PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Homer Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Saplin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saplin has chosen Invincible as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Marcus Saplin enters the cage!

Simpson
vs
Saplin

185 cm
20
192 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

195 cm
26
185 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great low kicks
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Pegasus Nutrition
Pegasus Nutrition

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Homer Simpson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Saplin!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simpson throws a sloppy head kick

and Saplin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Simpson won't be happy with that.

Saplin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Saplin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Saplin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Simpson, who protects the arm well.
Saplin is looking to take a break and control but Simpson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Saplin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Simpson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Saplin looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Saplin has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Saplin wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Simpson, who protects the arm well.
Simpson is trying to buck Saplin off.
Saplin throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Saplin stands up and beckons Simpson to his feet.

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.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saplin is defended easily by Simpson.
Saplin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Simpson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Simpson.
Simpson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Saplin is keeping busy.
Simpson is trying to break the clinch but Saplin is controlling him.
Saplin has Simpson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Simpson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Homer Simpson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Saplin.
Simpson tries to break the clinch but Saplin is controlling the position.

Simpson manages to break the clinch.
Simpson throws a sloppy head kick

and Saplin moves into the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Saplin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Simpson tries to break the clinch but Saplin is controlling the position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Saplin keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Simpson's efforts to push away.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Simpson tries to circle away but Saplin has him pinned against the cage.
Saplin keeps control of Simpson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Saplin is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson wants to get back to striking at distance but Saplin won't allow it.
Simpson slows down the pace here.
Saplin swings wildly with an uppercut but Simpson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saplin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Simpson working hard to break the clinch.
Simpson is trying to force a seperation but Saplin has the dominant position.
Simpson looking to slow down the pace here.
Saplin prevents Simpson from breaking the clinch.
Simpson is trying to break the clinch but Saplin has him pressed against the cage.
Simpson wants to stall.
Simpson is looking to break free of the clinch but Saplin has double underhooks.
Simpson has had enough of the clinch but Saplin keeps him there for the moment.

Simpson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick by Simpson misses

and Saplin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Saplin escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson throws a sloppy head kick

and Saplin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Saplin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Saplin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Saplin is looking for a kimura but Simpson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Saplin to get the leverage.
Saplin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Simpson is looking to escape.

Saplin is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Saplin 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.

Simpson throws a lazy head kick

and Saplin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Saplin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Simpson is keeping the position for now.

Saplin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Simpson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Saplin, into his guard.
Simpson trying to control but Saplin is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saplin managing to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Homer Simpson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Saplin fails with a takedown attempt.
Saplin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Simpson swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Simpson throws a sloppy head kick

and Saplin counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Simpson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saplin has him pressed against the cage.

Simpson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick misses from Simpson.
Saplin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Simpson sprawls well. Simpson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Saplin gets slowly back to his feet.
Homer Simpson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Saplin.
Simpson throws a head kick that misses

and Saplin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Simpson is trying to force a seperation but Saplin has the dominant position.
Saplin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Simpson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Simpson tries to break free but Saplin pushes him back against the cage.
Simpson is trying to push Saplin away but Saplin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Saplin keeps control of Simpson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Simpson can't break the clinch.
Simpson is trying to break the clinch but Saplin is controlling him.
Saplin prevents Simpson from breaking the clinch.
Simpson is looking to break free of the clinch but Saplin has double underhooks.
Simpson wants to break free but Saplin has control.
Simpson is trying to break free.
Saplin prevents Simpson from breaking the clinch.
Simpson tries to break free but Saplin pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson has had enough of the clinch but Saplin keeps him there for the moment.

Simpson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Saplin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Simpson throws a leg kick which misses Saplin's front leg but catches the back leg as Saplin tries to avoid it.
Simpson throws a lazy head kick
and Saplin counters with an outside leg kick.
A head kick by Simpson misses

and Saplin counters with a single leg into guard. Simpson didn't expect that.
Saplin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Simpson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Saplin decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Simpson, up you get!
Simpson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Saplin.
A head kick by Simpson misses

and Saplin counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Saplin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Marcus Saplin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Simpson is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Saplin asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saplin goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Simpson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Saplin but great work by Simpson.
Simpson tries to stand but Saplin is controlling his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Saplin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get 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.

Simpson throws a head kick that misses

and Saplin counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Simpson's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simpson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saplin is controlling him.
Saplin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Simpson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Saplin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Saplin thows a big elbow that misses.
Simpson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saplin is controlling him.
Saplin trying to control the position from guard on top but Simpson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Saplin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
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.
Saplin throws and elbow that misses. Simpson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Saplin's guard. Nice move by Simpson!
Saplin has a closed guard, preventing Simpson from standing up.
Saplin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Simpson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Homer Simpson just wasn't active enough.
Saplin swats away the attempt to clinch by Simpson.
Simpson throws a sloppy head kick

and Saplin counters with a takedown into side control.

Saplin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Simpson has escaped the position, nice work there.

Saplin goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Simpson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Saplin but great work by Simpson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson wants to stand but Saplin is controlling his arm.
Homer Simpson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Simpson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Saplin is avoiding damage well.
Simpson wants to stand but Saplin has his arm trapped.

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.
Saplin is looking to reverse the position.
Saplin tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Marcus Saplin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Saplin blocking the ground and pound.
Simpson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Saplin because Simpson loaded up on that one.
Simpson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Saplin because Simpson loaded up on that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Saplin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Saplin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Saplin!