PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simpson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Last of the Mohicans Theme. 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.

Smith
vs
Simpson

188 cm
24
217 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

185 cm
28
210 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brandon Simpson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith throws out a leg kick but Simpson moves out of range and Smith only half commits.
Smith throws a hook but Simpson avoids it easily.
Simpson tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
A bone on bone clash there as Simpson blocks the leg kick.
Simpson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smith pivots, looking for a leg kick but Simpson is out of range and Smith settles back down.
Smith scores with a hook to the body. Simpson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Simpson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Smith is trying to improve his position.
Simpson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Simpson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith dodges the ground and pound from Simpson.
Smith is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Simpson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Smith is avoiding damage well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson is chipping away with strikes.
Simpson landing a few strikes.
Smith takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Simpson misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Simpson working the ground and pound but Smith is defending the strikes.
Simpson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Simpson scores with a couple of short elbows.
Smith gets back to half guard.

Simpson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Simpson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith pushes Simpson off looking to stand but Simpson dives back in and keeps control.
Smith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Simpson.
Simpson moves nicely into side control.
Smith is trying to control Simpson's posture but Simpson avoids it.

Simpson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Simpson misses with the ground and pound.
Simpson has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Simpson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson with the ground and pound from mount.
Smith tries to hold on but Simpson postures up.
Smith sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Simpson prevents Smith from improving his position.
Simpson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Smith with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Simpson.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Simpson.
Smith is trying to maintain the position but Simpson is very close to passing his half guard.
Simpson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Smith with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Simpson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Simpson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
Simpson throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.
Simpson throwing shots but Smith is blocking nicely.
Simpson stops Smith from getting back to his feet.
Simpson prevents Smith from improving his position.
Simpson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Simpson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smith wants to control but Simpson is keeping busy.
Simpson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Simpson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Smith misses with a leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Smith misses.
Simpson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Smith counters with an outside leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Smith misses.
Smith cracks the inside of Simpson's front leg.
John Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Simpson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smith connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Simpson has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.
Simpson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Simpson manages to avoid it.
Smith throws a leg kick which misses Simpson's front leg but catches the back leg as Simpson tries to avoid it.
Smith scoring well with a low kick there.
Smith is looking to chop away at Simpson's legs.
Simpson tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Smith throws a jab but it's blocked by Simpson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Smith there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Smith throws a big shot that misses.
Simpson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Smith tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A punch lands to the side of Simpson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Simpson tries to move into range but Smith moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

It looks like Brandon Simpson has been cut.
Smith moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Simpson is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Simpson has Smith up against the cage in a clinch.

Smith breaks from the clinch.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Simpson.
Smith tries a low kick but Simpson avoids it.
John Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Smith cracks the inside of Simpson's front leg.
Simpson misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith thumps Simpson with a low kick.
Smith lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Smith with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Smith scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Smith throws a low kick but Simpson avoids it.
Simpson walks forward, straight into a front kick from Smith.
Simpson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Smith looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
John Smith is winning the standup battle so far.
Simpson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Smith clobbers Simpson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Smith connects with a solid leg kick.
Simpson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Smith can pounce on him.
Good work by Simpson as he checks the leg kick.
Smith feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Simpson's calf.
Simpson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Smith lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith scores with a leg kick.
Smith shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Smith connects with a right hand. Simpson shakes it off.
Smith fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Simpson.
Smith takes a swing at Simpson's ribcage but misses.
Smith throws a low kick but Simpson moves out of range easily.
Smith lets loose with a powerful body kick. Simpson will feel that in the morning.
Smith swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Smith throws a head kick but Simpson moves out of range.
Smith motions for Simpson to come forward. Smith throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Simpson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Smith rather than just go for the knockout.
Smith tries to score with a low kick but Simpson moves his leg out of the way.
Smith connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Simpson momentarily.
Some bone on bone action there as Simpson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Smith throws a good cross that connects.
Smith throws a low kick but Simpson avoids it.
Simpson avoids the head kick by Smith.
Smith feints and then cracks Simpson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Simpson down.

Simpson closes the distance and clinches.

Smith manages to break the clinch.
Smith's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Smith duly obliges.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Simpson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smith.
Simpson blocks a leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith throws the kick towards the body but Simpson avoids it.
Simpson blocks a leg kick.
Simpson tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Simpson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Smith dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brandon Simpson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Simpson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Simpson persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Simpson connects with a nice looking jab.
Smith turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Smith is looking to land body kicks.
A nice leg kick lands there from Smith.
An inside leg kick from Smith misses.
The fighters circling - Smith throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A slapping leg kick lands for Smith.
Smith throws a low kick, looking for Simpson's leg but Simpson calmly moves out of range.
Simpson checks the leg kick nicely there.
Smith throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Smith takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Smith misses with a leg kick.
Simpson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Simpson throws a sloppy body shot
letting Smith counter with a right hand.
Smith pivots, looking for a leg kick but Simpson is out of range and Smith settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a leg kick but Simpson checks it.
Smith takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Simpson misses with a wild body shot.
A bone on bone clash there as Simpson blocks the leg kick.
Smith tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Simpson is able to avoid easily.
Simpson jabs at Smith's body.
Simpson misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smith throws a low kick but it's checked well by Simpson.
Simpson shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Simpson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
John Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Simpson.
Smith throws an overhand right that lands on Simpson's shoulder, as Simpson tries to avoid the shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Smith.
Simpson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Simpson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson tries to move into range but Smith moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Simpson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Simpson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Simpson shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smith attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Smith scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Simpson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Brandon Simpson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith controlling the position for now.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Simpson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Simpson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smith tries to roll over but Simpson keeps him under control.
Smith is looking to control Simpson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?
Simpson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Simpson thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Simpson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith's head.
Simpson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Simpson trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Simpson thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Simpson prevents Smith from improving his position.
Simpson is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.

Simpson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Smith makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Simpson tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Simpson takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Smith connects with the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Smith!