PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harry Donovan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brandon Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Donovan kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Korpiklaani - Beer Beer. Simpson has chosen Last of the Mohicans Theme as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Donovan
vs
Simpson

191 cm
20
217 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

185 cm
24
210 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harry Donovan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brandon Simpson!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simpson scores with a body shot.
Donovan lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Donovan misses with a two punch combination.

Donovan closes the distance and clinches.
Simpson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Donovan trying to land knees to the body.
Donovan connects with a nasty looking knee right to Simpson's face.
Donovan taking a breather.
Donovan takes a shot to the head.
A short right from Donovan on the inside.
Simpson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Simpson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Donovan fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Donovan lands with a kick to the temple. Simpson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Donovan has closed the distance and engaged Simpson in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Donovan is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Simpson tries to pull guard but Donovan holds him up against the cage and eventually Simpson drops back down to his feet.
Simpson tries to stall but Donovan uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Donovan looking to throw knees to the head but Simpson is blocking nicely.
Simpson has a couple of punches blocked by Donovan.
Simpson lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Donovan stalling in the clinch but Simpson improves position.
Simpson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Simpson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Simpson trying to stall but Donovan improves his position.
Donovan putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Simpson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Simpson looks gassed!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Donovan.
Donovan using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Donovan works on Simpson's body with a couple of short punches.
Donovan lands a nice knee to the body.
Donovan dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Donovan throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Donovan lands a knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Donovan.
Nice body punch from Donovan - that landed with a thud.
A short body shot lands from Donovan as the two fighters clinch.
Donovan lands a knee to the body.
Donovan landing knees to the head.
Donovan connects with a nasty looking knee right to Simpson's face.
Donovan with a knee to the head.
Donovan with a knee to the head.
Simpson misses with a punch on the inside.
Donovan stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Donovan lands a damaging elbow.
Simpson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Donovan pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Harry Donovan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Simpson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan is working Simpson over against the cage.
Donovan working Simpson over with knees to the body.
Simpson goes for a takedown attempt but Donovan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Donovan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Donovan has Simpson pushed against the cage.
Donovan landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Donovan unloads a knee to the mid-section. Simpson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Donovan lands a hook to the side of the head.
Donovan is pushing Simpson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Donovan putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Simpson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Donovan connects with a nasty looking knee right to Simpson's face.
Donovan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Simpson is defending well for now.
Simpson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Donovan lands a knee to the head.
Simpson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Donovan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Simpson trying to stall but Donovan improves his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Donovan landing knees to the body.
Donovan unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Simpson trying to control the position but instead, Donovan has worked for underhooks and has pushed Simpson into the cage.
Donovan pushes Simpson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Donovan lands a knee to the head.
Donovan stalling in the clinch.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Donovan for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Simpson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Donovan trying to land knees to the body.
Simpson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Donovan prevents it.
Simpson tries for a takedown but Donovan manages to get underhooks.
Donovan lands a body punch.
Simpson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Donovan lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Donovan is looking to control Simpson's arms but Simpson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Donovan has his back to the cage.
Simpson goes for a takedown attempt but Donovan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Donovan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Simpson doesn't seem bothered though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donovan with a hook.
Donovan misses with a looping left.
Donovan throws a nice looking combination but Simpson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Donovan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Simpson misses with a wild body shot.
Simpson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Donovan.
Simpson avoids a punch combination nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Simpson is defended easily by Donovan.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters circling - Donovan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Donovan closes the distance and pushes Simpson back into the cage.
Simpson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Simpson has Donovan pressed against the cage.
Donovan throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Simpson blocks it with crossed arms.
Donovan missing with knees to the body.
Simpson scores with a shoulder strike.
Simpson throws a head punch that misses.
Donovan lands with a right to the head.
Simpson slows down the pace here.
Donovan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Simpson taking a breather.
Simpson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Donovan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Simpson lands a body punch.
Simpson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Simpson throws a head punch that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Simpson tries for a takedown but Donovan manages to get underhooks.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Simpson.
Simpson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Donovan is keeping busy.
Simpson controlling the action here for a moment.
Donovan throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson has Donovan pressed against the cage.
Donovan landing knees to the body.
Donovan gets underhooks to prevent Simpson's takedown attempt.
Harry Donovan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brandon Simpson.
Donovan avoiding damage.
Simpson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Donovan scores with a shoulder strike.
Donovan slows down the pace here.
Simpson is trying to stall.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Donovan takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Simpson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Donovan content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Donovan is looking to control Simpson's arms but Simpson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Donovan has his back to the cage.
Donovan blocks an uppercut.

Simpson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Donovan can't fight it off and eventually Simpson manages to take the fight to the floor. Donovan looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Simpson wants to pass the guard but Donovan is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donovan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Simpson throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simpson tries to free his leg and advance position but Donovan is retaining full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Simpson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Donovan is pulling down on Simpson's head to control his posture.
Donovan wants to stand but Simpson is controlling the position.
Simpson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donovan trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Donovan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Simpson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Simpson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Donovan.
Nice sprawl there from Donovan as Simpson shoots in.
Simpson avoids the head kick by Donovan.
Simpson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Donovan looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Simpson lands with a straight right. Donovan didn't see that one coming.
Donovan connects with a single shot there.
Donovan takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Harry Donovan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Simpson looks to land a combination but Donovan avoids it well.
Donovan takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Donovan looks to land a right hand but Simpson moved out of range.

Donovan takes the fight into the clinch.
A body shot lands from Simpson.
Simpson stalling in the clinch but Donovan improves position.
Simpson leaning against his opponent.
Donovan lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Simpson scores with a shot to the side of Donovan's head.
Harry Donovan has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Donovan tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Simpson scores with a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Donovan scores with a hook to the body.
Simpson looking to stall.
Simpson is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Donovan has denied him.
Simpson fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brandon Simpson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Simpson with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Donovan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Donovan looks to land a right hand but Simpson moved out of range.
Donovan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Simpson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Donovan.
Simpson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Donovan rather than just go for the knockout.
Donovan tries to clinch but Simpson moves out of range.
Harry Donovan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Donovan throws a head kick that misses.
Simpson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donovan throws a leg kick that misses.
Donovan is looking to clinch but Simpson is avoiding it.
Harry Donovan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Donovan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Donovan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Donovan avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donovan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Simpson or perhaps it was just good defense by Donovan which made him look bad.
Simpson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Donovan wants to clinch.
Simpson has a takedown stuffed.
Donovan lands a head kick. Simpson smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Donovan throws a hook to the side of Simpson's head but Simpson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Donovan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Simpson swings for the body but Donovan moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Donovan.
Simpson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Donovan. Donovan obviously looking to wear him down.
Donovan lands with a kick to the temple. Simpson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Donovan bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Simpson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Simpson throws and elbow that misses. Donovan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Simpson's guard. Nice move by Donovan!

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simpson working for a triangle but Donovan defends it easily.
Donovan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Donovan trying to control but Simpson is working from the bottom.
Simpson trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
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.
Simpson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Simpson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Simpson showed some decent athleticism there.

Simpson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Donovan keeping control of the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Harry Donovan.
I think Donovan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harry Donovan!