PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joey Simone (ranked 368 p4p, 157 weight class) and Royal Halsti (ranked 57 p4p, 24 weight class). Simone's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Gucci Mane - Trap God Intro. Royal Halsti told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Simone
vs
Halsti

198 cm
37
175
19 - 9 - 0

190 cm
31
205
21 - 8 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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Shadow Realm Apparel
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joey Simone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Royal Halsti!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Paul Tew and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simone moves out of range as Halsti strikes.
Simone lands a body shot.
Halsti throws a series of punches but Simone avoids them all with ease.
Simone ducks right into an uppercut from Halsti.

It looks like Joey Simone has been cut.
Halsti walks into a jab.
Simone has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Marty Robbin's Fight Ranch in the buildup to the fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - Simone looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Simone checks a leg kick.
Halsti throws out a loose jab but Simone uses good head movement to avoid it.
Halsti wants to land a leg kick but Simone is out of range.
A jab from Simone misses.
Halsti scores with a body shot.
Halsti misses with a hook.
Halsti looks to throw the jab but Simone is out of range.
Simone checks a low kick from Halsti.

Simone instigates a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halsti blocks a body shot from Simone.
Simone misses with the head strike.
Simone pushes Halsti back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halsti struggles to land a body shot inside as Simone controls his hands.
Halsti working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Simone lands a shoulder strike.

Simone pulls guard successfully.
Halsti wants to control from the top but Simone keeps moving.

Simone is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Halsti defends well.
Simone is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Simone is looking to advance position but Halsti won't allow it.
Simone wants to take a breather but Halsti is having none of it.
Halsti moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simone trying to control the position from guard on top but Halsti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simone passes Halsti's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Simone is looking for a kimura here.
Halsti is looking to get back to full guard here but Simone has managed to pass to side control instead.
Halsti struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simone tries for a kimura but Halsti is defending well.
Halsti is not content to let Simone control the position.
Halsti is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Simone's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Simone is trying to control. Halsti wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Halsti wants to get back to full guard.
Halsti trying to control from the bottom.
Halsti is pressing down on Simone's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Halsti escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Simone gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Halsti keeping full guard, as Simone tries to pass.
Simone wants to control from the top but Halsti keeps moving.
Our spies down at at FF Forever inform us that Halsti has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Halsti controls Simone momentarily but Simone frees himself.
Simone really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simone works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that is 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!

Halsti displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Simone throws out the jab.
Halsti lands a jab to the head.
Simone tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Halsti counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Halsti swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Simone connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Halsti misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Simone.
Royal Halsti seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Halsti takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Halsti scores with a body shot.
Halsti throws a leg kick
and Simone counters with a stiff right hand.
Simone fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Simone rushes Halsti and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Simone lands a shoulder strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Simone tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Halsti smiles and moves away.
Halsti throws out a loose jab but Simone uses good head movement to avoid it.
Simone ducks under a wild hook from Halsti.
Halsti misses with a lunging right hand

and Simone counters by moving into the clinch.
Simone tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Halsti smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simone fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Halsti manages to avoid it.
Nice shot lands for Halsti.
Halsti throws the left hand but Simone avoids the punch easily.
Halsti takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Halsti throws a jab when Simone was well out of range.
Halsti misses the jab.
Halsti throws a nice inside leg kick.
Simone is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Halsti lands a jab.
Simone lands a nice hook to Halsti's body. Halsti takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Simone scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Simone lands with a hook. Halsti tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Halsti misses with a hook.
Halsti misses with a double jab.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Simone here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Simone lands the left hand.

Simone gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Simone stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Simone drags the fight down to the ground.

Simone looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Halsti passes into half guard.
Simone is pressing down on Halsti's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Simone keeping moving, preventing Halsti from controlling successfully.
Joey Simone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Simone bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Halsti's guard.

Simone pushes down on Halsti's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Simone is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Halsti can do to turn this around?
Simone wants to pass the guard but Halsti is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halsti looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Simone passes to full mount!
Simone tries to take his opponent's back but Halsti turns with him and manages to move into guard on the top. Nice work.
Halsti stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Simone swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halsti stopping the sweep attempt from Simone.

Simone is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Halsti is aware though and is defending well.

Simone is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simone has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Halsti has passed into side control.
Simone is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Halsti off and has taken his back!

Halsti fending off the submission attempt from Simone.

Simone working for a choke but Halsti is defending well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Simone dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joey Simone's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Simone misses with a body shot.
Despite the aggression on Halsti's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Royal Halsti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Halsti throws a series of punches but Simone moves out of range.
Simone's corner calls for a 1-2. Simone obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Simone uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Halsti.
Halsti misses with a hook. Simone ducked under it nicely.
Simone bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Halsti avoids the body shot from Simone.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Halsti! But no joy.
Simone is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Halsti.
Simone scores with the left hand. Halsti knows he should have avoided that one.
Nice jab there from Simone.
Halsti is looking to score with low kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halsti jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Halsti jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Simone smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A telegraphed right hand from Halsti misses the target.
Simone slips a jab from Halsti.
Halsti misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Halsti lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Simone has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Simone and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Halsti looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Simone moves out of range of the strikes.
Simone checks a leg kick.
Simone smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Halsti throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice body punch from Simone.
Halsti on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Simone closes the distance and clinches.
Simone tries to throw a body punch but Halsti avoids it by throwing Simone back against the cage.
Simone jumps guard but Halsti stands there with Simone around his waist. Simone gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Halsti throws a head punch that misses.
Simone jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Halsti walks away with a smile on his face. Simone gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Simone checks the leg kick nicely there.
Simone swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Simone moves away from the strike by Halsti.
Halsti misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halsti is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Simone.
Halsti throws an off balance right hand
and Simone connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Halsti thumps Simone with a low kick.
A big left from Halsti misses.
Simone tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Halsti connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Simone's hands.
Simone moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Simone tries to close the distance and clinch up but Halsti swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Halsti throws a nice inside leg kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Halsti!
Halsti scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Simone jabs Halsti to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Simone blocks a jab.
Simone steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Halsti.
Simone moves forwards but Halsti connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Halsti throws a hook to the side of Simone's head but Simone sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Simone throwing a counter right hand but Halsti manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halsti has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Simone finds it's way round the side to connect with Halsti's head.
Halsti looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Simone throws a body punch but Halsti moves out of range.
Simone lands a jab to the nose.
Nice defenses there by Simone.
A little feinted left hand from Simone on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Simone throws a body shot but no joy.
Halsti swings for the body but Simone moves out of range.
Halsti is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Simone avoids a punch combination nicely.
Halsti takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Halsti takes one to the side of the head.
Halsti looks to land a right hand but Simone moved out of range.
Simone lands with a hook. Halsti tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Halsti throws a leg kick that is checked
and Simone counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Halsti with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Simone to score with a decent uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Halsti throws the left hand but Simone avoids the punch easily.
Halsti throws a leg kick
enabling Simone to counter with a crisp jab.
A slow jab from Halsti misses its intended target.
Simone lands a jab to the head.
Simone lands an overhand right.
Halsti throws a looping overhand right but Simone ducks down to avoid it.
Simone was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Simone throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Halsti on the side of the head.
Simone lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Joey Simone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Halsti misses the jab.
Simone lands with a hook. Halsti tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Halsti with the inside leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Halsti. Simone does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Halsti rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Simone cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Halsti has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Good work by Simone as he checks the leg kick.
Halsti bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Simone punishes Halsti's body with a nice straight punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joey Simone.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Simone, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Simone!
During a confident post fight interview, Joey Simone thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.