PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Braddock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Simpleton (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.

Braddock
vs
Simpleton

188 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 Rio de Janeiro, James Braddock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Frankie Simpleton!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Braddock fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Braddock throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Simpleton tries to clinch but Braddock moves out of range.

Simpleton has Braddock up against the cage in a clinch.
Braddock lands a body punch in the clinch.
Simpleton is trying to break free.
Simpleton tries to pull guard but Braddock holds him up against the cage and eventually Simpleton drops back down to his feet.
Braddock wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Braddock cracks Simpleton with a nice body shot.
Braddock controlling the action here for a moment.
Braddock lands a left hand.
Braddock prevents Simpleton from breaking the clinch.
Good body shot from Braddock.
Simpleton lands a left hand that snaps the head of Braddock backwards.
Braddock fails to pull guard.
Braddock scores with a shot to the side of Simpleton's head.
Simpleton tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Simpleton pulls guard successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpleton keeping moving, preventing Braddock from controlling successfully.
Braddock looking to sit in guard and control but Simpleton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Braddock working a defensive guard here.
Simpleton won't allow Braddock to sweep him here.
Braddock being controlled here, momentarily.
Simpleton preventing the sweep.
Simpleton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Simpleton is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two 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.
Simpleton stopping the sweep attempt from Braddock.
Braddock is trying to keep Simpleton in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Braddock is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Braddock is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Braddock working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Simpleton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Simpleton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Braddock stuffs the takedown attempt from Simpleton. Simpleton gets slowly back to his feet.
James Braddock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frankie Simpleton.
Braddock throws a right and a left that both miss.
Simpleton tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Braddock swivels and escapes.
Braddock misses with a two punch combination.
Braddock is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpleton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Braddock swinging wilding here.
Simpleton takes one to the side of the head.

Simpleton closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Simpleton controls the position.
Braddock taking punishment in the form of punches.
Simpleton works to advance to full mount. Braddock defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Simpleton sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Simpleton looking to control but Braddock is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Simpleton sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Braddock working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpleton lands a big shot there that rocks Braddock but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Braddock tries to hold on but Simpleton pushes him away.
Simpleton pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Braddock is wriggling around trying to escape.
Simpleton controlling the pace for now.
Braddock wants to hold on but Simpleton pushes him away.
Braddock can't escape the position.
Braddock wants to control but Simpleton is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Frankie Simpleton will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

It's a brutal combination of punches from Braddock! Simpleton is backing up but he can't get away as Braddock lands with one final shot to the jaw that drops Simpleton and ends the fight. Great knockout.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). James Braddock!