PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vlatko Simovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evan TanHer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simovic comes to the cage accompanied by Citizen Cope - Let the Drummer Kick. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Simovic
vs
TanHer

179 cm
20
169 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
163 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vlatko Simovic!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Evan TanHer!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
TanHer misses with a straight left.
TanHer throws a right and a left that Simovic avoids nicely.
Evan TanHer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
TanHer misses with a jab, cross combination.

Simovic has managed to clinch.

Simovic drags the fight down to the ground.
Simovic manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Simovic with the ground and pound from mount.
TanHer is desperately trying to improve his position but Simovic has a good base and remains in mount.
Simovic has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Simovic looking to control but TanHer is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Simovic moves to take his opponent's back.

Simovic is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. TanHer defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
TanHer turns into Simovic and is now in his guard.
Simovic wants to sweep here but TanHer controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
TanHer keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Simovic's head.

Simovic has his foot on TanHer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. TanHer works his way back into a safe position though.

Simovic looking for a guillotine here but TanHer defends easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells TanHer's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Simovic has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but TanHer can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Simovic is breathing heavily.
TanHer tries to free his leg and advance position but Simovic is retaining full guard.
Simovic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
TanHer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Simovic keeping full guard, as TanHer tries to pass.
TanHer chips away with some ground and pound.
TanHer lands a couple of digs.
TanHer throws a strike but Simovic rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
TanHer thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
TanHer is striking but Simovic is not phased and passes to half guard.

Simovic is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
TanHer is staying active underneath Simovic, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Simovic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if TanHer can do anything to dispel that myth.
TanHer lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Simovic is keen to just control but TanHer is a slippery customer.
TanHer moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
TanHer lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Simovic!
TanHer landing punches.
Simovic taking shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simovic is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
TanHer in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Simovic is working to get back to half guard.
Simovic is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Simovic regains half guard.
Simovic works his way to full guard. Good work.
TanHer with a flurry of punches that miss.

Simovic is looking for a triangle but TanHer pushes his legs off easily.
TanHer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Simovic wants to sweep but no luck.
Simovic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

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

Simovic looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simovic bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in TanHer's guard.
TanHer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Simovic trying to control the position from guard on top but TanHer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Simovic drops back looking for a leg! TanHer is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and TanHer manages to kick Simovic off! Simovic jumps back into TanHer's guard.
TanHer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Simovic is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
TanHer looking for a sweep. Not yet TanHer, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Simovic darts in and clinches TanHer up against the cage.
Simovic is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlatko Simovic dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Simovic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
TanHer fails with a takedown attempt.
Simovic lands with an uppercut that bounces TanHer off the cage and back into rage.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Simovic.
TanHer tries to clinch

and Simovic counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
TanHer slows down the pace here.
Simovic is trying to work for a single leg takedown but TanHer pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Simovic changes levels and goes for a takedown here. TanHer fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vlatko Simovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
TanHer swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Simovic counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in TanHer's guard now.
Simovic trying to control but TanHer is working from the bottom.
Vlatko Simovic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Simovic slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
TanHer is breathing heavily.
TanHer gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simovic tries to control but TanHer wriggling away.

Simovic looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
TanHer is trying to escape the mount.
Simovic lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Simovic prevents TanHer from getting the reversal.

Simovic is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. TanHer can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
TanHer wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
TanHer tries to break free.
Simovic punishes TanHer with strikes from the back mount.
TanHer tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
TanHer is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
TanHer holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Simovic tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
TanHer gets back to half guard.
TanHer moves into full guard.
TanHer looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Simovic puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
TanHer tries to roll over but Simovic keeps him under control.
TanHer gets back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now TanHer is on top in guard.
TanHer works over Simovic with some ground and pound from guard.
TanHer throwing strikes but missing.
TanHer postures up in Simovic's guard and throws a big left but Simovic blocks it.
Simovic is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Simovic lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for TanHer!

Simovic working for a guillotine from mount but TanHer is in no mood to give up.
Simovic putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
TanHer takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Simovic cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Simovic dominating with strikes here.
Simovic lands with some vicious ground and pound - can TanHer hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simovic looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
TanHer working to try and regain half guard.
TanHer is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Simovic has control of TanHer's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and TanHer regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Simovic looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Simovic landing punches.
TanHer is trying to escape the mount.
Simovic lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
TanHer is squirming around, avoiding Simovic's attempts to control the action.
TanHer is in all sorts of trouble here.

Simovic with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
TanHer working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

TanHer throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
TanHer tries to clinch up

and Simovic counters with a single leg into guard. TanHer didn't expect that.
TanHer throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Simovic wants to pass the guard but TanHer is keeping the position.
TanHer looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Simovic slips nicely into half guard.
Simovic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Simovic wants to control but TanHer is keeping him busy.
TanHer tries to roll over but Simovic keeps him under control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
TanHer swats away the attempt to clinch by Simovic.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Simovic.
TanHer throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Simovic.
TanHer fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Simovic checks it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
TanHer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Simovic moves away.
TanHer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
TanHer tries to clinch up

and Simovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Simovic.

Simovic has dropped down and is working for a takedown. TanHer is trying to keep an underhook but Simovic manages to get the takedown into half guard.
TanHer has hold of Simovic's hands but Simovic slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Simovic trying to control from half guard but TanHer is working away.
Simovic is really struggling to control TanHer but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Simovic trying to pass the guard but TanHer defending well.
TanHer wants to improve his position but Simovic is controlling well.
TanHer tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Simovic has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Simovic is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. TanHer can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
TanHer is trying desperately to improve position.
TanHer throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

TanHer defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Simovic.
TanHer working to try and regain half guard.
TanHer is squirming around, avoiding Simovic's attempts to control the action.
TanHer can't escape the position.
Simovic wants to control the pace but TanHer is squirming around nicely.
TanHer is looking to improve his position but Simovic isn't that keen on the idea.
Simovic lands with some vicious ground and pound - can TanHer hang on?
TanHer is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simovic throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
TanHer tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Simovic controlling the pace for now.
Simovic looking to control but TanHer is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
TanHer tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Simovic lands with some strikes.
Simovic blocks TanHer's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

Simovic is working to isolate an arm here. It's a choreographed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Simovic extends the arm and TanHer is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Vlatko Simovic!
Vlatko Simovic is the new welterweight champion!