PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zak Buffalo (ranked 3033 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Simpson (ranked 5701 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Buffalo
vs
Simpson

185 cm
25
212 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Threads of HARDCORE

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zak Buffalo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shawn Simpson!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simpson dives in and grabs Buffalo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Buffalo pushes down on Simpson's head and hops out.
Buffalo shoots in looking for a takedown. Simpson tries to sprawl out of it but Buffalo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Simpson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Buffalo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Simpson to the ground. Buffalo is now in Simpson's guard.

Simpson manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Buffalo gets a trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Buffalo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Buffalo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Simpson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Buffalo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Simpson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Buffalo misses with a head shot. Simpson uses the momentum to regain guard.
Buffalo is working Simpson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
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.
Buffalo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Buffalo throws an elbow that misses. Simpson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Buffalo's guard. Nice move by Simpson!

Buffalo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Simpson on the ground.
Simpson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Simpson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Simpson wants to control from the top but Buffalo keeps moving.
Buffalo pulls Simpson in close to his closed guard and prevents Simpson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Simpson trying to control but Buffalo is working from the bottom.
Simpson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Buffalo is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Simpson working the ground and pound but Buffalo is defending the strikes.
Simpson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Buffalo keeps working.
Simpson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Buffalo looking for a sweep but Simpson has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Buffalo wants to control but Simpson is having none of it.
Buffalo is in all sorts of trouble here.
Buffalo is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson avoids the attempt from Buffalo to control.
Buffalo is trying desperately to improve position.
Simpson punching from mount but Buffalo doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Buffalo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Buffalo tries to get out of the position.
Buffalo tries to lock up and control but Simpson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Simpson 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.
Buffalo tries to reverse the position but Simpson maintains control.
Simpson lands a heavy elbow.
Buffalo is in all sorts of trouble here.
Simpson lands a big shot there that rocks Buffalo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Buffalo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buffalo controls the position.
Buffalo tries to reverse the position but Simpson maintains control.
Simpson landing strikes from the mount.
Buffalo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Buffalo is squirming around, avoiding Simpson's attempts to control the action.
Buffalo tries to lock up and control but Simpson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Simpson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Buffalo manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Buffalo is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Simpson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Buffalo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Simpson sprawls well initially but Buffalo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Simpson has one foot on Buffalo's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Simpson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Buffalo is fending him off so far but Simpson persists. Nope, Buffalo circles away and we're back to standing.

Buffalo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Buffalo wants to get back to his feet but Simpson passes into half guard.
Simpson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Buffalo tries to get to full guard but Simpson has control of the leg.
Simpson passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buffalo is looking for a sweep.
Simpson trying to control the position but Buffalo is working away.
Buffalo tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Simpson easily slips into full mount!
Buffalo is working to get back to half guard.
Simpson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Buffalo is looking to escape.
Buffalo is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buffalo wants to control but Simpson is having none of it.
Buffalo can't escape the position.
Buffalo tries to buck Simpson off but he can't manage it.

Simpson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Buffalo to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Buffalo shrugs it off.

Simpson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Simpson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Buffalo hang on?
Simpson controlling from the full mount.

Simpson looking for a guillotine from mount but Buffalo is having none of it.
Simpson is breathing heavily.
Simpson prevents Buffalo from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson landing shots from mount.
Buffalo is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simpson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Buffalo because Simpson loaded up on that one.
Buffalo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Buffalo tries to hold on but Simpson pushes him away.
Buffalo is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buffalo holds on for dear life, controlling Simpson's posture momentarily.
Simpson with the ground and pound from mount.
Simpson prevents Buffalo from getting the reversal.
Buffalo's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Simpson wants to control the pace but Buffalo is squirming around nicely.
Shawn Simpson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Buffalo is bucking up trying to escape but Simpson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Simpson 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!

Horrible takedown attempt by Buffalo or perhaps it was just good defense by Simpson, which made it look bad.
Simpson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Buffalo defends well and Simpson ends up having to push Buffalo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Simpson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Simpson tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Buffalo counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Simpson has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Buffalo is on him like a limpet, forcing Simpson back against the cage.
Buffalo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Buffalo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Simpson prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zak Buffalo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Buffalo is looking for a takedown.
Buffalo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Buffalo has picked Simpson up - he's going for a ride! Buffalo dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Simpson trying to hold on to Buffalo's head to control him but Buffalo postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buffalo misses with a head shot. Simpson uses the momentum to regain guard.
Buffalo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Buffalo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Buffalo throws a strike but Simpson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Simpson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Buffalo is wriggling around but Simpson manages to pass to half guard.

Simpson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Buffalo defends it well.
Buffalo controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Buffalo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zak Buffalo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Simpson.
Buffalo is staying active underneath Simpson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Buffalo wants to get back to full guard but Simpson has mounted him!
Simpson avoids the attempt from Buffalo to control.
Buffalo is looking to get to half guard.

Simpson stands up from mount. Strange move.
Simpson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Buffalo tries to avoid it but Simpson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Buffalo to the ground. Buffalo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Simpson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Buffalo circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Buffalo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Buffalo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Buffalo looks up at the clock and then as Simpson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Buffalo smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Buffalo cracks Simpson with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Buffalo creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Buffalo cracks Simpson with a big elbow.
Buffalo cracks Simpson with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Simpson is rocked!
A big shot lands for Buffalo! That's hurt Simpson! Will he recover? Buffalo fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zak Buffalo!