PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Craig Simonsgaurd (ranked 3014 p4p, 4387 weight class) and Mei Ozaki (ranked 258 p4p, 341 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Simonsgaurd
vs
Ozaki

180 cm
25
155
2 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
145
1 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Craig Simonsgaurd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Mei Ozaki!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Bart Greer and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Simonsgaurd.

Simonsgaurd looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ozaki regains half guard.
Simonsgaurd will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Simonsgaurd is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ozaki moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ozaki keeping full guard, as Simonsgaurd tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simonsgaurd is working hard here to advance position.
Ozaki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ozaki should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ozaki wants to stand and escape but Simonsgaurd is having none of it.
Simonsgaurd being controlled here momentarily.
Ozaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Simonsgaurd wants to pass the guard but Ozaki is keeping the position.
Ozaki trying to control the position.
Ozaki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Simonsgaurd is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Simonsgaurd drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ozaki looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ozaki looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ozaki!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Simonsgaurd tries to bench press Ozaki off him but Ozaki keeps the position.
Simonsgaurd knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ozaki on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simonsgaurd gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Simonsgaurd tries to get to full guard but Ozaki has control of the leg.

Simonsgaurd is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ozaki pulls his head out easily.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Ozaki working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Simonsgaurd slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ozaki makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Simonsgaurd can't keep his opponent in guard - Ozaki advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ozaki prevents Simonsgaurd from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ozaki is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Simonsgaurd sees it coming and defends easily.
Simonsgaurd on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Simonsgaurd tries to get out of the position.

Simonsgaurd is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ozaki pulls his head out easily.
Ozaki is trying to control. Simonsgaurd wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ozaki wants to work for an arm triangle but Simonsgaurd is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ozaki drops an elbow to the side of Simonsgaurd's head.
Simonsgaurd is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Simonsgaurd looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Simonsgaurd is trying to get back to full guard.

Simonsgaurd is defending against the submission attempts here by Ozaki.

Simonsgaurd looking for submissions off his back.
Ozaki is looking to take a break and control but Simonsgaurd is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Simonsgaurd looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ozaki works his way into full mount!
Simonsgaurd is trying desperately to improve position.
Simonsgaurd sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Simonsgaurd is trying to get back to full guard.

Ozaki is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Simonsgaurd defends it well.
Ozaki prevents Simonsgaurd from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Simonsgaurd actively working from the bottom here.
Simonsgaurd wants to sweep but Ozaki has passed to side control!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mei Ozaki will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A solid leg kick lands there for Ozaki.

Simonsgaurd scores with a takedown into Ozaki's guard.

Ozaki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Simonsgaurd can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ozaki is on top in guard.

Simonsgaurd throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ozaki trying to control but Simonsgaurd is working from the bottom.

Simonsgaurd is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ozaki cracks Simonsgaurd with a solid left hand.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Ozaki has eaten all the pies!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ozaki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Simonsgaurd swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Simonsgaurd has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Ozaki is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Simonsgaurd.

Ozaki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Simonsgaurd is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Ozaki is breathing heavily.
Simonsgaurd is looking to regain half guard here but Ozaki keeps moving and retains side control.
Ozaki has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Simonsgaurd!
Simonsgaurd slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Simonsgaurd actively working from the bottom here.

Ozaki is working for a kimura but Simonsgaurd is defending it quite comfortably.
Simonsgaurd is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simonsgaurd tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Ozaki has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Simonsgaurd tries to reverse the position but Ozaki maintains control.
Ozaki takes Simonsgaurd's back.
Simonsgaurd wants to escape the position.
Ozaki is trying to stick to Simonsgaurd's back but Simonsgaurd is turning into Ozaki. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ozaki's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Simonsgaurd.
Simonsgaurd has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Simonsgaurd trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ozaki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Simonsgaurd manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ozaki pushes down on Simonsgaurd's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Ozaki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simonsgaurd wants to get back to full guard.
Ozaki looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Simonsgaurd works his way to full guard. Good work.

Ozaki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ozaki slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Simonsgaurd is not content to let Ozaki control the position.
Simonsgaurd is looking to regain half guard here but Ozaki keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ozaki gets to mount! Simonsgaurd was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Simonsgaurd is bucking up trying to escape but Ozaki cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Simonsgaurd is wriggling around trying to escape.
Simonsgaurd has given up his back here. Will Ozaki look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Ozaki looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Simonsgaurd taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mei Ozaki!