PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alonso Thompson (ranked 6083 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Simond (ranked 6001 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Thompson
vs
Simond

202 cm
21
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alonso Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jeff Simond!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jorge Garcia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simond dives in and grabs Thompson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thompson pushes down on Simond's head and hops out.
Simond misses with a double jab

and Thompson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Thompson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Simond is just riding it out for now. Thompson eventually gives up the hold.
Simond wants to control but Thompson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Thompson stands up out of the half guard.
Simond fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Thompson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Thompson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Simond pushes Thompson up against the cage in a clinch.

Simond has Thompson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Simond pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Thompson tumbling to the mat - Simond dives into Thompson's guard.
Thompson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Simond trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Simond stands up over Thompson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Simond looking to pass the guard.
Simond has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thompson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simond trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson pulls Simond in close to prevent any damage.
Simond sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Thompson's guard.
Thompson wants to control but Simond is keeping busy.
Thompson wants to improve his position but Simond is controlling well.
Thompson is not content to let Simond control the position.

Simond is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Still in half guard, Simond seems content to control.
Simond thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thompson's head.
Simond controlling the pace.
Thompson controlling the position well.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Simond is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Simond is thwarting Thompson's attempts to control the position.

That's four 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.

Simond is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Thompson is trying to control but can't.
Simond working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Thompson's thigh. Thompson counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet but Simond is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Simond pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thompson is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Simond drops back looking for a leg! Thompson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Thompson manages to kick Simond off! Simond jumps back into Thompson's guard.
Thompson pulls Simond in close to his closed guard and prevents Simond from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thompson moves in looking to clinch but Simond pushes him off.
Simond drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thompson defends it well.
Simond misses with a body shot.
Simond connects with a jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Simond.
Thompson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Simond throws a lazy right hand but Thompson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Simond closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson working hard to break the clinch.
Simond tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thompson avoids it.
Thompson is trying to break the clinch but Simond has him pressed against the cage.
Thompson misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Simond shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thompson defends it nicely.
Simond misses with a looping left.
Simond has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Thompson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Simond, pushing him back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Thompson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Simond rushes Thompson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Thompson breaks the clinch.
Simond lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thompson circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Simond with that takedown attempt.
Alonso Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Simond.

Simond gets the takedown into side control.
Simond trying to control the position but Thompson is working away.
Thompson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Simond wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thompson struggling a bit here.
Simond lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Thompson is looking to regain half guard here but Simond keeps moving and retains side control.
Simond wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thompson keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to control but Simond postures up.
I wouldn't like to be where Thompson is right now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Simond tries for a kimura but Thompson is defending well.
Simond gets to mount! Thompson was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Simond looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Thompson can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simond is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Thompson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Simond working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Simond trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Simond working for a guillotine from mount but Thompson is in no mood to give up.
Simond can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thompson is looking to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simond throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Thompson because Simond loaded up on that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Simond showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Thompson misses with the combination.
Simond looks to throw the jab but Thompson is out of range.
Simond moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Simond fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thompson throws a big counter combination but Simond scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Simond fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simond misses with an uppercut
and Thompson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Simond shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Thompson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Simond is one step ahead there.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Thompson holds on and takes a little breather.
Simond pushing down on Thompson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Thompson trying to control but Simond postures up.

Thompson actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Simond is working for a kimura but Thompson is defending it quite comfortably.
Simond works his way into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Simond moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Thompson has worked his arm free - good work by Thompson!
Thompson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Simond is trying to work for a kimura but Thompson is defending well.

Simond is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simond is thwarting Thompson's attempts to control the position.
Simond wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thompson keeps working.
Thompson is looking to control Simond's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thompson avoid being mounted?
Simond throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Simond trying to control from half guard but Thompson is working away.

Simond seems to be working for a kimura but Thompson defends the submission attempt.

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.

Simond is looking for a kimura here.
Simond is keen to just control but Thompson is a slippery customer.
Jeff Simond is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Thompson wants to improve his position but Simond is controlling well.

Thompson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Simond is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Simond thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeff Simond comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Simond 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff Simond!