PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Len Simon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Ariza (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.

Simon
vs
Ariza

211 cm
21
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Len Simon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jack Ariza!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ariza scores with a takedown into Simon's guard.
Ariza trying to control but Simon is working from the bottom.
Simon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Simon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Simon preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Simon throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ariza lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ariza trying to control but Simon is working from the bottom.
Ariza throwing strikes from guard but Simon blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ariza has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Simon keeping moving, preventing Ariza from controlling successfully.
Ariza's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jack Ariza wasn't active enough on the ground.
Simon tries to clinch but Ariza moves out of range.

Ariza closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Simon tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ariza avoids it.
Simon is trying to pull guard but Ariza turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Simon tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Simon turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Simon manages to end up in side control.
Ariza manages to work his way to half guard, despite Simon's best efforts.
Ariza is trying to escape back to his feet but Simon uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Ariza tries to improve position but can't.
The strikes coming from Simon are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ariza manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Simon sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ariza defending well though.
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!
Simon not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ariza keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ariza wants to control the action here but instead Simon manages to pass to full mount!
Ariza wants to hold on but Simon pushes him away.
Simon throwing strikes here but Ariza is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Ariza working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ariza wants to control but Simon is having none of it.
Simon throwing strikes here but Ariza is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Ariza holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Simon tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Ariza is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Simon will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Simon cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Ariza bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simon throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Simon wants to sweep but no luck.
Ariza showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ariza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Simon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Simon tries to strike from the bottom.
Ariza wants to control from the top but Simon keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Simon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ariza is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Ariza dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Simon swats away the attempt to clinch by Ariza.

Simon instigates a clinch.
Ariza can't get the takedown.
Come on Simon - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Ariza has hold of one of Simon's legs. Simon is fighting the takedown attempt but Ariza gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Ariza loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Simon doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ariza trying to control but Simon is working from the bottom.
Jack Ariza has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ariza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Simon is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon 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.
Ariza trying to control the position from guard on top but Simon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ariza with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ariza stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Simon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ariza content to stall in guard here.

Simon looking for a guillotine here but Ariza defends easily.
Ariza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Simon is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ariza is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Simon 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.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ariza's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ariza trying to control but Simon is working from the bottom.
Ariza is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Simon trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ariza won't allow Simon to sweep him here.
Ariza connects with a couple of short punches.
Ariza is pushing down on Simon's leg trying to pass to half guard. Simon is fighting to maintain full guard but Ariza has managed to sneak the leg through.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ariza lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ariza is trying to control the action in half guard but Simon is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Simon is looking to get back to full guard here but Ariza has managed to pass to side control instead.
Ariza wants to control but Simon is keeping him busy.
Simon is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ariza connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Simon some visible discomfort.
Simon sneaks back into half guard.
Simon won't allow Ariza to pass to mount.
Ariza prevents Simon from improving his position.

Ariza seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ariza is keen to just control but Simon is a slippery customer.
Simon taking some punishment here, with Ariza in his half guard.
Ariza lands with a punch from half guard.
Ariza passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Simon!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ariza working for a submission but Simon is keeping him at bay.
Simon is trying desperately to improve position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ariza with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Ariza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Ariza misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Simon is rocked!

Ariza closes the distance and pushes Simon back into the cage.
Oh Simon is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ariza swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Simon seems to have got his legs back now.
Ariza is looking for a takedown.

Ariza has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Simon is trying to keep an underhook but Ariza manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Simon manages to get to full guard.
Simon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ariza is one step ahead there.
Simon being controlled here, momentarily.
Ariza stopping the sweep attempt from Simon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ariza slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Simon.
Simon wants to improve his position but Ariza is controlling well.
Ariza trying to mount his opponent but Simon defends it.
Ariza moves into full mount! Simon won't be happy about that!
Ariza postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Simon looks a forlorn figure.
Ariza with a couple of short strikes.
Simon tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Simon is working hard here to advance position.
Ariza postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Simon bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Ariza and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jack Ariza!