PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Len Simon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gio Ravenna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Simon
vs
Ravenna

211 cm
21
177 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

180 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Elite Canadian Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Len Simon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gio Ravenna!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ravenna is looking to clinch.
Ravenna tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Simon paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Simon clinches with his opponent.
Ravenna is pushing Simon up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Ravenna ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ravenna no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Simon connects with a couple of short punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ravenna working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Simon doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Simon manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Ravenna looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Simon passes into side control.
Ravenna is looking for a sweep.
Ravenna is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon is nestled in close to Ravenna, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Simon is thwarting Ravenna's attempts to control the position.
Simon landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Simon looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ravenna with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Simon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ravenna on the ground.
Ravenna is trying to get back to full guard.

Ravenna actively working from the bottom here.
Simon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ground and pound from Simon.
Simon prevents Ravenna from improving his position.
Simon lands strikes from half guard.
Ravenna on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ravenna is looking to improve his position.
Ravenna makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ravenna.

Ravenna has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Simon can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Simon chips away with some ground and pound.

Ravenna has his foot on Simon's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Simon works his way back into a safe position though.
Simon keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ravenna's head.

Ravenna has his foot on Simon's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Simon works his way back into a safe position though.
Simon won't allow Ravenna to get back to his feet.
Simon stands up over Ravenna, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ravenna has momentary wrist control but Simon slips an elbow through the middle.
Simon is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Simon preventing the sweep.
Simon postures up and lands a big shot to Ravenna's brow.

Ravenna is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Simon is aware though and is defending well.
We've been informed that Ravenna has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Ravenna is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Simon lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Ravenna working for a triangle but Simon defends it easily.
Simon lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Simon got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ravenna has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Simon has managed to get both his arms back between Ravenna's legs - danger averted.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Simon connects with a couple of short punches.
Simon stands up over Ravenna, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Ravenna looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Simon passes into half guard.

Ravenna looking for submissions off his back.
Ravenna looks winded!
Ravenna is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ravenna taking some punishment here, with Simon in his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gio Ravenna dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ravenna shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Simon counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ravenna missing with a left hand there. Simon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ravenna throws a looping overhand right but Simon ducks down to avoid it.
Ravenna tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Simon swivels and escapes.
Ravenna shoots and misses
and Simon counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Len Simon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gio Ravenna.
Ravenna tries to close the distance and clinch but Simon swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Simon closes the distance and clinches.
Ravenna scores with a shot to the side of Simon's head.
Ravenna lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ravenna throws an elbow that misses.
Ravenna looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ravenna misses with an elbow strike.

Simon lands a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon with a nice head shot there.
Ravenna is looking to stand back up but Simon counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ravenna.

Ravenna looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ravenna is breathing heavily.
Simon prevents Ravenna from standing back up.
Ravenna throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Ravenna is pressing down on Simon's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Ravenna is looking for a triangle but Simon pushes his legs off easily.
Ravenna looking for a sweep. Not yet Ravenna, not yet.
Simon is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simon wants to stand but Ravenna has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Ravenna looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Simon scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Simon postures up and lands a big shot to Ravenna's brow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ravenna throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Ravenna had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Simon defends it easily.
Simon has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Ravenna looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Simon is in close to Ravenna's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ravenna has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Simon can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Simon's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Simon is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Ravenna had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Simon defends it easily.
Simon working some strikes from top position.

Ravenna has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Simon can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Simon works over Ravenna with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simon is working Ravenna over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Simon working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Ravenna had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Simon defends it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Simon is in close to Ravenna's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Simon lands a couple of digs.

Ravenna is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Simon is aware though and is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Simon scoring with some ground and pound.
Ravenna wants to stand but Simon is controlling the position.
Ravenna wants to get back to his feet but Simon passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gio Ravenna showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Simon closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Simon tightens his grip and picks Ravenna up, before dumping him to the ground. Ravenna manages to land in guard.

Ravenna looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ravenna lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Simon!
Simon is looking to improve his position but Ravenna isn't that keen on the idea.

Ravenna looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Simon sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ravenna is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Simon has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ravenna takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Simon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gio Ravenna has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ravenna trying to stand up but can't free himself from Simon's guard.
Simon manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ravenna really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Simon cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Ravenna is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ravenna regains half guard.

Ravenna actively working from the bottom here.
Simon lands strikes from half guard.
Simon working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Simon lands with a punch from half guard.
Simon lands with a punch from half guard.

Ravenna looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ravenna looking for submissions off his back.
Simon is nestled in close to Ravenna, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ravenna makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ravenna.
Simon landing with the ground and pound.

Ravenna looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Simon passes into half guard.
Simon is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Simon.
Simon stops Ravenna from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ravenna is looking to get back to full guard here but Simon has managed to pass to side control instead.
Simon lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ravenna down.
Simon prevents Ravenna from escaping the position.
Ravenna tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Simon presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Simon is landing with some decent strikes but Ravenna is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Simon lands a heavy elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ravenna really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Len Simon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gio Ravenna is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Simon landing punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Len Simon showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ravenna has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gio Ravenna!