PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Neil Simson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muhammad Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Muhammad Ali will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Simson
vs
Ali

195 cm
25
275 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
26
230 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Neil Simson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Muhammad Ali!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simson tries to clinch there but Ali circles away.
Ali defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Simson.
Simson is looking to clinch.
Simson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ali counters with a nice body shot.
Simson misses with a combination
and Ali counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Simson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ali swivels and escapes.
Ali keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simson throws a sloppy body shot
and Ali counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Simson thinking.
Simson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ali but Ali pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neil Simson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A lazy left from Ali finds it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ali paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Simson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ali pinned against the cage. Ali gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Horrible takedown by Simson or perhaps it was just good defense by Ali which made him look bad.
Simson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ali's waist but Ali gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Simson off to one side.
Simson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Simson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
No luck for Simson with that takedown attempt.
Ali misses with a wild body shot.
Simson tries to clinch there but Ali circles away.
Simson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Simson moves forwards but Ali connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Simson shoots for a double leg takedown but Ali sprawls well. He's pushed Simson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Neil Simson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ali scores with a shot to the body.
Muhammad Ali is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ali swivels and escapes.
Simson is breathing heavily.
Simson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ali sprawls well. Ali wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Simson gets slowly back to his feet.
Simson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Simson throws a poor cross that misses
and Ali makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ali lands a right hook to the body.
Ali is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Simson rather than just go for the knockout.
Simson shoots for a takedown but Ali saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A combination from Ali does no damage.
Ali throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Simson tries to close the distance and clinch but Ali swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ali takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ali tries to bum rush Simson with a series of wild strikes but Simson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ali's corner calls for a 1-2. Ali obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Ali swats away the attempt to clinch by Simson.
Simson shoots in for a takedown but Ali shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ali pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Simson back to the cage. Ali follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muhammad Ali dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Simson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Simson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ali as he avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Ali. No joy for Simson on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neil Simson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Simson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ali counters with a two punch combo.
Simson throws a leg kick but Ali moved away.
Simson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ali sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Simson somewhat.
Simson throws a poor cross that misses
and Ali counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Simson dives in and grabs Ali's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ali pushes down on Simson's head and hops out.
Ali throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ali.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Simson.
Ali swinging wildly here.
Simson shoots in looking for a takedown but Ali manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Simson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A combination from Ali does no damage.
Ali throws a body punch but Simson moves out of range.
Simson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Simson avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Simson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Simson tries to land a front kick but Ali steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Simson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ali counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Simson dodges the punch combination from Ali.
Simson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ali paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Simson shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ali circles away.
Simson tries to clinch up.
Simson tries to clinch up.
Ali throws a shot to the body.
Ali scores with a nice strike.
A head kick misses from Simson.
Ali misses with a wild combination.
Simson throws a head kick that misses.

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.
Ali throws a combination. Simson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ali blocks a head kick by Simson.

Simson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Simson showed some decent athleticism there.
Simson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ali tries to kick Simson off but Simson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Still in half guard, Simson seems content to control.
Ali is trying to stand back up but Simson is controlling him
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muhammad Ali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Simson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ali slaps away a takedown attempt from Simson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ali jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ali misses with the combination.
Ali works over Simson's head and body with a nice combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ali swivels and escapes.
Simson tries to land a front kick but Ali steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali throws a nice looking combination but Simson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Simson is looking to land body kicks.
Simson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ali manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Simson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Simson misses with a jab to the body
and Ali connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Ali. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Ali scores with a jab.
Ali scores with a punch to the head.
Simson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neil Simson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ali blocks a head kick by Simson.
Simson is looking to clinch.
Simson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ali swivels and escapes.
Neil Simson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ali misses with the combination.
Ali displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Simson.
Simson tries to clinch up but Ali circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Simson manages to avoid it.
Nice takedown defense from Ali. No joy for Simson on that attempt.
Simson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Simson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ali throws a right and a left that Simson avoids nicely.
Ali throws a left and a right that both miss

and Simson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ali won't be happy with that.
Ali is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Ali tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simson controlling the pace for now.
Simson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ali wants to get back to his feet.
Ali really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Simson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Simson controlling the pace for now.
Neil Simson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Muhammad Ali is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Simson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neil Simson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ali has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Muhammad Ali!