles away and keeps his distance.
Jones goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Simmons tries to clinch there but Jones circles away.
Simmons misses with a head kick.
Simmons sets himself, and Jones steps forward looking for the clinch! Simmons avoids it this time.
Simmons pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jones fails with an attempt to clinch.
Simmons attempts a counter takedown but Jones avoids it well and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jones scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Simmons is looking to get back to his feet here but Jones is keeping cool and he's managed to take Simmons's back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Jones is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Simmons has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
A lull in the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Felix Jones will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Jones feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Simmons manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Jones misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Simmons.
Simmons is trying to pull guard but Jones turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Jones is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Simmons throws an elbow that misses.
Jones lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Simmons backwards.
Jones is stalling here.

Jones turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Jones manages to end up in side control.
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!
Simmons is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones lands an elbow.
Simmons gets back to half guard.
Simmons is trying to get back to full guard.
Jones wants to lay and pray for a moment but Simmons keeps working.
Simmons trying to control from the bottom.
Jones tries to pass the half guard into mount. Simmons knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

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.

Simmons looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Simmons tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Jones manages to move to mount!
Jones connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Simmons wants to hold on but Jones pushes him away.
Simmons is trying to escape the mount.
Simmons trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simmons in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Simmons is looking to improve his position but Jones isn't that keen on the idea.

Jones stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Jones clinches up with Simmons and pushes him back against the cage.

Jones pulls guard.
Simmons has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Jones looking to control.
Simmons trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simmons sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones wants to hit a switch here but Simmons passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Jones there!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Jones preventing the sweep.

Simmons has an active guard here but Jones has managed to pass into half guard.

Jones is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Simmons doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jones.

And that's the end of the fight!
Felix Jones comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Jones has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Felix Jones!