PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rakul Meyels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sydney Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rakul Meyels has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Meyels
vs
Simpson

185 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
21
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rakul Meyels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sydney Simpson!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Meyels changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Simpson tries to avoid it but Meyels manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Simpson to the ground. Simpson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Simpson fails to land with a series of punches.
Simpson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Simpson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Simpson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Meyels moves away.
Simpson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Meyels avoids a kick to the body.
Simpson throws a sloppy head kick and Meyels moves out of range easily.
Meyels tries to close the distance and clinch up but Simpson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Simpson misses with a two punch combination.
Simpson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Meyels.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simpson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Simpson throws a series of punches but Meyels moves out of range.
Simpson jabs Meyels right on the nose. Meyels blinks but takes it well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Meyels.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rakul Meyels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Meyels throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Simpson. No joy for Meyels on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Simpson. No joy for Meyels on that attempt.
Simpson throws a leg kick but Meyels checks it.
Meyels avoids the head kick by Simpson.
Simpson throws a sloppy head kick
and Meyels counters with a right hand to the body.
A head kick by Simpson misses
and Meyels counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Some bone on bone action there as Meyels checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Meyels looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Simpson is fending him off so far but Meyels persists. Nope, Simpson circles away and we're back to standing.
Meyels shoots in and drives through. Simpson sprawls well.
Meyels is breathing heavily.
Meyels is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Meyels.
Simpson throws a lazy head kick

and Meyels counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Simpson!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Simpson regains half guard.
Meyels prevents Simpson from 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.

Simpson kicks off Meyels and gets to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Simpson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Meyels was well out of range. Poor timing from Simpson.
Sydney Simpson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Simpson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Meyels blocks a head kick by Simpson.
Simpson misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meyels blocks a head kick by Simpson.
Simpson misses with the combination.
Simpson throws a head kick but Meyels moves out of range.
Simpson throws a head kick that misses.
Nice body kick there by Simpson.
Simpson throws a head kick that misses.
Simpson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Simpson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Meyels moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Meyels takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Simpson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Simpson misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Meyels counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simpson tries to get to full guard but Meyels has control of the leg.
Simpson is trying to stand back up but Meyels is controlling him
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Meyels stalling away here and it's allowed Simpson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rakul Meyels dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Meyels tries to close the distance and clinch up but Simpson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Simpson is looking to land body kicks.
Simpson misses with a head kick.
Meyels looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Simpson thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Meyels if he has to take too many more of those.
Simpson throws a body kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Simpson.
Meyels takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

It looks like Rakul Meyels has been cut.
Simpson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Simpson misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Simpson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Simpson duly obliges.
Meyels takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Simpson misses with a series of wild punches.
Simpson throws a head kick but Meyels moves out of range.
Meyels avoids the head kick by Simpson.
Simpson fails to land with a series of punches.
Meyels takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Simpson tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Simpson.
Meyels takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Simpson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson tries a head kick but it misses.
Simpson misses with the combination.
Simpson looks for the body kick but Meyels saw that one coming.
Simpson throws a series of punches but Meyels moves out of range.
Meyels sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Simpson looks to land a combination but Meyels avoids it well.
Simpson throws a head kick that misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Meyels checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Simpson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Simpson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Simpson throws a head kick but Meyels moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson throws a sloppy head kick and Meyels moves out of range easily.
Simpson tries to land a front kick but Meyels steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Simpson throws a sloppy head kick and Meyels moves out of range easily.
Meyels avoids the head kick by Simpson.
Meyels throws a leg kick that is checked
and Simpson counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Simpson tries a head kick but it misses.
Meyels takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Meyels takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Meyels blocks a head kick by Simpson.
Sydney Simpson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Simpson throws a sloppy head kick and Meyels moves out of range easily.
Simpson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Simpson throws a series of punches but Meyels avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson wants to land a leg kick but Meyels is out of range.
Simpson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Simpson throws a head kick that misses.
Simpson throws a head kick that Meyels semi-blocks.
Simpson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Simpson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Simpson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Meyels counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Meyels trying to control the position from guard on top but Simpson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simpson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Meyels. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Meyels tries to free his leg and advance position but Simpson is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sydney Simpson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rakul Meyels's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Simpson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Simpson lands with a kick to the temple. Meyels shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Simpson looks for the body kick but Meyels saw that one coming.
Meyels tries to score a power double leg takedown but Simpson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Meyels somewhat.
Simpson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Meyels shoots for a double leg takedown but Simpson sprawls well. He's pushed Meyels's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Simpson throws a head kick that half lands.
Meyels ducks under a wild hook from Simpson.
Simpson throws a head kick that misses.
A punch combination from Simpson misses.
Meyels ducks under a wild hook from Simpson.
Simpson throws a combination that misses

so Meyels counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Meyels trying to control the position from guard on top but Simpson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Meyels stops Simpson from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Meyels trying to stand up but can't free himself from Simpson's guard.
Rakul Meyels overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Meyels moves out of range of the body kick from Simpson.
Simpson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Meyels wants to clinch but Simpson slips to the side
and Simpson counters with a straight right hand.
Rakul Meyels is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Simpson tries a head kick but it misses.
A left and a right from Simpson both land. Nice combination.
A right-left combo lands from Simpson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson throws a head kick that misses.
Simpson keeps Meyels at a distance using the push kick.
Simpson is looking to land body kicks.
Meyels takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Simpson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Simpson works Meyels's body with a nice hook.
Simpson lands a front kick.
Simpson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Simpson delivers a nice body kick.
Simpson lands with a kick to the temple. Meyels shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Good standup being displayed there by Simpson as he connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meyels takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Simpson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Simpson throws a sloppy head kick and Meyels moves out of range easily.
Meyels will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Simpson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Meyels.
Simpson throws a head kick that misses.
Meyels avoids the head kick by Simpson.
Simpson misses with a head kick.
Meyels tries to clinch but Simpson moves out of range.
Simpson dips to his left and cracks Meyels with an uppercut!
Simpson throws a head kick but Meyels moves out of range.
Simpson with a nice cross.
A right-left combo lands from Simpson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sydney Simpson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Simpson 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

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