PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Simmons (ranked 2717 p4p, 3938 weight class) and Liam Gold (ranked 0 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.

Simmons
vs
Gold

175 cm
25
145
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
130
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Simmons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Liam Gold!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simmons displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gold.
Gold tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Simmons swivels and escapes.
Simmons tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gold manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Simmons tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Simmons shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Gold is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gold darts in looking for a takedown but Simmons gets double underhooks and turns Gold into the cage.
Mike Simmons has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Gold.

Gold gets a clinch.
Gold keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Simmons's efforts to push away.
Gold tries to pull guard but Simmons forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gold blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Simmons on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gold tries to pull guard but Simmons forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gold breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Simmons lands a jab-cross combination.
Simmons scores with a hook to the body. Gold takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Simmons takes the fight into the clinch.
Simmons drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Simmons pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Simmons misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
No luck for Gold with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simmons misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gold throws a counter combo.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gold is defended easily by Simmons.

Simmons has managed to clinch.
Simmons has had enough of the clinch but Gold keeps him there for the moment.
Gold taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gold being controlled against the cage.
Gold lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gold is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gold changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Simmons fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gold tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Gold clinches with his opponent.
Gold tries to score a body lock takedown but Simmons shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Simmons is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Gold is defending well.
Simmons tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gold is looking to control Simmons's arms but Simmons gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gold has his back to the cage.
Simmons tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gold smiles and moves away.
Simmons is looking to land body kicks.
Nice takedown defense from Gold. No joy for Simmons on that attempt.
Simmons throws a one two combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simmons shoots for a double leg takedown but Gold sprawls well. He's pushed Simmons's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Simmons is breathing heavily.
Gold misses with a takedown
and Simmons counters with a slapping leg kick.
Simmons leaves Gold with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gold or perhaps it was just good defense by Simmons, which made it look bad.

Gold gets tackled into the cage by Simmons. Simmons maintains the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gold jumps guard and drags Simmons to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gold keeping moving, preventing Simmons from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gold shoots in for a double leg but Simmons sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Simmons shoots in for a takedown but Gold shows good takedown defense.

Gold gets a clinch.
Gold is leaning against Simmons and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Gold gets control of Simmons's arms and successfully pulls guard. Gold will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Simmons wants to control from the top but Gold keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simmons forces his way into half guard.
Gold controlling the position well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gold is not content to let Simmons control the position.
Gold won't allow Simmons to pass to mount.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gold trying to get back to full guard but Simmons takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Gold keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Simmons tries to push Gold's head away but Gold is holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Simmons lands a heavy elbow.
Simmons looking to ground and pound but Gold is blocking nicely.
Simmons trying to control but Gold is having none of it.
Gold blocking the ground and pound.
Simmons wants to control the pace but Gold is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gold tries to hold on but Simmons pushes him away.
Simmons tries to control but Gold wriggling away.
Gold has given up his back here.
Gold trying to control the hands but Simmons breaks the grip.
Simmons misses with a punch to the head.
Simmons misses with a punch to the head.
Simmons gets his hands free as Gold looks to control.

Simmons looking for the choke from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gold trying to control the hands but Simmons won't let him.
Simmons struggling to keep hold of the position.

Simmons goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Gold escapes and is now in half guard on top.

Gold escapes and gets back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Gold gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Simmons dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gold takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Simmons throws a leg kick that misses.
Simmons shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gold but Gold pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Simmons tries to close the distance and clinch but Gold swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gold let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Gold lands a high kick!
Gold shoots in for a takedown but Simmons shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Simmons is looking to counter punch.
Simmons shoots for a double leg takedown but Gold sprawls well. He's pushed Simmons's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Simmons has Gold up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gold changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Simmons fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gold.
Mike Simmons has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Gold.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Simmons rushes Gold and presses him up against the cage.

Simmons escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Simmons fails with a takedown attempt.
Simmons sets himself, and Gold steps forward looking for the clinch! Simmons avoids it this time.
Gold wants to clinch up but Simmons keeps it at a distance.

Simmons changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gold looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gold wants to get back to his feet but Simmons is dominant here and he's now got Gold's back!
Gold trying to get back to his feet but Simmons is in full control for now.
Gold takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Simmons has the hooks in. Gold is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Simmons is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gold can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gold biding his time here by controlling the hands, looking to escape.
Simmons throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Simmons gets his hands free as Gold looks to control.
Simmons somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
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!
Simmons tries to get the hooks in deep but Gold pushed the leg off.
Simmons missing with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Simmons not allowing Gold to control his hands.
Gold might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Simmons haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four 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.

Simmons looking to break Gold's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Gold remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Simmons will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Simmons working for the choke.
You can see the frustration on Gold's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Gold trying to get back to his feet but Simmons is in full control for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simmons is trying to control but Gold is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

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