PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Germone Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Drago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Simpson
vs
Drago

190 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
21
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Germone Simpson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ivan Drago!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, John Kavanagh and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Simpson has Drago up against the cage in a clinch.
Simpson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Simpson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Simpson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Simpson scores with a shoulder strike.
Simpson stalling.
Drago is trying to maintain a safe position but Simpson gets an underhook and turns Drago into the cage.
A shot in the inside from Simpson.
Simpson wants to break free but Drago has control.
Simpson'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.
Drago lands a nice knee to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Simpson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short right from Simpson.
Simpson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Drago lands with a left to the head.

Simpson pulls guard.
Drago throws a big right hand that misses.
Simpson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Simpson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drago decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Simpson, up you get!
Drago dives in and grabs Simpson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Simpson pushes down on Drago's head and hops out.
Drago fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Simpson manages to avoid it.
Simpson misses with a body punch

and Drago counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Simpson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Simpson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Simpson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Simpson misses with an elbow strike.
A frustrated look appears on Simpson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Simpson slows down the pace here.
Drago is trying to break free.
Drago has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Simpson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Drago looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drago wants to stall.
Drago has Simpson pressed against the cage, preventing Simpson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Simpson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Drago takes a shot to the head.
Drago looking for a takedown.
Germone Simpson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Drago.
Drago taking a breather.
Simpson lands a left hand.
The referee calls for Simpson to work.

Drago is fighting off a takedown attempt but Simpson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Drago to the mat. Drago regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Simpson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Simpson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Simpson wants to stand but Drago has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Simpson stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Simpson dives in and grabs Drago's left leg, looking for a takedown. Drago pushes down on Simpson's head and hops out.
Simpson throws a series of punches but Drago avoids them all with ease.
Simpson misses with a double jab
and Drago counters with a left to the body.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Simpson.
Drago shoots in for a double leg but Simpson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Drago wants to clinch
and Simpson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Simpson closes the distance and clinches up with Drago, looking for a takedown. Simpson pushes Drago against the cage but Drago circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Simpson throws a lazy body kick
and Drago counters with a head kick.
Simpson tries to bum rush Drago with a series of wild strikes but Drago uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Germone Simpson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Simpson looks to land a combination. Drago sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Simpson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Simpson closes the distance but Drago moves to the side
and Drago counters with a slapping leg kick.
No joy there for Simpson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Drago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Germone Simpson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Drago fails to land the takedown.
Simpson tries to clinch but Drago is having none of it.
Simpson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Drago counters with a head kick. That will keep Simpson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Simpson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Drago counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Simpson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Drago on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Simpson tries to kick Drago off but Drago keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Simpson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Drago is working away from the top position though.
Drago controlling the action here.
Simpson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Drago's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Drago's back!
Simpson missing with punches from the back.
I would not like to be Drago right now.
Simpson not allowing Drago to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Simpson.
Drago tries to escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simpson lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Drago.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
I really don't envy Drago right now.
Simpson is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Simpson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Drago for as long as he can get away with.
Drago is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Drago showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Simpson throws a head kick that misses
and Drago counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Simpson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Simpson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Simpson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Simpson counters by moving into the clinch.
Simpson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Simpson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Simpson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Simpson is adopting a defensive guard.
Simpson keeping moving, preventing Drago from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson controlling the position.
Drago takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Simpson wants to stand and escape but Drago is having none of it.
Simpson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Drago puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Drago stalling away here and it's allowed Simpson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Drago throws a big right hand that misses.

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.
Simpson controlling Drago's posture.

Simpson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Simpson keeping moving, preventing Drago from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drago stops Simpson from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simpson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Simpson tries to get out of the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Simpson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Drago looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Drago is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Simpson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson tries to bum rush Drago with a series of wild strikes but Drago uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Some wild striking there from Simpson.
Drago takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Simpson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Simpson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Drago circles away from the clinch attempt.
Drago shoots in for a takedown but Simpson shows good takedown defense.

Simpson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Simpson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Drago is defending well for now.
Simpson scores with a shoulder strike.

Drago manages to break the clinch.
Simpson tries to land a leg kick but Drago saw it coming and moves away.
Drago tries to clinch up but Simpson circles away and keeps his distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Germone Simpson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Simpson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Germone Simpson!