PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Devin Houle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Simpson's choice of entrance music: The Fire by The Roots. Devin Houle is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Houle
vs
Simpson

186 cm
20
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

186 cm
19
193 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Devin Houle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven Simpson!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Simpson clinches up against the cage.

Houle pulls guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Simpson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Houle keeping moving, preventing Simpson from controlling successfully.
Simpson looking to pass the guard.
Simpson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Simpson throws a big right hand that misses.
Simpson advances position into side control!
Simpson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Houle is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Simpson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
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.
Simpson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Houle keeps working.
Houle is trying to improve his position.
Houle is not content to let Simpson control the position.

Simpson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Houle is trying to get back to half guard.

Simpson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Houle knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houle prevents Simpson from improving position.
Houle tries to improve position but can't.
Houle prevents Simpson from moving into mount.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houle is looking to reverse the position.
Simpson advances to mount.
Houle is looking to get to half guard.
Simpson wants to control but Houle has made it back to half guard. Nice work.

Simpson is working for a kimura but Houle is defending it quite comfortably.

Houle looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Simpson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Simpson seems to be looking for submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Houle is staying active underneath Simpson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Simpson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Houle defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Simpson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Houle tries to score a power double leg takedown but Simpson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Houle somewhat.

Simpson has closed the distance and engaged Houle in a clinch.

Houle jumps guard.
Simpson wants to control from the top but Houle keeps moving.
Simpson stands and throws Houle's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Houle is looking to regain half guard here but Simpson keeps moving and retains side control.
Simpson works to advance to full mount. Houle defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Houle is trying desperately to improve position.
Steven Simpson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson moves to back control.
Will Simpson go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Simpson working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Houle tries to escape the position.
Houle breaks Simpson's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Houle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houle trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Simpson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Simpson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Simpson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Simpson trying to control but Houle is working from the bottom.
Simpson advances to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Simpson is looking to advance position but Houle won't allow it.
Houle moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Houle is adopting a defensive guard.
Houle keeping full guard, as Simpson tries to pass.
Houle controls Simpson momentarily but Simpson frees himself.
Simpson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Houle manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Houle has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Houle trying to control the position from guard on top but Simpson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson wants to sweep here but Houle controlling him for the moment.
Houle seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Simpson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Simpson keeping moving, preventing Houle from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Devin Houle wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Simpson lets loose with a powerful body kick. Houle will feel that in the morning.
Simpson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Houle at a distance.
Houle checks a leg kick nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Simpson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Houle shoots for a takedown but Simpson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Houle scores a takedown into full mount!
Simpson is trying to escape the mount.

Houle goes for an armbar but Simpson turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Simpson.
Simpson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Simpson trying to control the position from guard on top but Houle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Houle escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Simpson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Houle is keeping the position for now.
Simpson trying to control but Houle is working from the bottom.
Simpson looking to pass the guard.
Houle wants to sweep but no luck.
Simpson trying to control but Houle is working from the bottom.
Simpson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Houle is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Houle looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Simpson passes into half guard.
Still in half guard, Simpson seems content to control.
Simpson is looking to pass Houle's guard but actually Houle recovers to full guard.
Simpson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Simpson trying to control the position from guard on top but Houle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Houle keeping moving, preventing Simpson from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Steven Simpson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Houle fails with a takedown attempt.

Simpson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Simpson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Houle!
Simpson with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houle blocking the ground and pound.
Houle suckers Simpson into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Houle is now in Simpson's guard!
Houle trying to control but Simpson is working from the bottom.
Simpson controls Houle momentarily but Houle frees himself.
Houle trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Simpson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Steven Simpson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Simpson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Simpson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Simpson 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Simpson!
Our winner, Steven Simpson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.