PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Simunic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Halipois (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Simunic could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Joshua Halipois's chin.

Simunic
vs
Halipois

190 cm
20
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
21
256 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mark Simunic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joshua Halipois!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Winston Howard and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halipois looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Simunic is fending him off so far but Halipois persists. Nope, Simunic circles away and we're back to standing.

Simunic shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simunic passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Halipois!
Simunic controlling the pace for now.
Simunic lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Halipois is in all sorts of trouble here.
Simunic has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Halipois's face.
A nice elbow there by Simunic.
Simunic looking to finish Halipois with some ground and pound. This is bad for Halipois!
The referee warns Halipois that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simunic controlling his opponent.
Halipois gets back to half guard.
Simunic is thwarting Halipois's attempts to control the position.
Simunic takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Simunic is pressing down on Halipois's thigh, looking to free his foot. Halipois is holding on for now.
Simunic working Halipois over with strikes.
Halipois looks gassed!
Halipois is in trouble now - Simunic has advanced to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simunic landing punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simunic pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Simunic lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Simunic is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Halipois can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Simunic has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Simunic lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Simunic pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
A nice elbow there by Simunic.
Simunic is in the full mount, landing strikes.
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!
Simunic with good strikes from the mount here!
Simunic controlling the position easily from mount.
Halipois taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simunic scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Simunic looking to control and managing it successfully.
Halipois tries to reverse the position but Simunic maintains control.
Simunic with a couple of short strikes.
Simunic with a couple of short strikes.
Halipois really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Simunic. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Simunic lands a big shot there that rocks Halipois but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Halipois in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Simunic with the ground and pound from mount.
Simunic content just to control the position here.
Simunic lands a big shot there that rocks Halipois but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Halipois is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simunic has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Halipois's face.
Halipois is wriggling around trying to escape.
Simunic controlling from the full mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Simunic cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Halipois taking shots to the head.
Simunic postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Halipois looks a forlorn figure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Simunic working Halipois over with strikes here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Simunic lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Simunic dominated that round.
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.

Simunic closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Halipois quickly recovers to half guard.

Simunic escapes and gets back to his feet.

Simunic closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Simunic lands in his opponent's guard.
Simunic works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Simunic is taking a breather. Halipois says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Simunic connects with a nice short shot to Halipois's temple.
Simunic looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Halipois is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Simunic.
Halipois wants to control the action here but instead Simunic manages to pass to full mount!
Simunic controlling the pace for now.
Simunic lands a big shot there that rocks Halipois but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Halipois is in a horrible position here. Simunic smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Simunic controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simunic with a couple of short strikes.
A nice elbow there by Simunic.
Simunic takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Simunic scoring with strikes but Halipois is staying in there.
Simunic working the ground and pound effectively.
Simunic is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simunic tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Simunic lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Simunic with shots to the head and body - Halipois looks very uncomfortable down there.
Simunic controlling from the full mount.
BOOM! Simunic connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simunic looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Simunic with a couple of short strikes.
Simunic lands a big elbow.
A nice elbow there by Simunic.
Simunic controlling his opponent.
Simunic in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Simunic with good strikes from the mount here!
Mark Simunic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Simunic with shots to the head and body - Halipois looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Simunic dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Simunic decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Halipois is trying to stand back up but Simunic is controlling him
Simunic seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nice strikes from Simunic there.
Halipois takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Halipois is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Simunic pulls his head out easily.
Simunic takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simunic sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Simunic is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Simunic scoring with strikes but Halipois is staying in there.
Simunic working the ground and pound effectively.
Simunic breaks from Halipois's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Simunic controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simunic working the ground and pound effectively.
A nice elbow there by Simunic.
Simunic breaks from Halipois's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Simunic controlling from the full mount.
Simunic scoring with strikes but Halipois is staying in there.
The referee warns Halipois that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simunic controlling the position easily from mount.
Simunic lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Simunic is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Simunic lands a nice shot to the head.
Simunic controlling his opponent.
Simunic lands a heavy elbow.
Simunic is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Simunic controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simunic has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Simunic lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Simunic scoring with strikes but Halipois is staying in there.
Simunic landing strikes from the mount and Halipois is in trouble!
Joshua Halipois has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mark Simunic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Simunic fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Simunic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Simunic has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:24
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:24
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Simunic!