PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hercules Simbolon (ranked 5792 p4p, 6147 weight class) and Dai Johnston (ranked 579 p4p, 604 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Simbolon
vs
Johnston

195 cm
22
250
1 - 1 - 0

192 cm
18
245
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hercules Simbolon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dai Johnston !
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Columbo Gatti and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simbolon misses with a hook. Johnston ducked under it nicely.
Simbolon fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Simbolon moves into the clinch successfully.

Simbolon manages to break the clinch.
Johnston throws a big shot that misses.
Simbolon throws a series of punches but Johnston avoids them all with ease.
Johnston moves out of range of the strikes.
Johnston looks to throw the jab but Simbolon is out of range.

Simbolon takes the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnston .
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Simbolon.

Simbolon jumps into guard, dragging Johnston to the mat.
Johnston slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Johnston wants to control from the top but Simbolon keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simbolon wants to stand up but Johnston is controlling him.
Johnston working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Simbolon is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Simbolon definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Simbolon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnston manages to get himself to full guard.

Simbolon preventing the sweep.
Johnston bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Simbolon's guard.

Simbolon is looking to stand up but Johnston isn't so interested in that idea.
Simbolon has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Johnston has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnston working away.
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.
Johnston trying to control the position but Simbolon is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simbolon can't do much from the bottom here.
Simbolon on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Simbolon tries to get out of the position.
Simbolon tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Johnston presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Johnston can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Simbolon is looking to escape.
Simbolon tries to lock up and control but Johnston gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Simbolon is desperately trying to improve his position but Johnston has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Johnston tries to control but Simbolon wriggling away.
Johnston sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Johnston wants to control the pace but Simbolon is squirming around nicely.
Simbolon is in all sorts of trouble here.
Johnston is landing with some decent strikes but Simbolon is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Johnston takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Simbolon working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simbolon regains half guard.
Simbolon tries to get to full guard but Johnston has control of the leg.
Johnston is keen to just control but Simbolon is a slippery customer.
Simbolon misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Simbolon looks like he's trying to stand up.
Simbolon tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Johnston seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Simbolon does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simbolon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Simbolon is working hard here to advance position.
Johnston wants to take a breather but Simbolon is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hercules Simbolon will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Johnston tries for a takedown but Simbolon circles away easily

and Simbolon moves into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Simbolon as Johnston tries to tie him up.
Simbolon scores with a nice hook to the head.
Johnston tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Simbolon's elbow.

Simbolon breaks the clinch.
Simbolon throws a jab when Johnston was well out of range.
Johnston steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Simbolon.
Johnston connects with a body shot that sends Simbolon's belly button to the back.
A looping hook to the body misses from Simbolon. Johnston does a little dance to reset his feet.
Johnston looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Simbolon swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnston misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simbolon misses with a looping left.

Simbolon sends Johnston crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Simbolon is motioning to the referee to let Johnston up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!

It looks like Dai Johnston has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnston lands a lovely overhand right.
Simbolon is really turning it up, unleashing another crisp combination which drops Johnston like a ton of bricks! The referee dives in to stop the fight, saving Johnston from another fist facial!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hercules Simbolon!
An out of breath Hercules Simbolon thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.