PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nathanial Simmons (ranked 24964 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jhorn Mihailov (ranked 5636 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Simmons
vs
Mihailov

158 cm
22
193 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

187 cm
25
183 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Nathanial Simmons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jhorn Mihailov !
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Phil Schofield and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mihailov tries to land a body kick

and Simmons counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Simmons.
Simmons throws a strike but Mihailov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Mihailov throwing strikes but missing.
Mihailov wants to stand but Simmons is controlling his posture from full guard.
Mihailov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
It looks like Mihailov might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simmons is trying to keep Mihailov in close.
Mihailov wants to control from the top but Simmons keeps moving.
Mihailov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Simmons could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons keeping moving, preventing Mihailov from controlling successfully.
Simmons has Mihailov pulled in close to control his posture.
Mihailov trying to control the position from guard on top but Simmons is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mihailov passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Mihailov is trying to get an arm triangle but Simmons is defending well.
What's Simmons going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Simmons can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Simmons is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Mihailov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Simmons defending against the ground and pound.
Mihailov working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Simmons is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Simmons is not content to let Mihailov control the position.
Simmons is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Simmons is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Simmons's face as Mihailov controls the position.
You can see the frustration on Simmons's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Simmons is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Mihailov asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Mihailov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sloppy strikes there by Mihailov .
Mihailov is looking to take a break and control but Simmons is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Mihailov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four 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.
Simmons has one of Mihailov 's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Simmons is looking to reverse the position.
Simmons is trying to buck Mihailov off.

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

Simmons clinches up against the cage.
Simmons misses with an elbow strike.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Simmons looking to throw knees to the head but Mihailov is blocking nicely.

Mihailov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mihailov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Simmons paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Simmons went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mihailov clinches up with Simmons and pushes him back against the cage.
Simmons is looking to break free of the clinch but Mihailov has double underhooks.
Mihailov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Simmons pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mihailov dives in for a single leg takedown but Simmons sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Simmons throws a quick counter kick to the body but Mihailov avoids it.
Mihailov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Simmons appears to be looking for a big counter.
Mihailov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Simmons as he avoids it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Simmons on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nathanial Simmons has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jhorn Mihailov .
Mihailov is looking to clinch.
Mihailov shoots in for a takedown but Simmons shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mihailov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Mihailov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mihailov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Simmons counters with a one-two to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Simmons pushes Mihailov up against the cage in a clinch.
Simmons can't break the clinch.

Simmons escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mihailov looks to clinch

and Simmons counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Simmons wants to stand up but Mihailov has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Ground and pound from Simmons.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Mihailov is looking to control Simmons's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mihailov avoid being mounted?
Simmons scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Mihailov trying to control but Simmons postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Simmons is working for a kimura but Mihailov is defending it quite comfortably.
Simmons tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Mihailov .
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Simmons is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mihailov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Simmons is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Mihailov trying to control here.

Simmons is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mihailov defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mihailov is staying active underneath Simmons, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Simmons prevents Mihailov from improving his position.
Simmons is thwarting Mihailov 's attempts to control the position.
Simmons slips a nice elbow through Mihailov 's hands, connecting with Mihailov 's forehead.
Mihailov wants to get back to full guard.
Simmons lands with a punch from half guard.
Simmons perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Simmons is thwarting Mihailov 's attempts to control the position.
Simmons content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Simmons is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mihailov can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mihailov is looking to control Simmons's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mihailov avoid being mounted?
Simmons wants to stand up but Mihailov is controlling the position.

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

Simmons shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mihailov is trying to defend but Simmons finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Simmons is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mihailov has managed to free his arm - good work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mihailov works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathanial Simmons dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Mihailov wants to clinch up but Simmons keeps it at a distance.
It looked like Simmons was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Mihailov pushes Simmons up against the cage in a clinch.
Simmons is trying to break the clinch but Mihailov has him pressed against the cage.
Simmons is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Mihailov manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simmons landing some decent shots from guard.
Simmons is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mihailov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simmons scoring with punches to the head and body.
Mihailov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Simmons manages to get himself to full guard.

Simmons wants to stand but Mihailov is controlling the position.
Mihailov stays in close to Simmons's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons is wriggling around but Mihailov manages to pass to half guard.
Simmons tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Simmons is not content to let Mihailov control the position.
Mihailov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mihailov throwing shots but Simmons is blocking nicely.
Simmons moves into full guard.
Simmons controlling Mihailov 's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mihailov wants to control from the top but Simmons keeps moving.

Simmons escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mihailov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Simmons wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Mihailov postures up in Simmons's guard and throws a big left but Simmons blocks it.
Simmons has Mihailov pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mihailov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Simmons sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mihailov throws a nice head kick!
Mihailov darts in looking for a takedown but Simmons gets double underhooks and turns Mihailov into the cage.
Mihailov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mihailov blocks the body kick.
Simmons tries to clinch but Mihailov is having none of it.
Mihailov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Simmons defends well and Mihailov ends up having to push Simmons into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nathanial Simmons has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jhorn Mihailov .
Nice takedown defense from Simmons. No joy for Mihailov on that attempt.
Simmons seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mihailov closes the distance and clinches up with Simmons, looking for a takedown. Mihailov pushes Simmons against the cage but Simmons circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Simmons tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Mihailov manages to circle out of the way.
Mihailov shoots in but no luck this time.
Simmons seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Simmons throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simmons defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mihailov .
Mihailov throws a lazy head kick
and Simmons counters with a left and a right that stings Mihailov .
Simmons scores with a nice body kick.
Nathanial Simmons is winning the standup battle so far.

Mihailov tries to keep at a distance but Simmons has taken the fight into the clinch.
Simmons using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Simmons manages to pull guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simmons lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Simmons is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Mihailov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Simmons is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathanial Simmons showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Simmons 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathanial Simmons!