PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gregory Simmons (ranked 6022 p4p, 269 weight class) and Jason Tolevski (ranked 8606 p4p, 316 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Simmons
vs
Tolevski

175 cm
28
143 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

180 cm
26
147 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
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 3 - 7 - 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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jason Tolevski!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tolevski.
Simmons is looking to regain half guard here but Tolevski keeps moving and retains side control.
Simmons is trying to control Tolevski's posture but Tolevski avoids it.
Simmons is being controlled here.
Tolevski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Simmons keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tolevski is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Simmons has escaped the position, nice work there.
Simmons on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Simmons tries to get out of the position.
Tolevski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Simmons keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolevski tries to move to mount but Simmons blocks the move with his legs.
Simmons trying to control but Tolevski flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Tolevski is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tolevski keeps control of the position as Simmons tries to break free.

Simmons showing good submission defense here.
Simmons can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
What can Simmons do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Simmons covering up well under a barage of strikes.

Tolevski tightening his grip on Simmons, looking for the choke.
We've been hearing good reports from Simmons'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.
Simmons turns into Tolevski and is now in his guard.
Simmons has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Simmons's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simmons tries to stand but Tolevski is controlling from the bottom.
Simmons throws a big elbow that misses.
Simmons slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Simmons passes Tolevski's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Tolevski kicks Simmons off and gets back to his feet.
Simmons shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tolevski pinned against the cage. Tolevski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tolevski looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Simmons is fending him off so far but Tolevski persists. Nope, Simmons circles away and we're back to standing.
Tolevski tries to close the distance and clinch but Simmons swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Simmons pushes Tolevski up against the cage in a clinch.
Tolevski wants a takedown but no success here.
Tolevski trying to stall but Simmons improves his position.

Simmons ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Simmons no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Tolevski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tolevski postures up and lands a big shot to Simmons's brow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tolevski trying to control the position from guard on top but Simmons is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jason Tolevski will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Simmons decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tolevski is looking for a sweep. Simmons is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Simmons knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tolevski on the ground.
Tolevski is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Simmons scores with a couple of nice shots.
Tolevski trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Simmons manages to pass to mount!
Simmons pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Tolevski is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tolevski can't escape the position.
Tolevski throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Simmons is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Tolevski to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Tolevski shrugs it off.
Gregory Simmons overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Tolevski tries to hold on but Simmons pushes him away.

Simmons swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Tolevski is now in Simmons's guard. A big mistake from Simmons there, giving up the dominant position!
Tolevski wants to control from the top but Simmons keeps moving.
Simmons looking to control.
Simmons keeping moving, preventing Tolevski from controlling successfully.
Tolevski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Simmons is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tolevski drops back looking for a leg! Simmons is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Simmons manages to kick Tolevski off! Tolevski jumps back into Simmons's guard.
Tolevski is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Tolevski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolevski wants to control from the top but Simmons keeps moving.
Simmons throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Tolevski passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Simmons is not content to let Tolevski control the position.
Simmons tries to control but Tolevski manages to take his back.

Tolevski working for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simmons is trying to break free.
Simmons is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Simmons grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Tolevski scores with punches and elbows.
Simmons tries to escape but Tolevski has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Simmons wants to escape the position but for the time being he's just trying to control the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tolevski has the hooks in. Simmons is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jason Tolevski will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Simmons shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Simmons was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Simmons trying to control the action but Tolevski is working from the bottom.
Tolevski regains half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tolevski trying to control here.
Tolevski manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons trying to control but Tolevski is working from the bottom.
Tolevski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Simmons with a flurry of punches that miss.
Simmons is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tolevski is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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.
Simmons won't allow Tolevski to sweep him here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Simmons dives in and scores a takedown into Tolevski's guard.
Tolevski wants to sweep here but Simmons controlling him for the moment.
Simmons looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Simmons wants to control from the top but Tolevski keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simmons trying to move into half guard but instead Tolevski has managed to sweep!

Simmons working a defensive guard here.
Simmons wants to stand and escape but Tolevski is having none of it.
Simmons throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Tolevski controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Simmons tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Simmons looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tolevski is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

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.
Simmons wants to control the position but Tolevski says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Simmons won't allow Tolevski to pass to mount.
Tolevski keeps trying to improve his position.
Simmons wants to get back to full guard.
Tolevski blocks the strikes from Simmons.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Simmons.
Tolevski is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Gregory Simmons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jason Tolevski is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Simmons darts in and clinches Tolevski up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jason Tolevski.
I've got Tolevski 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jason Tolevski!