PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nicky Simmonds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamid Karzai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simmonds comes to the cage accompanied by 'Unsettling Differences' by Blue Smock Nancy. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Simmonds
vs
Karzai

190 cm
21
248 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
27
230 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ka-POW Clothing

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nicky Simmonds!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hamid Karzai!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Bruno Hogan and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karzai doesn't manage to clinch there - Simmonds circles away.
Karzai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Simmonds's waist but Simmonds gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Karzai off to one side.
Karzai circles away from the clinch attempt
and Karzai counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Simmonds tries to keep at a distance but Karzai has taken the fight into the clinch.
Simmonds tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Karzai avoids it.
Karzai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Karzai has Simmonds pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Simmonds manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Simmonds scores a nice knee to the body.
Simmonds with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Simmonds is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Karzai looks gassed!
Simmonds with a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Simmonds landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Simmonds using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Karzai has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Karzai avoiding damage as Simmonds throws knees to the body.
Simmonds tries a knee to the head but Karzai blocks it.
The referee calls for Simmonds to work.
Simmonds missing with knees to the body.
Simmonds looking to throw knees to the head but Karzai is blocking nicely.
Simmonds with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Karzai has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Simmonds avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nicky Simmonds has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hamid Karzai.
Simmonds landing knees to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Karzai.
Simmonds lands a knee to the body.
Simmonds is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karzai is defending well for now.
Simmonds tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Karzai avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmonds tries a knee to the head but Karzai blocks it.
Simmonds looking to throw knees to the head but Karzai is blocking nicely.
Karzai has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Simmonds avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Simmonds misses with a knee strike.
Karzai lands a good knee to the midsection. Simmonds won't want to take too many of those.
Simmonds with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Simmonds using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Simmonds blocks the elbow strike.
Karzai taking a breather.
Karzai wants to stall.
Karzai blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Karzai.
Simmonds keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Karzai's efforts to push away.
Simmonds is stalling here.
Karzai tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Simmonds avoids it.
Simmonds tries a knee to the head but Karzai blocks it.
Simmonds is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karzai is defending well for now.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Simmonds tries a knee to the head but Karzai blocks it.
Karzai is trying to maintain a safe position but Simmonds gets an underhook and turns Karzai into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Simmonds avoids a wild elbow strike from Karzai.
Karzai tries to stall but Simmonds uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Simmonds with a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Karzai as Simmonds tries to tie him up.
Karzai tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Simmonds trying to land knees to the body.
Simmonds is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karzai is defending well for now.
Simmonds gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Karzai.
Karzai avoiding damage as Simmonds throws knees to the body.
Karzai is trying to break free.
Karzai tries for a takedown but Simmonds manages to get underhooks.

Karzai has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Simmonds is trying to keep an underhook but Karzai manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Karzai stops Simmonds from getting back to his feet.
Karzai trying to control from half guard but Simmonds is working away.
Nice strikes from Karzai there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karzai prevents Simmonds from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karzai is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Karzai working Simmonds over with strikes.
Simmonds is trying to stand up here but Karzai is controlling him well.

Simmonds makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Karzai shoots and misses

and Simmonds holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Simmonds takes a knee right on the jaw!
Simmonds tries to land knees in the clinch but Karzai avoids the damage to the body.
Karzai wants a takedown but no success here.
Karzai looking to stall.
Simmonds lands a knee to the body.
Simmonds looking to throw knees to the head but Karzai is blocking nicely.
Simmonds trying to land knees to the body.
Simmonds lands a good knee to the midsection. Karzai won't want to take too many of those.
Simmonds throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Karzai blocks it with crossed arms.
Simmonds keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Karzai's efforts to push away.

Karzai jumps guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karzai wants to stand and escape but Simmonds is having none of it.
Karzai is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Simmonds drops back looking for a leg! Karzai is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Karzai manages to kick Simmonds off! Simmonds jumps back into Karzai's guard.
Simmonds postures up.

Karzai is looking for a triangle but Simmonds pushes his legs off easily.
Simmonds wants to control from the top but Karzai keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Simmonds is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Karzai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicky Simmonds 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.

Simmonds moves in looking to clinch but Karzai pushes him off.
Simmonds tries to clinch up

and Karzai moves into the clinch.
Karzai takes a knee right on the jaw!
Karzai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Simmonds blocks it with crossed arms.
Simmonds tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Karzai tries to land knees in the clinch but Simmonds avoids the damage to the body.
Simmonds is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karzai is defending well for now.
Simmonds trying to land knees to the body.
Simmonds tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Simmonds tries a knee to the head but Karzai blocks it.
Karzai is trying to break the clinch but Simmonds is controlling him.
Karzai wants to break the clinch but can't.
Karzai is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Simmonds gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Karzai with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Simmonds tries a knee to the head but Karzai blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simmonds misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Karzai.
The referee calls for Simmonds to work.
Simmonds avoids the elbow strike from Karzai, against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Karzai drops down looking for an ankle pick but Simmonds pulls his leg out and moves away.
Simmonds closes the distance but Karzai moves to the side

and Karzai counters with a nice double leg into side control. Simmonds won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karzai working the body and head with strikes.
Simmonds is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Karzai asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Karzai has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Karzai decides to stand up, so the ref orders Simmonds to his feet.

Karzai moves into the clinch successfully.
Simmonds throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Simmonds with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Karzai blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Karzai successfully pulls guard.
Karzai striking off his back but it's not causing Simmonds any problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karzai wants to sweep but no luck.
Simmonds has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Karzai is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Karzai is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Simmonds trying to control the position from guard on top but Karzai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simmonds lands a couple of elbows.

Karzai working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Simmonds has passed into half guard!

Karzai kicks Simmonds off and gets back to his feet.
Karzai keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karzai tries to keep at a distance but Simmonds has taken the fight into the clinch.
Simmonds looking to throw knees to the head but Karzai is blocking nicely.
Simmonds is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karzai is defending well for now.
Simmonds lands a good knee to the midsection. Karzai won't want to take too many of those.
Simmonds is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karzai is defending well for now.
Nicky Simmonds has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A head punch on the inside from Karzai fails to land.
Simmonds connects with a knee to the head.
Karzai takes a knee right on the jaw!
Simmonds landing knees to the body.
Simmonds with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Simmonds trying to land knees to the body.
Karzai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Simmonds blocks it with crossed arms.
Simmonds tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Karzai avoids it.
Nice body punch from Karzai - that landed with a thud.
Simmonds utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Simmonds tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Karzai manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Karzai controls Simmonds momentarily but Simmonds frees himself.
Simmonds postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Simmonds postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simmonds prevents Karzai from getting back to his feet.
Simmonds throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Simmonds content to stall in guard here.
Simmonds is in close to Karzai's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Simmonds postures up in Karzai's guard and throws a big left but Karzai blocks it.

Karzai working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Simmonds doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Simmonds manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Simmonds keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Karzai's head.
Karzai lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Simmonds!
Karzai unloading with bombs!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hamid Karzai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Simmonds's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Karzai fails with the takedown.

Simmonds closes the distance and clinches.
Simmonds tries to land knees in the clinch but Karzai avoids the damage to the body.
Simmonds tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Karzai avoids it.
Simmonds tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Karzai stalling the fight.
Karzai avoiding damage as Simmonds throws knees to the body.
Karzai is trying to break the clinch but Simmonds is controlling him.
Karzai on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Karzai avoids a wild elbow strike from Simmonds.
Karzai wants to stall.
Karzai lands an uppercut.
Simmonds is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Simmonds crunches a lovely knee into Karzai's ribcage.
Simmonds tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Simmonds throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Karzai blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Karzai gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Karzai tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Karzai is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Simmonds makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Hamid Karzai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karzai shoots in for a double leg but Simmonds sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Simmonds is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Simmonds looks to clinch

and Karzai counters by moving into the clinch.
Karzai throws a punch but it's blocked by Simmonds.
Karzai managing to block the knees to the body from Simmonds.
Simmonds is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Karzai is defending well for now.

Karzai has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Simmonds uses from the top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Simmonds's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Karzai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Simmonds trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Karzai trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Karzai pushes Simmonds off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Karzai thows a body shot but no joy.
Karzai shoots in for a takedown but Simmonds shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nicky Simmonds has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hamid Karzai.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simmonds tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Karzai manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Simmonds takes the fight into the clinch.
Karzai goes for a takedown attempt but Simmonds pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Simmonds gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Simmonds landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Simmonds with a knee to the head.
Simmonds looking to throw knees to the head but Karzai is blocking nicely.
Simmonds landing knees to the body.
Karzai blocks an elbow strike from Simmonds.
Simmonds using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Karzai has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Simmonds being controlled against the cage.
Simmonds utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Simmonds tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Simmonds prevents the takedown attempt.
Simmonds throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Karzai blocks it with crossed arms.
Karzai on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Karzai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nicky Simmonds seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karzai clinches.
Karzai on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Karzai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Simmonds misses with a knee strike.
Karzai goes for a takedown in the clinch but Simmonds prevents it.
Simmonds with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Karzai slowing the pace effectively.
Simmonds unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Simmonds misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Karzai.
Simmonds misses with a knee to the head.
Simmonds tries to land knees in the clinch but Karzai avoids the damage to the body.

Karzai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Simmonds moves out of range of the body kick.

Simmonds fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Karzai, pushing him back against the cage.
Karzai avoiding damage as Simmonds throws knees to the body.

Simmonds is fighting off a takedown attempt but Karzai is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Simmonds to the mat. Simmonds regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Karzai postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Simmonds pushes Karzai off and gets back to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karzai tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Simmonds smiles and moves away.
Karzai looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Simmonds doesn't manage to clinch there - Karzai circles away.
Simmonds tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Karzai counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Simmonds is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Karzai shoots for a double leg takedown but Simmonds sprawls well. He's pushed Karzai's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Simmonds doesn't manage to clinch there - Karzai circles away.
Simmonds is looking to clinch but Karzai is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Simmonds looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Karzai tries to keep at a distance but Simmonds has taken the fight into the clinch.
Simmonds is looking to control Karzai's arms but Karzai gets an underhook and turns him. Now Simmonds has his back to the cage.
Karzai blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicky Simmonds showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Simmonds 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicky Simmonds!