PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Claudio Andrews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eleone Simonato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simonato has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Eleone Simonato will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Andrews
vs
Simonato

204 cm
23
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Claudio Andrews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eleone Simonato!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Felipe Paraventi and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Simonato.
Simonato looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Andrews wants to control but Simonato postures up.
Andrews wants to get back to his feet but Simonato drags him back down.
Andrews struggling a bit here.
Andrews is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Simonato is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simonato tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Andrews is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Simonato avoids the head kick by Andrews.
Andrews pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Andrews throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Simonato walks into a jab.
A shot to the liver by Andrews. Beautiful body shot.
A lazy left from Andrews finds it's target.
Andrews lands with a good body shot.
Andrews throws a head kick but Simonato moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andrews shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Simonato flicks out a counter leg kick but Andrews steps away.
Andrews misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Simonato should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
A nice inside leg kick there by Andrews. That's going to slow Simonato down.
Andrews steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Simonato.
Eleone Simonato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Simonato takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Simonato blocks a head kick by Andrews.
Andrews misses with a head kick.
Andrews tried to score with a low kick but Simonato checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simonato needs to keep his hands up - Andrews had a free shot at his head there.
Simonato takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Andrews throws a chopping leg kick but Simonato manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Andrews moves into range and clinches up with Simonato.

Andrews manages to pull guard.
Simonato looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Andrews wants to stand and escape but Simonato is having none of it.
Simonato stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Andrews swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Simonato stops Andrews from standing up.
Andrews throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Andrews throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Andrews tries to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andrews throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Andrews scrambles and gets back to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Andrews. Simonato does a little dance to reset his feet.

Simonato clinches up against the cage.
Andrews tries for a takedown but Simonato manages to get underhooks.
Andrews tries to pull guard but Simonato holds him up against the cage and eventually Andrews drops back down to his feet.

Andrews jumps guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Andrews wants to get back to his feet but Simonato is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Simonato trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Andrews keeping moving, preventing Simonato from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claudio Andrews dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Andrews throws a head kick but Simonato moves out of range.

Simonato looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Andrews manages to escape and get back to his feet!
A jab lands there for Andrews.
Claudio Andrews is winning the standup battle so far.
Andrews cracks Simonato with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Simonato moves into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Andrews manages to pull guard.
Simonato is breathing heavily.
Andrews is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Andrews will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Andrews wriggles free and stands up.
Eleone Simonato is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Andrews closes the distance and clinches.
Andrews has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Andrews manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Andrews pushes Simonato off and scrambles back to his feet.

Andrews closes the distance and clinches.

Andrews gets control of Simonato's arms and successfully pulls guard. Andrews will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Andrews holds on and takes a little breather.
Simonato with a flurry of punches that miss.
Andrews is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Andrews with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Simonato can't handle though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andrews is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Andrews is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Simonato can do to turn this around?
Simonato must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Andrews keeping moving, preventing Simonato from controlling successfully.
Andrews pulls Simonato in close to his closed guard and prevents Simonato from doing any damage or advancing position.

Andrews has his feet on Simonato's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Andrews is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice cross by Andrews.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simonato doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Andrews throws a head kick that misses.
Simonato moves forwards but Andrews connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Andrews lands a lovely overhand right.
Simonato blocks a head kick by Andrews.
A head kick misses from Andrews.
Andrews misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Simonato instigates a clinch.

Andrews has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Simonato uses from the top position.
Simonato trying to control the position from guard on top but Andrews is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simonato stops Andrews from standing up.
Claudio Andrews overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Andrews has his feet on Simonato's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Claudio Andrews is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Andrews has closed the distance and engaged Simonato in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Andrews manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claudio Andrews dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Simonato moves into range and clinches up with Andrews.
Andrews tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Simonato smiles and moves away.
Andrews lands a high kick!

Simonato closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Andrews manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Simonato keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simonato takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Andrews tries to pull guard but Simonato won't allow it.
Andrews is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Simonato gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Claudio Andrews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Andrews is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Simonato pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Andrews pulls guard.
Andrews bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Simonato's guard.

Simonato wants to sweep but no luck.
Andrews is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Simonato working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Andrews has passed into half guard!
Ground and pound from Andrews.
Simonato is refusing to be controlled, as Andrews sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Andrews lands strikes from half guard.
Andrews winds up and cracks Simonato with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Andrews is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Andrews prevents Simonato from standing back up.
Simonato is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Andrews jumps into side control!
Andrews connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Simonato some visible discomfort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Andrews thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Andrews cracks Simonato with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Andrews tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Andrews has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Simonato tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Andrews wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Andrews creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Simonato wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Andrews scoring with punches and elbows.
Simonato tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Andrews landing shots from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee warns Simonato that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Claudio Andrews showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Andrews, 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claudio Andrews!