PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Morello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morello comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Nightwatchman - Whatever It Takes kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Simpson
vs
Morello

183 cm
22
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

186 cm
18
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aaron Simpson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris Morello!
The judges for this bout are , and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morello shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Morello bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simpson is trying to improve his position.
Morello is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Simpson's shoulder. That is not cool.

Morello working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Morello tries for a kimura but Simpson is defending well.
Simpson is looking for a sweep.
Morello in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
You can see the frustration on Simpson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Morello trying to control the position but Simpson is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Morello's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Simpson is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Morello pulls his head out easily.
Morello tries to pass to full mount but Simpson defends it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Simpson fails with the takedown

and Morello decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Simpson's guard.
Morello wants to control from the top but Simpson keeps moving.

Simpson looking for a guillotine here but Morello defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Morello trying to control the position from guard on top but Simpson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Simpson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Morello advances position into side control!
Morello wants to control but Simpson is keeping him busy.

Morello tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Simpson gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Morello seems to be looking for submissions.
Morello is looking to take a break and control but Simpson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Morello is looking for a kimura here.
Morello looks gassed!
Simpson trying to control here.
Simpson works his way to full guard. Good work.

Simpson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Morello uses it to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Morello trying to control the position but Simpson is working away.
Simpson tries to buck Morello off but Morello is having none of it.

Morello looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Simpson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Morello's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Morello is trying to control the action in half guard but Simpson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Simpson moves into full guard.
Simpson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Morello avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Morello dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Simpson has his takedown stuffed

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

Simpson actively working from the bottom here.
Morello throwing shots but Simpson is blocking nicely.

Morello is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Simpson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Morello.
Morello wants to control but Simpson is keeping him busy.

Morello is looking for a kimura but Simpson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Morello to get the leverage.

Morello is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson wants to control but Morello is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Morello is breathing heavily.

Simpson is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Morello pulls his head out easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Morello feints and as Simpson raises his hands in defense, Morello changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Simpson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Simpson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Simpson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Morello can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Simpson working for a triangle but Morello defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morello trying to control the position from guard on top but Simpson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Simpson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Morello gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morello pushes down on Simpson's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Morello seems to be working for a kimura but Simpson defends the submission attempt.
Morello is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson wants to get back to full guard.
Simpson is refusing to be controlled, as Morello sits in half guard.

Morello moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Simpson.
Simpson sneaks back into half guard.
Morello trying to control from Simpson's half guard. Simpson has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Morello has gone for a leg lock! Simpson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Morello's guard.
Simpson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Simpson trying to control the position from guard on top but Morello is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Morello wants to sweep but no luck.

Morello has his foot on Simpson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Simpson works his way back into a safe position though.
Simpson wants to control from the top but Morello keeps moving.

Morello working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Simpson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Simpson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Simpson slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Morello showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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.

Morello misses with a takedown attempt

and Simpson counters with a takedown into side control.

Simpson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

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

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

Simpson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Morello rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Simpson's guard! Nice work there by Morello!

Simpson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morello trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morello wants to control from the top but Simpson keeps moving.
Morello works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Simpson is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Morello pulls his head out easily.

Simpson looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Morello pushes past his half guard into mount!
Simpson wants to control but Morello is having none of it.

Morello jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Simpson manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Simpson is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Morello tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Simpson is not content to let Morello control the position.
Simpson tries to buck Morello off but Morello is having none of it.

Morello looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Morello is looking to take a break and control but Simpson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Simpson can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Morello wants to take a breather but Simpson is having none of it.
Simpson wants to improve his position but Morello is controlling well.
Simpson regains full guard. Nicely done.

Morello drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Simpson dives on top into guard.

Morello is looking for a triangle but Simpson pushes his legs off easily.
Simpson passes Morello's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Morello wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Simpson 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.
Morello gets full guard.
Chris Morello is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Simpson 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 stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Morello swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Aaron Simpson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Simpson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Simpson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Morello has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Morello!