PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michal Materla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Simpson (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.

Materla
vs
Simpson

183 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 Hilo, Michal Materla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mike Simpson!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Simpson closes the distance and clinches.
Simpson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Simpson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Materla backwards.

Simpson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Materla closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Simpson did well to prevent Materla getting side control.

Materla seems to be working for a kimura but Simpson defends the submission attempt.

Materla looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Materla is working for a kimura here but Simpson manages to reverse the position and he's now in Materla's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Simpson stands and steps away. Materla gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Simpson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Simpson closes the distance and pushes Materla back into the cage.
Materla tries for a takedown but Simpson manages to get underhooks.
A bit of stalling here from Simpson.
Simpson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Simpson tightens his grip and picks Materla up, before dumping him to the ground. Materla manages to land in guard.

Materla looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Simpson passes into half guard.
Materla is breathing heavily.

Materla is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Simpson pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Materla actively working from the bottom here.
Simpson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Materla controls his leg.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Materla is looking for a sweep. Simpson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Simpson tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Materla.

Materla looking for submissions off his back.
It looks like Simpson is going to stand back up.

Simpson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simpson rushes Materla and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Simpson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Materla backwards.
Simpson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Materla backwards.
Simpson lands with a right to the head.
A shot in the inside from Simpson.
Simpson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Simpson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Simpson working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Simpson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Simpson has managed to clinch.
Simpson lands with a left to the head.

Simpson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Simpson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Simpson connects with a single shot there.

Simpson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Simpson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Materla regains guard immediately.
Simpson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Materla's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Simpson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Simpson throws a series of punches but Materla avoids them all with ease.

Simpson closes the distance and pushes Materla back into the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Materla as Simpson tries to tie him up.
Simpson prevents the takedown attempt.
Simpson lands a body shot.
A left hand lands to the body for Simpson.
Simpson is pressed up against the cage. Materla has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Simpson down to the mat. Simpson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Simpson moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Simpson lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Materlas head.
Simpson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Simpson lands with a left to the head.

Simpson turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Materla is trying to improve his position.
Materla is working hard here to advance position.
Mike Simpson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Simpson wants to stand but Materla has his arm trapped.

Simpson decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Simpson instigates a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Simpson cracks Materla with a nice body shot.
Simpson lands a shot to the body.
A right hand to the body from Simpson.
Simpson looking to stall.

Simpson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Materla slips a jab and a cross from Simpson.
Simpson thows a body shot but no joy.
Simpson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Materla shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michal Materla. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Materla circles away quickly and effectively.
Simpson throws a right and a left that Materla avoids nicely.
A combination from Simpson does no damage.

Simpson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Simpson gets through Materla's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Simpson presses Materla against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Simpson digs a right hand into Materla's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Materla's gas tank.
Simpson stalling in the clinch.
Simpson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Simpson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Materla up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Simpson.
Simpson lands a shot to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Simpson.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Simpson lands a nice shot to the body.
Mike Simpson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Simpson breaks the clinch.
Simpson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Materla eats them both and turns towards Simpson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike 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!

Simpson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Simpson stuffs the takedown.
Simpson looks to land a combination but Materla avoids it well.

Simpson clinches.
A short left from Simpson.

Simpson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Materla regains guard.

Materla is looking for a triangle but Simpson pushes his legs off easily.
Simpson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Materla is proving hard to escape from.

Materla is looking for a triangle but Simpson pushes his legs off easily.

Materla has an active guard here but Simpson has managed to pass into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Materla is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Simpson pulls his head out easily.
Simpson wants to stand up but Materla is controlling the position.

Materla looking for submissions off his back.
Simpson tries to stand and escape but Materla is controlling the position.

Materla looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Materla looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Materla looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Materla looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Simpson seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Simpson is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Materla looking for submissions off his back.

Materla actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Materla wants to get back to full guard.
Simpson wants to stand up but Materla has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Materla is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Simpson pulls his head out easily.

Materla looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Simpson tries to stand and escape but Materla is controlling the position.

Materla looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Materla looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson wants to stand up but Materla is controlling the position.
Simpson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Materla. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mike Simpson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Materla actively working from the bottom here.

Materla is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Simpson pulls his head out easily.
Materla is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Materla looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mike Simpson.
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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Simpson!
Mike Simpson thanked the fans post fight for their support.