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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafik Arfah (ranked 24052 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julius Simmons (ranked 4759 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafik Arfah has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.
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| 150 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 18 - 0 |
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174 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident |
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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
0 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rafik Arfah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julius Simmons!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Stewart Dunkirk and George Francis.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick lands from Simmons that sends Arfah to the canvas. Arfah tries to scramble back to his feet but Simmons brings him back down into side control.
It looks like Rafik Arfah has been cut.
Simmons throwing strikes but Arfah manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Simmons is trying to improve his position.
A control attempt from Simmons but he's now mounted!
Simmons working to try and regain half guard.
Arfah controlling the position easily from mount.
Simmons is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Simmons tries to hold on but Arfah postures up.
Simmons is trying desperately to improve position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Arfah avoids the attempt from Simmons to control.
Simmons tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Arfah looking to control and managing it successfully.
Simmons is wriggling around trying to escape.
Arfah takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arfah landing strikes, looking to finish!
Arfah could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Arfah sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Simmons is desperately trying to improve his position but Arfah has a good base and remains in mount.
Arfah throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Arfah prevents Simmons from getting the reversal.
Arfah with shots to the head and body - Simmons looks very uncomfortable down there.
Arfah throws some wild stikes that Simmons manages to avoid easily.
Simmons is working to get back to half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arfah thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Arfah tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Simmons working to try and regain half guard.
Arfah takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Simmons is looking to get to half guard.
Arfah sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simmons is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Arfah tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Arfah has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Simmons is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rafik Arfah dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafik Arfah's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Simmons darts in and clinches Arfah up against the cage.
Arfah tries to stall but Simmons uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Simmons obliges.
Simmons scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Come on Simmons - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Simmons has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Arfah uses from the top position.
Arfah is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Arfah passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arfah creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Simmons sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Arfah is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Simmons will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Simmons is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Arfah remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Simmons is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Arfah is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Simmons is looking to improve his position but Arfah isn't that keen on the idea.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Arfah sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Simmons tries to lock up and control but Arfah gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Simmons is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arfah looking to ground and pound but Simmons is blocking nicely.
Arfah content just to control the position here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simmons keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Simmons is breathing heavily.
Simmons wants to control but Arfah is having none of it.
Arfah sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Arfah throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Simmons tries to hold on but Arfah pushes him away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arfah sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Arfah continues to stall.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Arfah.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simmons swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arfah prevents Simmons from getting the reversal.
Simmons keeps trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Rafik Arfah dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rafik Arfah's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!
Arfah finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Arfah misses with a looping right.
Arfah misses with a looping right.
Arfah doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Arfah takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Simmons closes the distance and clinches.
Simmons blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Simmons unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Simmons pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Simmons fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Arfah, pushing him back against the cage.
Simmons lands a knee to the head.
Simmons landing knees to the body.
Simmons working Arfah over with knees to the body.
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!
Arfah stops a takedown attempt from Simmons.
Simmons lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Simmons manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Simmons takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Arfah is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Simmons is keeping busy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Julius Simmons seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Simmons looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Arfah is fending him off so far but Simmons persists. Nope, Arfah circles away and we're back to standing.
Simmons uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Arfah.
Simmons blocks a low kick nicely.
Arfah thows a left - swing and a miss!
Simmons throws a fast counter high kick but Arfah manages to duck under it in time.
Simmons darts in looking for a takedown but Arfah gets double underhooks and turns Simmons into the cage.
Rafik Arfah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Julius Simmons.
Arfah throws a shot to the body.
Arfah loads up on a big right hand but Simmons slips the punch.
Simmons slips a straight right by Arfah.
A looping hook to the body misses from Arfah. Simmons does a little dance to reset his feet.
Arfah misses with a wild body shot.
Simmons shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Arfah as he avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Simmons.
Arfah misses with a wild body shot.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simmons instigates a clinch.
Arfah misses with some punches.
Arfah misses with some punches.
Arfah working aggressively here.
Arfah tries to stall but Simmons uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Simmons is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Arfah to keep the fight standing.
Arfah is trying to stall.
Arfah struggles to land a body shot inside as Simmons controls his hands.
Simmons tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Arfah throws a punch but it's blocked by Simmons.
Julius Simmons seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Simmons misses with a knee to the head.
Simmons blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Simmons blocks a body shot from Arfah.
Simmons blocking some punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Simmons prevents a body shot from Arfah.
Arfah misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Simmons using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arfah has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arfah tries to work over Simmons's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Arfah misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Arfah.
Arfah goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Arfah can't find room to land a body shot as Simmons controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Arfah fails to land.
Simmons lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Simmons blocks an uppercut.
Simmons lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Julius Simmons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Arfah looking to slow down the pace here.
Simmons breaks from the clinch.
Arfah throws a body shot but no joy.
A head kick misses from Simmons.
Arfah swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Simmons throws a hook but Arfah blocks it.
Arfah looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Arfah misses with a shot to the body
and Simmons counters with a head kick.
Simmons slips a straight right by Arfah.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arfah throws an overhand right that lands on Simmons's shoulder, as Simmons tries to avoid the shot.
Arfah leaves Simmons with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Arfah throws out a loose jab but Simmons uses good head movement to avoid it.
Arfah throws out a loose jab but Simmons uses good head movement to avoid it.
Arfah is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Simmons's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Arfah misses with an uppercut. Simmons saw that one coming.
Simmons looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Simmons defending well as Arfah loads up on a big left hand.
Arfah looks to score with a jab to the body but Simmons is just out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Simmons throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Arfah looks to land a right hand but Simmons moved out of range.
Simmons steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Arfah.
Simmons throws a head kick that misses.
Arfah takes a swing at Simmons's ribcage but misses.
Arfah ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Simmons slips a straight right by Arfah.
Arfah misses with a hook.
Arfah looks to land a right hand but Simmons moved out of range.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Julius Simmons.
I think Arfah has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafik Arfah!
A determined Rafik Arfah didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
40% |
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