PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Craig Simonsgaurd (ranked 1850 p4p, 3139 weight class) and Eddie Roth (ranked 227 p4p, 345 weight class). Roth has chosen Straight Back to It as his entrance music. Eddie Roth has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Craig Simonsgaurd's chin.

Simonsgaurd
vs
Roth

180 cm
28
155
9 - 7 - 0

188 cm
25
157
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

Shadow Realm Apparel

Hawaii Nutrition
Northern Zombie

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Simonsgaurd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Eddie Roth!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paulsen Ambrosius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Simonsgaurd gets a clinch.
Roth wants to break free but Simonsgaurd has control.
Roth working aggressively here.
Simonsgaurd lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Simonsgaurd.
Roth is trying to break the clinch but Simonsgaurd has him pressed against the cage.
Roth is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Simonsgaurd tries to land a knee to the head but Roth blocks with his arms.
Roth can't break the clinch.
Roth dodges an elbow strike from Simonsgaurd.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Simonsgaurd creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Roth wants to get back to striking at distance but Simonsgaurd won't allow it.
Simonsgaurd throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth wants to stall.
Roth is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Roth on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Roth wants to break the clinch but can't.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Simonsgaurd lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Roth backwards.
Simonsgaurd 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth is trying to stall.
A nice right hand lands inside from Roth.
Simonsgaurd presses Roth against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Simonsgaurd keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Roth's efforts to push away.
Simonsgaurd lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Simonsgaurd looking to throw knees to the head but Roth is blocking nicely.
Roth throws a punch but it's blocked by Simonsgaurd.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Simonsgaurd.
Simonsgaurd tries a knee to the head but Roth blocks it.
Simonsgaurd using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Roth has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Simonsgaurd lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Roth blocks the elbow strike.
Simonsgaurd lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Roth's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Roth wants to break free but Simonsgaurd has control.
Roth is trying to break free.
Roth is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Simonsgaurd blocks an uppercut.
Simonsgaurd misses with a knee strike.
Simonsgaurd scores with a shot to the side of Roth's head.
Roth avoids a wild elbow strike from Simonsgaurd.
Simonsgaurd lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Roth blocks an elbow strike from Simonsgaurd.
Simonsgaurd misses with a knee strike.
Roth wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Roth is trying to force a seperation but Simonsgaurd has the dominant position.
Roth is trying to stall.
Roth wants to get back to striking at distance but Simonsgaurd won't allow it.
Roth lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simonsgaurd keeps control of Roth as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Roth wants to break free but Simonsgaurd has control.
Simonsgaurd with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Simonsgaurd lands a right hand.
Simonsgaurd with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Simonsgaurd lands with a light punch inside.
Simonsgaurd lands a hook that snaps the head of Roth backwards.
Roth is trying to force a seperation but Simonsgaurd has the dominant position.
Roth working hard to break the clinch.
Simonsgaurd makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Roth wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Simonsgaurd has him pressed against the cage.
A short left from Simonsgaurd.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Roth.
Roth tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Simonsgaurd misses with an elbow over the top.
Simonsgaurd leaning against his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simonsgaurd lands a hook to the side of the head.
Simonsgaurd lands a hook that snaps the head of Roth backwards.

Roth breaks the clinch.

Simonsgaurd rushes Roth and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Roth is trying to force a seperation but Simonsgaurd has the dominant position.
Simonsgaurd prevents a body shot from Roth.
Roth throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Simonsgaurd prevents a body shot from Roth.
Simonsgaurd lands an uppercut.
Roth wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Simonsgaurd has him pressed against the cage.
Roth tries to circle away but Simonsgaurd has him pinned against the cage.
Roth looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Simonsgaurd as Roth tries to tie him up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Roth swings widly with a right hand

and Simonsgaurd counters with a single leg into guard. Roth didn't expect that.

Simonsgaurd drops back looking for a leg! Roth is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Roth manages to kick Simonsgaurd off! Simonsgaurd jumps back into Roth's guard.
Simonsgaurd won't allow Roth to get back to his feet.
Simonsgaurd is pushing down on Roth's leg trying to pass to half guard. Roth is fighting to maintain full guard but Simonsgaurd has managed to sneak the leg through.

Simonsgaurd is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Roth defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Simonsgaurd is looking for a kimura but Roth is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Simonsgaurd to get the leverage.

Simonsgaurd is looking for a kimura here.

Simonsgaurd has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Roth defend it? Simonsgaurd steps over the head and cranks it - Roth is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Simonsgaurd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Craig Simonsgaurd!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Craig Simonsgaurd waved his t-shirt featuring Northern Zombie's logo in front of the cameras.
In defeat, Eddie Roth stepped up to the mic, saying 'The road to victory is paved with challenges, and this loss is just a stepping stone on that path. My greatest triumphs are still ahead."'.