PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between rafael borges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zako Simmons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Simmons's choice of entrance music: I wanna be a balla. Simmons has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Zako Simmons is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

borges
vs
Simmons

196 cm
22
253 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
260 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, rafael borges!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zako Simmons!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simmons takes a swing at borges's ribcage but misses.
Simmons looks gassed!
Simmons swings and misses with a hook to the body.

borges feints and as Simmons raises his hands in defense, borges changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
borges wants to get up but he can't break Simmons's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

borges decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Simmons, up you get!
borges shoots in looking for a takedown. Simmons tries to sprawl out of it but borges keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Simmons manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

borges looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
borges takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
borges lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
borges trying to control the action but Simmons is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
borges looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
borges wants to take a breather but Simmons is having none of it.

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

borges is working for a kimura but Simmons is defending it quite comfortably.

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

borges is working for a submission of some sort.
borges with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

borges shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

borges drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and borges jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
borges sitting in guard here, content to control.
borges trying to control the position from guard on top but Simmons is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Simmons escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. borges gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

borges stands and steps away. Simmons gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Simmons displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from borges.
borges shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for rafael borges. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Simmons misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zako Simmons seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Simmons will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from borges is defended easily by Simmons.
borges is looking to clinch but Simmons is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

rafael borges dominated that round.
That's time! borges's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Simmons throws a right and a left that borges avoids nicely.
borges shoots in for a takedown but Simmons shows good takedown defense.
borges blocks a jab.

borges bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

borges has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Simmons keeps the fight on the outside.
borges fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

borges has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

borges escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
borges fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for rafael borges. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Simmons closes the distance and clinches up with borges, looking for a takedown. Simmons pushes borges against the cage but borges circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
borges closes this distance looking for a takedown but Simmons circles away.
Simmons stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Simmons wants it to stay on the feet.
Simmons misses with a two punch combination.
Zako Simmons is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
borges with a jab.
borges shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Simmons as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
borges showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Simmons.
borges has a takedown stuffed.
Simmons throws a right hand that borges ducks under and follows up with a left that borges also avoids with ease.
A punch combination from Simmons misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from borges.
Simmons swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Simmons lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and borges has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from borges and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

borges moves into the clinch.
borges using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Simmons has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
borges throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
borges lands with a short shot to the head.
borges holding his opponent close, against the cage.
borges changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Simmons fights it off and pushes away nicely.

borges has closed the distance and engaged Simmons in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

borges breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
borges closes the distance and clinches up with Simmons, looking for a takedown. borges pushes Simmons against the cage but Simmons circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Simmons throws a right hand that borges ducks under and follows up with a left that borges also avoids with ease.
borges shoots in for a takedown but Simmons shows good takedown defense.

borges throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Simmons was covering up waiting for the punch and borges finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Simmons looking for a guillotine here but borges defends easily.

borges drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Simmons manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now borges has Simmons in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

rafael borges dominated that second round.
That's time! borges's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Simmons swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
borges fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Simmons throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
borges wants to clinch up but Simmons keeps it at a distance.
Simmons takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simmons misses with a two punch combination.
borges shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Simmons pinned against the cage. Simmons gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Simmons stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for rafael borges. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons defends well against a solid takedown attempt from borges.
Simmons misses with the combination.
borges shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Simmons sprawls well. Simmons wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. borges gets slowly back to his feet.
Simmons keeps the fight on the outside.
rafael borges is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

borges drives through with a takedown into guard.
borges is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

borges avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
borges is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
borges seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Simmons for as long as he can get away with.

Simmons looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
borges trying to control but Simmons is working from the bottom.
borges has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
borges 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of rafael borges.
borges is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

borges closes the distance and pushes Simmons back into the cage.
borges lands a left hand.
Simmons has had enough of the clinch but borges keeps him there for the moment.

borges breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Simmons throws a sloppy head kick and borges moves out of range easily.

borges forces Simmons back against the cage and clinches.
Stalling in the clinch from borges.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
borges lands a body punch in the clinch.

borges works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Zako Simmons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
borges controlling from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
rafael borges showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for borges, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... rafael borges!