PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pietro Abruzzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and OJ Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). OJ Simpson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Abruzzi
vs
Simpson

184 cm
20
201 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

179 cm
20
195 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pietro Abruzzi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, OJ Simpson!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Russell Pearce and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abruzzi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Simpson manages to avoid it.
Abruzzi throws a leg kick that misses.
Abruzzi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Abruzzi thows a body shot but no joy.
Abruzzi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Abruzzi. Simpson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Simpson is looking to slow Abruzzi down with leg kicks.
Danga de danga de dang - Abruzzi scores with a four punch combination!
Simpson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Abruzzi misses with a kick to the body.
Simpson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Abruzzi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Abruzzi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Simpson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Simpson. That's going to slow Abruzzi down.
Pietro Abruzzi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Abruzzi tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A telegraphed right hand from Abruzzi misses the target.
Simpson ducks under a wild hook from Abruzzi.
Simpson is looking to slow Abruzzi down with leg kicks.
Simpson throws out a leg kick but Abruzzi moves out of range and Simpson only half commits.
Simpson needs to keep his hands up - Abruzzi had a free shot at his head there.
Simpson thumps Abruzzi with a low kick.
Abruzzi thows a leg kick but Simpson checks it
and Simpson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Simpson's corner calls for a 1-2. Simpson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Simpson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Abruzzi's sensitive parts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abruzzi throws a big shot that misses.
Abruzzi throws a predictable looking body shot
and Simpson counters with a leg kick.
Abruzzi tries to clinch up
and Simpson counters with an inside leg kick.
Abruzzi misses with a leg kick
and Simpson counters with a good, hard body kick but Abruzzi shrugs it off.
Simpson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Abruzzi. Abruzzi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Abruzzi tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Abruzzi throws a big shot that misses.
Simpson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Simpson motions for Abruzzi to come forward. Simpson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Simpson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Simpson sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Simpson stands and steps away. Abruzzi gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A combination from Abruzzi does no damage.
Pietro Abruzzi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abruzzi tries to clinch up.
Simpson throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Simpson slips a jab and a cross from Abruzzi.
Simpson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Abruzzi.
Abruzzi throws a looping overhand right but Simpson ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed right hand from Abruzzi misses the target.
Simpson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Simpson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Simpson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Simpson.
Simpson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Abruzzi.
Abruzzi throws a combination that misses
and Simpson counters with a thumping low kick.
Abruzzi misses with a straight left.
Simpson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Abruzzi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Abruzzi throws a sloppy head kick
and Simpson counters with a low kick, right behind Abruzzi 's knee.
Simpson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Simpson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Abruzzi.
Simpson goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
An inside leg kick lands from Simpson.
Abruzzi misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Abruzzi circles away quickly and effectively.
A low kick from Abruzzi misses
and Simpson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Abruzzi's knee momentarily.
Simpson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Abruzzi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Simpson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Abruzzi.
Abruzzi throws a looping overhand right but Simpson ducks down to avoid it.
Abruzzi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Simpson counters with a nice leg kick.
Simpson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Abruzzi misses with a combination
and Simpson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Abruzzi's knee momentarily.
Abruzzi closes the distance but Simpson moves to the side
and Simpson counters with a slapping leg kick.
Abruzzi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Simpson at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Abruzzi swivels and escapes.
Abruzzi throws a left and a right that both miss

and Simpson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Abruzzi won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abruzzi is letting Simpson control him for a moment.
Let's hope that Simpson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, OJ Simpson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Abruzzi wants to clinch

and Simpson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Abruzzi's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Abruzzi keeping full guard, as Simpson tries to pass.
Simpson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Simpson passes Abruzzi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

OJ Simpson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Abruzzi throws out a loose jab but Simpson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Simpson defending well as Abruzzi loads up on a big left hand.
Abruzzi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Simpson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Abruzzi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Abruzzi throws a leg kick
and Simpson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Abruzzi swings away with a body shot that misses
and Simpson counters with a one-two to the body.
Abruzzi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Abruzzi misses with a looping right.
Abruzzi misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abruzzi checks a low kick from Simpson.
Simpson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Simpson staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Abruzzi misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Abruzzi throws a jab when Simpson was well out of range.
Abruzzi walks forward, straight into a front kick from Simpson.
A jab from Simpson does it's job there.
Abruzzi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Simpson throws a series of punches but Abruzzi moves out of range.
Abruzzi throws a leg kick
and Simpson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Abruzzi's knee momentarily.
Abruzzi wants to clinch but Simpson slips to the side
and Simpson counters with a series of strikes. Abruzzi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Simpson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Abruzzi throws a head kick but Simpson moves out of range.
Abruzzi checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson throws the kick towards the body but Abruzzi avoids it.
Simpson slips a jab from Abruzzi.
Abruzzi misses with a straight right.
Simpson looks to score with a jab to the body but Abruzzi is just out of range.
Simpson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Abruzzi loads up on a big right hand but Simpson slips the punch.
Abruzzi walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Abruzzi throws a right and a left that both miss.
A low kick from Abruzzi misses
and Simpson counters with a leg kick.
Abruzzi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Simpson was well out of range. Poor timing from Abruzzi.
Abruzzi tries to clinch up
and Simpson counters with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abruzzi misses with a body punch
and Simpson counters with an inside leg kick.
Abruzzi throws a combination that misses

and Simpson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Abruzzi!
Simpson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Simpson controlling his opponent.
OJ Simpson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pietro Abruzzi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
OJ Simpson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Simpson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

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