PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tshephang Batho (ranked 1269 p4p, 168 weight class) and Joey Simone (ranked 707 p4p, 101 weight class). Simone has chosen Shakewell - Leglock as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Batho
vs
Simone

185 cm
23
172 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

198 cm
23
175 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

UnderGround Supplements
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tshephang Batho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joey Simone!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Wagner Zegers and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simone lands a nice hook to Batho's body. Batho takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Batho has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Simone finds it's way round the side to connect with Batho's head.
Simone throws a jab when Batho was well out of range.
Simone throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Simone lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Simone wants to land a leg kick but Batho is out of range.
Simone throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Batho misses with a looping left.
Simone tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Batho is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Batho throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice cross by Simone.
Simone scores with a nice body kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Simone. That's going to slow Batho down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batho with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Simone to score with a decent uppercut.
Batho swats away the attempt to clinch by Simone.
Simone dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Batho. That did some damage!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Simone.
Simone stuns Batho with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Simone tries to clinch up but Batho circles away and keeps his distance.
A slapping body kick lands there for Simone.
A swing and a miss from Simone.
A counter left hand to the body from Batho misses its target.
Simone lands a nice leg kick that just misses Batho's sensitive parts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simone fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Batho.
Simone misses with a leg kick
and Batho counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Joey Simone has been cut.
Simone scores with a punch to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Simone avoids the head kick by Batho.
Batho lands a nice shot that snaps Simone's head back.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Simone, right into the meat.
Batho throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Simone misses with a low kick.
Batho thinks about countering with a head kick.
Simone lands a right hook to the body.
Batho misses with a looping left.
Joey Simone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simone lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Simone avoids the body shot from Batho.
Simone is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Batho scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Batho throws the left hand but Simone avoids the punch easily.
Batho misses with a head kick.
Batho takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Simone is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Crunch! Simone slams his shin into Batho's torso.
Simone misses with a wild body shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Simone. That snapped Batho's head back.
Simone scores with a nice right hand.
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!
Simone slips a jab and a cross from Batho.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simone connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Batho momentarily.
Sloppy strikes from Simone. Those never looked like landing.
An attempted straight right counter from Batho misses the target.
Simone just misses with a punch to the body.
Batho throwing a counter right hand but Simone manages to avoid it.
Batho looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Simone lands with an uppercut that bounces Batho off the cage and back into range.
Batho tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Simone lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Batho is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Simone throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

Batho gets tackled into the cage by Simone. Simone maintains the clinch.
Simone misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Still in the clinch, Simone scores with a nice short uppercut.
Batho blocking some punches.
Simone tries to throw a body punch but Batho avoids it by throwing Simone back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Batho.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Simone dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joey Simone's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Simone fakes the leg kick and cracks Batho in the body.
Simone lands a nice looking body shot.
Batho throws a lazy right hand but Simone sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The fighters circle momentarily. Simone darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Simone thows a leg kick but Batho checks it
and Batho makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Batho will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Simone with a jab.
Simone lands a head kick. Batho smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Simone has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice body punch from Batho.
Simone has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Simone uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Simone throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Batho on the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Batho fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Simone manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Simone.
Simone dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Batho. That did some damage!
That kick from Simone tenderised Batho's leg. Batho is trying to keep his angry face on.

Simone gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Batho blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Simone lands a shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Simone.

Simone breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Simone throws a wild body kick that Batho sees coming a mile off.
Batho was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Simone slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Good leg kick by Simone there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Simone lands a nice leg kick that just misses Batho's sensitive parts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Simone has managed to clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Batho.

Simone pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A nice inside leg kick there by Simone. That's going to slow Batho down.
Simone has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Simone lunges at Batho with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Batho's hand.
Simone explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Batho moves out of range of the body kick from Simone.
Simone misses with a low kick.
Simone scores with the left hand. Batho knows he should have avoided that one.
A low kick from Simone misses
and Batho counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Batho throws a body punch but Simone moves out of range.
Batho misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simone clinches with his opponent.
Simone tries to throw a body punch but Batho avoids it by throwing Simone back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Simone.
Simone struggles to land a body shot inside as Batho controls his hands.
Simone blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Batho lands with a short shot to the head.
Simone tries to pull guard but Batho won't allow it.
Simone has a couple of punches blocked by Batho.
Batho pushes Simone back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Batho misses with a short punch on the inside.
Batho throws a punch but it's blocked by Simone.
Simone takes a shot to the head.
Batho misses with a punch on the inside.
Simone tries to throw a body punch but Batho avoids it by throwing Simone back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Simone.
Batho blocks a body shot from Simone.
A body shot lands from Batho.
Batho tries a body shot but Simone blocks it.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simone feints and then cracks Batho's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Batho down.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Simone - that will leave a mark!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Simone throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Simone scores with a head kick.
Simone stuns Batho with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Simone tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Batho throws a right hand that misses
and Simone counters with a stiff right hand.
Good leg kick by Simone there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A solid leg kick lands there for Simone.
Batho checks the leg kick nicely there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Simone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joey Simone's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Batho takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A big left from Simone misses.
Batho swings widly with a right hand
and Simone counters with a nice body shot.
A shot to the liver by Simone. Beautiful body shot.
Batho throws out a loose jab but Simone uses good head movement to avoid it.
Batho misses with an uppercut
and Batho takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Simone throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Batho throws an off balance right hand
and Simone counters with a thumping low kick.
Batho checks a low kick from Simone.
Batho throws a big shot that misses.
Simone thuds his shin into the meat of Batho's side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batho gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Simone counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A chopping leg kick lands by Simone.
Simone misses with an attempted mid kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Batho misses its target.
Simone lands with a shot to the body.
Simone takes a swing at Batho's ribcage but misses.
Batho throws a head kick that misses.
Simone motions for Batho to come forward. Simone throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A quick step to the side and Batho tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Batho with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Simone to score with a decent uppercut.
Simone darts in trying to clinch
and Batho counters with a straight right hand.
Tshephang Batho has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simone ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Batho moves away.
It looked like Batho wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Simone misses with a body kick.
Batho throws a jab but it's blocked by Simone.
Batho lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Batho on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Batho tries to land a body kick
and Simone counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Batho has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Simone.
Simone looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simone scores with a sloppy right hand. Batho should have avoided that one.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Simone.
Batho throws a lazy uppercut
and Simone counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Simone darts in and clinches Batho up against the cage.
Batho has a couple of punches blocked by Simone.
Batho trying to control the position but instead, Simone has worked for underhooks and has pushed Batho into the cage.
Batho misses with some punches.
Simone tries a body shot but Batho blocks it.
Simone digs a right hand underneath Batho's ribcage. Batho let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Simone is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Batho to keep the fight standing.
Joey Simone seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Batho creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Simone has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Simone digs a right hand underneath Batho's ribcage. Batho let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Simone is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Batho to keep the fight standing.
A shot in the inside from Batho.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Simone creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Simone's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Batho fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Batho misses with a punch on the inside.

Simone jumps guard and drags Batho to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Simone looking to control.
Batho wanted to stand there but Simone had control of the position.
Batho missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Joey Simone is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Simone tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Batho tries to stand but Simone is controlling from the bottom.
Simone is looking to sweep but instead, Batho has passed into half guard.
Simone wants to control but Batho is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Simone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Simone has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Simone!
A very excited looking Joey Simone made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.