PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Rojo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Simmons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rojo's entrance music is You're Going Down. A fine choice. Simmons has chosen Sound of MAdness - Shinedown as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rojo
vs
Simmons

193 cm
32
265 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

193 cm
20
288 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Miguel Rojo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Simmons!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simmons tries for a takedown but Rojo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rojo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Simmons ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rojo moves away.
Simmons swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Simmons is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rojo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rojo misses with a double jab
and Simmons counters with a stiff right hand.
Rojo dodges the punch combination from Simmons.
Simmons darts in looking for a takedown but Rojo gets double underhooks and turns Simmons into the cage.
Miguel Rojo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Simmons.
Simmons wants to take the fight to the mat but Rojo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Rojo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Simmons will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rojo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Simmons circles away quickly and effectively.
Simmons scores with a shot to the body.
Simmons misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Simmons fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rojo throws a series of punches but Simmons avoids them all with ease.
Simmons shoots for a double leg takedown but Rojo sprawls well. He's pushed Simmons's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A head kick lands from Rojo that sends Simmons to the canvas. Simmons tries to scramble back to his feet but Rojo brings him back down into side control.

It looks like John Simmons has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Simmons is trying to control Rojo's posture but Rojo avoids it.
Simmons sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Simmons looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Simmons makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Simmons.
Simmons avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Simmons working a defensive guard here.
Rojo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Simmons is looking to sweep but instead, Rojo has passed into half guard.
Simmons blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rojo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rojo sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Simmons blocking the ground and pound.
Simmons is looking to get to half guard.
Simmons taking shots to the head.
Simmons is looking to get to half guard.
Rojo throws some wild stikes that Simmons manages to avoid easily.
Rojo looking to finish with strikes here!
Rojo misses with a head shot.
Simmons working to try and regain half guard.
Simmons looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Simmons is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simmons really wants to buck Rojo off and get back to his feet.
Simmons blocking the ground and pound.
Simmons felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Rojo jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Simmons is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Simmons and Rojo has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Simmons sneaks back into half guard.
Simmons landing a few short strikes.

Simmons is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rojo pulls his head out easily.
Rojo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Simmons on the ground.
Simmons is trying to get back to full guard.

Simmons is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rojo pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojo is keen to just control but Simmons is a slippery customer.
Simmons slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rojo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rojo won't allow Simmons to sweep him here.
Simmons not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Simmons working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rojo.
Simmons 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rojo looking to sit in guard and control but Simmons gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Simmons sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Simmons throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Rojo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Simmons's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Simmons misses with a wild body shot.
Simmons closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rojo circles away.
Rojo takes a swing at Simmons's ribcage but misses.
Rojo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Simmons throws a right and a left that both miss.
Miguel Rojo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Simmons avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rojo stuffs the takedown attempt from Simmons. Simmons gets slowly back to his feet.
Simmons shoots in for a takedown but Rojo shows good takedown defense.
Miguel Rojo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Simmons.

Rojo throws a left that rocks Simmons and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Rojo dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Simmons regain composure!

Simmons is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Simmons tries to buck Rojo off but Rojo is having none of it.
Simmons is still in real trouble! Can Rojo finish him?
Rojo misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Simmons sneaks back into half guard.
Simmons wants to control but Rojo is keeping busy.

Rojo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Simmons defends it well.
Rojo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Simmons defending well though.
Rojo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Simmons blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rojo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons is staying active underneath Rojo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Simmons seems to have recovered his senses.
Simmons is concentrating on defense, preventing Rojo from advancing position.

Simmons looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Simmons is looking for a sweep. Rojo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rojo thows a huge punch but Simmons dodges it nicely.
John Simmons has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rojo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Simmons defending well though.
Rojo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Simmons manages to get to full guard.
Simmons is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Simmons missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simmons seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Simmons content to control rather than advance.
Rojo has hold of Simmons's hands but Simmons slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
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!
Simmons perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Simmons blocks the strikes from Rojo.
Rojo won't allow Simmons to pass to mount.
Simmons perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Simmons missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rojo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simmons is controlling the pace.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Simmons missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rojo is looking to control Simmons's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rojo avoid being mounted?

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rojo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Simmons manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rojo on his heels. He'll look to pass Rojo's guard now, I'm sure.
Simmons content to stall in guard here.
Simmons forces his way into half guard.
Simmons performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Simmons wants to work for an arm triangle but Rojo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Miguel Rojo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Simmons's cut.
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!

Some wild striking there from Rojo.
Rojo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rojo throws a good cross that connects.

That has opened up John Simmons's cut even more.
A big right from Simmons misses.
Rojo misses with a looping left.

Simmons shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Simmons is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Simmons trying to pass the guard but Rojo defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simmons controlling the action here.
Simmons's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rojo trying to control from the bottom.

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

Simmons feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Simmons postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rojo keeping full guard, as Simmons tries to pass.
Simmons scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Simmons is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Simmons trying to control the position from guard on top but Rojo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simmons slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rojo tries to escape but Simmons is in control.

Simmons is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rojo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simmons scoring with punches from side control.

Simmons is working to tighten his grip on Rojo's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Rojo has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Simmons is really squeezing tight and eventually Rojo passes out! Simmons breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). John Simmons!
John Simmons really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Fury Nutrition Inc. logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.
Miguel Rojo was interviewed post fight and said 'I did what I could do. He's the better fighter.'.