PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antun Simunic (ranked 1428 p4p, 4024 weight class) and Chris Tamburello (ranked 178 p4p, 466 weight class). Simunic kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Monster. Tamburello has chosen Going Out of Style - Dropkick Murphys 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.

Simunic
vs
Tamburello

195 cm
28
265
12 - 11 - 0

192 cm
27
255
8 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Shadow Realm Apparel

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Antun Simunic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Tamburello!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tamburello misses with a body shot.
Simunic is looking to counter with head kicks.
Tamburello swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tamburello throws a lazy uppercut
and Simunic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tamburello throws a body shot but no joy.
Tamburello's jab looks to have found its range, popping Simunic under the eye.
Tamburello misses with a wild combination.
Simunic dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tamburello. That did some damage!
Simunic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tamburello.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simunic slips a jab from Tamburello.
Tamburello misses with a few strikes there.
Simunic is looking to counter punch.
Simunic takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tamburello lands with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simunic moves away from the strike by Tamburello.
Tamburello throws a poor cross that misses
and Simunic counters with a nice body shot.
Simunic moves out of range of the strikes.
Simunic appears to be looking for a big counter.
Simunic circles away from the clinch attempt.
Simunic avoids the body shot from Tamburello.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tamburello. Simunic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Simunic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tamburello throws a shot to the body.
Tamburello throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Simunic throwing a counter right hand but Tamburello manages to avoid it.
Simunic ducks under a wild hook from Tamburello.
Simunic keeps the fight on the outside.
Simunic is looking for a counter combo.
Tamburello fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Simunic looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tamburello throws a looping overhand right but Simunic ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Tamburello.
Simunic turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Tamburello scores with a shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tamburello jabs at Simunic's body.
Tamburello is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Simunic rather than just go for the knockout.
Tamburello misses with a wild body shot.
Tamburello swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Simunic takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Simunic throws a good cross that connects.
Tamburello tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Simunic was well out of range. Poor timing from Tamburello.
Tamburello comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Tamburello moves into the clinch.
Simunic pushes Tamburello back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simunic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tamburello scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Tamburello lands with a good body shot.
Jab from Tamburello.
Tamburello just misses with a punch to the body.
Tamburello throws a body shot but no joy.
Tamburello scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Simunic swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Simunic takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Tamburello changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Simunic tries to avoid it but Tamburello manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Simunic to the ground. Simunic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tamburello throws a right and a left that Simunic avoids nicely.
Tamburello waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Simunic.
Simunic is looking to counter punch.
Tamburello shoots in but no luck this time.
Simunic went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simunic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tamburello misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Simunic.
Antun Simunic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The fighters circling - Simunic throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tamburello misses with a body shot.
Simunic feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Tamburello throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tamburello throws the left hand but Simunic avoids the punch easily.
Simunic throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Simunic uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tamburello.
Simunic throws a counter high kick but Tamburello was just alert enough to avoid it.
Tamburello blocks a low kick nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Tamburello misses the target.

Tamburello clinches.
Tamburello misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Tamburello dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Simunic misses with a hook.
Chris Tamburello seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tamburello scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tamburello lands with a good body shot.
Tamburello with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Simunic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tamburello.
Tamburello fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Simunic manages to avoid it.
Simunic throwing a counter right hand but Tamburello manages to avoid it.
Tamburello takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Simunic swats away the attempt to clinch by Tamburello.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tamburello tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Simunic was well out of range. Poor timing from Tamburello.
Simunic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tamburello fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Simunic manages to avoid it.
It looked like Simunic was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Tamburello looks to score with a jab to the body but Simunic is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamburello misses with a right hand

and Simunic counters with a crisp right hand that drops Tamburello! Simunic lets Tamburello back up to his feet, looking for a finish!
Tamburello scores with a jab to the body.
Tamburello wants to clinch up but Simunic keeps it at a distance.
Simunic is looking for a counter combo.
Tamburello has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Tamburello fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Simunic to the ground. Tamburello is now in Simunic's guard.
Simunic knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tamburello on the ground.
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!
Tamburello lands a couple of elbows.
Tamburello throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tamburello accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tamburello cracks Simunic with a solid left hand.
Simunic on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Simunic tries to get out of the position.
Simunic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tamburello throws a big right hand that misses.
Tamburello content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Simunic has momentary wrist control but Tamburello slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tamburello throws a big elbow that misses.
Simunic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tamburello postures up in Simunic's guard and throws a big left but Simunic blocks it.
Tamburello wants to control from the top but Simunic keeps moving.
Tamburello is looking to work some ground and pound but Simunic has wrist control.
Tamburello lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tamburello throwing strikes from guard but Simunic blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tamburello is looking to work some ground and pound but Simunic has wrist control.
Tamburello wants to control from the top but Simunic keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tamburello changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Simunic tries to avoid it but Tamburello manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Simunic to the ground. Simunic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Simunic looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Simunic lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tamburello scores with a nice hook to the head.
Simunic scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tamburello can't find room to land a body shot as Simunic controls the action.
Simunic struggles to land a body shot inside as Tamburello controls his hands.

Simunic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tamburello closes the distance and clinches.
Simunic working aggressively here.
Simunic misses with a punch on the inside.
Tamburello tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Simunic lands an uppercut.
Simunic throws a punch but it's blocked by Tamburello.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simunic lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tamburello backwards.
Simunic has had enough of the clinch but Tamburello keeps him there for the moment.
Tamburello goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tamburello struggles to land a body shot inside as Simunic controls his hands.
Tamburello cracks Simunic with a nice body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tamburello working aggressively here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tamburello.
A head punch on the inside from Simunic fails to land.
Simunic lands with a right to the head.
Tamburello presses Simunic against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Tamburello has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Simunic after a bit of a struggle.
Tamburello blocks a body shot from Simunic.
Simunic lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tamburello backwards.
Simunic lands with a short head shot on the inside.
I was talking to Simunic's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Simunic prevents a takedown attempt there.
Antun Simunic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Tamburello.
Simunic swings away with an uppercut that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Antun Simunic will probably get the nod.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tamburello misses with a lunging right hand
and Simunic counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tamburello thinking.
Simunic scores with a nice right hand.
Simunic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Simunic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Simunic scores with a jab to the head.
Tamburello wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Tamburello throws a body shot but no joy.
Simunic takes a shot to the body in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tamburello misses with a body shot.
A counter left hand to the body from Simunic misses its target.

Tamburello looking to score a takedown here. Simunic is defending well but Tamburello drives through and ends up in Simunic's guard.
Simunic is looking to stand back up but Tamburello counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Simunic.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Tamburello has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tamburello scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simunic has hold of Tamburello's hands but Tamburello slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tamburello winds up and cracks Simunic with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Tamburello seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Simunic does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Simunic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tamburello.
Tamburello thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Simunic has hold of Tamburello's hands but Tamburello slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tamburello landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tamburello thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Simunic's head.
Tamburello winds up and cracks Simunic with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Simunic taking some punishment here, with Tamburello in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tamburello working over Simunic with some ground and pound. Simunic looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tamburello not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tamburello thows a huge punch but Simunic dodges it nicely.
Simunic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tamburello.
Tamburello is keen to just control but Simunic is a slippery customer.
Simunic has hold of Tamburello's hands but Tamburello slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tamburello scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ground and pound from Tamburello.
Nice strikes from Tamburello there.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Tamburello in particular looking to stall.
Tamburello lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simunic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tamburello.
Tamburello working over Simunic with some ground and pound. Simunic looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Simunic avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tamburello.
Tamburello working Simunic over with strikes.
Tamburello missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tamburello thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tamburello takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tamburello looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tamburello scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Tamburello scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Simunic is rocked!
Tamburello lands a big elbow - Simunic is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Tamburello!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chris Tamburello!