PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between BJ Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Richard Simpson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Penn
vs
Simpson

180 cm
19
157 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
19
162 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, BJ Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Richard Simpson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penn closes the distance and clinches up with Simpson, looking for a takedown. Penn pushes Simpson against the cage but Simpson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Simpson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Penn moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Simpson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Simpson throws a shot from downtown. Penn moves away and avoids it.

Penn changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Simpson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Penn is trying to get an arm triangle but Simpson is defending well.

Penn 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 Penn but great work by Simpson.
Penn is trying to get back to half guard.
Simpson wants to stand but Penn has his arm trapped.
Penn regains half guard.
Penn is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson wants to get back to his feet.

Penn has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Simpson escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Simpson!
Simpson tries to stand but Penn is controlling his head.
Penn tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Simpson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

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 tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Penn is trying to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Simpson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Simpson throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson throws a series of punches but Penn avoids them all with ease.
Richard Simpson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Simpson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Penn.
Simpson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Penn circles away quickly and effectively.
Simpson stalks Penn and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Penn's face. Penn staggers backwards, shaken.
Penn closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Simpson smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Horrible takedown by Penn or perhaps it was just good defense by Simpson which made him look bad.
Simpson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Simpson looks to land a combination but Penn avoids it well.
Penn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Simpson looks to score with a jab to the body but Penn is just out of range.
Simpson misses with a wild combination.
Simpson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Simpson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Simpson misses with a wild combination.
Simpson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simpson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Penn shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Simpson as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Penn misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Simpson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Simpson.
Simpson misses with a wild combination.
Simpson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Penn moves away.
Simpson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simpson connects with a nice looking jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A head kick misses from Simpson.
Simpson bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Simpson connects with a looping right hand.
Simpson misses with a hook.
Penn fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Simpson lands a nice hook to Penn's body. Penn takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Simpson!
Simpson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Penn moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Simpson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Simpson throws a right and a left that Penn avoids nicely.
Penn has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Penn there as he acknowledges the shot.
Simpson throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Penn shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Simpson but Simpson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Penn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Simpson scores with a nice right hand.
Simpson lands a really nice looking cross but Penn seems unphased.
A lazy left from Simpson finds it's target.
Penn will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Richard Simpson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Simpson stuns Penn with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Simpson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Penn's head.
Simpson throws a one two combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Simpson.
Penn walks into a stiff left hand from Simpson.
Penn walks into a straight right hand from Simpson.
Simpson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Simpson misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters circling a little - Simpson finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Simpson lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Simpson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Simpson keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Simpson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Simpson. Penn shrugs it off though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Simpson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Simpson.
Penn shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Simpson as he avoids it easily.
Jab by Simpson.
Simpson throws a series of punches but Penn avoids them all with ease.
Simpson scores with a hook to the body. Penn takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A head kick misses from Simpson.
Simpson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Simpson lands a jab-cross combination.
Simpson lands a two punch combo.
Simpson tries a head kick but it misses.
A lazy left from Simpson finds it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Simpson 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 scores with the left hand. Penn knows he should have avoided that one.
Simpson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Penn looks for a takedown but Simpson sprawls well.
Simpson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Penn backs up against the cage.
Simpson lands a body shot.
Richard Simpson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Simpson throws a right and a left that Penn avoids nicely.
Penn dodges the punch combination from Simpson.
Simpson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Simpson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson lands a head kick. Penn smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Simpson thuds his shin into the meat of Penn's side.
Simpson lands a two punch combo.
Simpson misses with an uppercut. Penn saw that one coming.
Nice takedown defense from Simpson. No joy for Penn on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for BJ Penn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Simpson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Penn moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Simpson throws a head kick but Penn moves out of range.
Penn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Simpson.
Penn takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Penn showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Simpson.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Simpson - that will leave a mark!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Simpson.
Simpson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Simpson looks to land a combination. Penn sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Simpson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Penn takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Simpson swinging wilding here.
Penn drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Danga de danga de dang - Simpson scores with a four punch combination!
Simpson fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson missing with a left hand there. Penn was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Simpson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
BJ Penn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Penn fails with the takedown.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Simpson swinging wilding here.
Simpson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Penn.
Donk. Simpson catches Penn right on the button with a cross.
Simpson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Simpson misses with the combination.
Simpson thuds a left hand into Penn's body.
Penn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Simpson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Simpson looks to land a combination but Penn avoids it well.
Simpson tests Penn's chin there with a solid looking shot.
BJ Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Simpson lands a front kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Simpson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Simpson 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 26:30

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