PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Simond (ranked 25173 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alvarez Croce (ranked 6085 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Alvarez Croce was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Simond
vs
Croce

188 cm
22
192 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jeff Simond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alvarez Croce !
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Franklyn Lucas and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simond lands a jab to the nose.

Simond gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Croce to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Croce passes into half guard.
Simond has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Simond is looking to control Croce 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Simond avoid being mounted?
Croce thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Croce not doing much here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Croce escapes and gets back to his feet.
Simond dives in and grabs Croce 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Croce pushes down on Simond's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Croce gets the takedown into side control.
Simond is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Simond looking for submissions off his back.

Simond actively working from the bottom here.
Croce sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Simond wants to control but Croce is keeping busy.
Simond taking some punishment here, with Croce in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Croce postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Simond to stand up.
No luck for Croce with that takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Croce .

Croce shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Croce is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Simond wants to sweep here but Croce controlling him for the moment.
Simond is working hard here to advance position.
Croce trying to control the position from guard on top but Simond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simond escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Croce gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Croce looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Croce slips nicely into half guard.
Simond trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Croce stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Simond to get to his feet.

Simond throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Croce tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Simond is in Croce 's guard.
Simond controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Croce looking for a sweep. Not yet Croce , not yet.
Simond is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Simond trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simond throws an elbow that misses. Croce uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Simond's guard. Nice move by Croce !

Croce trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Simond is looking to sweep but instead, Croce has passed into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alvarez Croce dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A jab from Simond finds it's way through Croce 's defenses.
Croce slips a straight right by Simond.
Simond misses with a takedown attempt - Croce sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Croce has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Croce closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Simond's guard.
Croce slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Croce landing some decent shots from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Croce controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Simond keeping full guard, as Croce tries to pass.

Croce decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Simond, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Simond. Those never looked like landing.
Simond throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Simond dives in and scores a takedown into Croce 's guard.
Alvarez Croce has got the better of the ground game so far.
Croce lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Croce pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Simond is keeping the position for now.

Croce decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Croce throws a push kick but Simond slaps the foot to one side.
Croce takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Simond misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simond missing with a left hand there. Croce was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Croce is looking to clinch.

Croce rushes Simond and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Simond pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Simond digs a good hook to Croce 's body.
Simond avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Simond closes this distance looking for a takedown but Croce circles away.
Croce tries to counter with a clinch but Simond shakes him off and moves away.

Croce gets a double leg takedown into Simond's guard.

Simond looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Croce passes into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Croce decides to stand back up. Croce steps back and let's Simond get back to his feet.
Simond misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Croce has managed to clinch.
Simond is trying to break free.

Croce manages to pull guard.
Simond working some strikes from top position.
Croce is trying to control the position but Simond postures up.
Simond wants to control from the top but Croce keeps moving.
Simond being controlled here momentarily.
Croce looking to hit a scissor sweep but Simond is one step ahead there.
Croce not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Croce lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Croce is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Croce passes into half guard.
Simond wants to control but Croce is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Croce takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Simond is looking to control Croce 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Simond avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alvarez Croce showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Croce rushes Simond and presses him up against the cage.
Croce jumps guard but Simond stands there with Croce around his waist. Croce gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Croce tries to land a knee to the head but Simond blocks with his arms.
Croce is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Simond breaks the clinch.
A cross from Simond lands.
No joy there for Croce , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Croce scores with a takedown into Simond's guard.
Croce is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Simond is pulling down on Croce 's head. It's preventing any offense from Croce , at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simond not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Croce trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Croce engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Croce trying to control the position from guard on top but Simond is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Simond looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Croce passes into half guard.
Croce is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Croce 's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Simond trying to control but Croce postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Croce avoids a punch combination nicely.
Simond looks to land a combination but Croce avoids it well.
Croce shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Simond as he avoids it easily.
A combination from Simond does no damage.
Croce steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Simond.
Simond tries to work over Croce 's front leg with a kick but Croce checks it.
Simond takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Simond connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Croce momentarily.
Jeff Simond has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jeff Simond seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Croce gets caught flat footed, as Simond shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Croce wants to stand up but Simond is controlling him.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Croce holds on and takes a little breather.
Simond won't allow Croce to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Croce is trying to control the position but Simond postures up.
Croce might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Simond haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Simond wants to pass the guard but Croce is keeping the position.
Simond content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Croce is trying to keep Simond in close.
Simond looking to pass the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Simond in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Alvarez Croce is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Simond throws a big right hand that misses.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeff Simond showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Croce has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alvarez Croce !