PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Simon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dirk Nowitzki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simon comes to the ring accompanied by Down With The Sickness. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Simon
vs
Nowitzki

190 cm
20
235 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

210 cm
18
235 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Simon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dirk Nowitzki!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nowitzki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nowitzki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Simon closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nowitzki to the mat! Nowitzki manages to get full guard.
Simon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Simon preventing the sweep.
Simon works over Nowitzki with some ground and pound from guard.
Simon throwing strikes but missing.
Simon is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nowitzki throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Simon escapes and throws Nowitzki's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Nowitzki is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Simon's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Nowitzki wants to get back to full guard.
Simon trying to control from half guard but Nowitzki is working away.

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.
Nowitzki wants to control but Simon is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Simon with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Simon wants to pass to mount but Nowitzki is defending the position.
Simon is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nowitzki wants to control but Simon passes into side.
Simon misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Nowitzki wants to control but Simon postures up.
Nowitzki has control of an arm but Simon manages to advance to Simon's back!
Nowitzki tries to roll but Simon sticks to his back.
Nowitzki prevents Simon from getting a body triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Simon throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Simon trying to control momentarily.
Nowitzki covering up well under a barage of strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Simon dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Simon has closed the distance and engaged Nowitzki in a clinch.
Nowitzki tries to pull guard but Simon won't allow it.
Simon's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Nowitzki on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Simon landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nowitzki fails to pull guard.
Nowitzki jumps guard but Simon stands there with Nowitzki around his waist. Nowitzki gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Steve Simon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dirk Nowitzki.
Nowitzki can't get the takedown.

Simon manages to break the clinch.
Simon shoots and misses

and Nowitzki counters by moving into the clinch.
Nowitzki is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nowitzki wants to get back to striking at distance but Simon won't allow it.

Simon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Simon lands a lovely overhand right.
Simon misses with a wild body shot.
Steve Simon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nowitzki gets caught flat footed, as Simon shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Nowitzki looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Simon passes into half guard.
Nowitzki is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon is tying to control. Nowitzki wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nowitzki wants to control but Simon is keeping busy.
Simon is looking to take a break and control but Nowitzki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Simon not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nowitzki tries to get to full guard but Simon has control of the leg.
Simon is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Nowitzki reverses the position - he's now on top in Simon's guard.
Simon pulls Nowitzki in close to his closed guard and prevents Nowitzki from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nowitzki wants to stand but Simon is controlling his posture from full guard.
Nowitzki wants to pass the guard but Simon is keeping the position.
Simon wants to get back to his feet but Nowitzki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Simon manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nowitzki avoids a series of strikes thrown by Simon.
Simon takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Nowitzki defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Simon.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simon trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Simon dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Simon changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nowitzki tries to avoid it but Simon manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nowitzki to the ground. Nowitzki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Simon decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Simon not doing much here.
Simon is thwarting Nowitzki's attempts to control the position.
Nowitzki is looking to improve his position.
Simon tries to stand and escape but Nowitzki is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nowitzki trying to control from the bottom.
Nowitzki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Simon looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nowitzki trying to control here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Simon throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Nowitzki counters with a good, hard body kick but Simon shrugs it off.
Good leg kick by Nowitzki there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nowitzki has his takedown stuffed

and Simon counters by clinching up.

Simon has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Nowitzki is trying to keep an underhook but Simon manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Nowitzki actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simon stalling.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Nowitzki missing with punches from the bottom.
Nowitzki is pressing down on Simon's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nowitzki is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Simon trying to control but Nowitzki is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nowitzki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nowitzki is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nowitzki lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Simon!
Nowitzki prevents Simon from getting the reversal.

That's four 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.
Nowitzki thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Nowitzki throwing strikes here but Simon is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Nowitzki can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Simon is looking to escape.
Nowitzki tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simon tries to lock up and control but Nowitzki gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Simon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Simon, 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Simon!