PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Devin Houle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simpson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by The Fire by The Roots. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Houle
vs
Simpson

186 cm
22
190 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

186 cm
21
193 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Devin Houle!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven Simpson!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Houle shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Houle content just to control the position here.
Simpson working to try and regain half guard.
Houle takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Houle has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Simpson is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houle content just to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Devin Houle wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Simpson slaps away a takedown attempt from Houle, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Houle fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Simpson avoids it really well and circles away.
Simpson slaps away a takedown attempt from Houle, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devin Houle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters circle momentarily. Simpson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson closes the distance and clinches up with Houle, looking for a takedown. Simpson pushes Houle against the cage but Houle circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Houle shoots in for a double leg but Simpson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Houle shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Simpson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Houle is trying to stand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Houle won't allow Simpson to pass to mount.
Simpson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Houle!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simpson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Simpson controlling the pace for now.
Simpson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Simpson wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Houle is squirming around, avoiding Simpson's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Houle because Simpson loaded up on that one.
Simpson trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Simpson has control of Houle's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Houle regains control of the situation pretty easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Simpson moves to back control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Simpson dominated that round.
That's time! Houle's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice takedown defense from Simpson. No joy for Houle on that attempt.
Simpson stuffs the takedown.
Houle looks for a takedown but Simpson sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devin Houle. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Simpson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Simpson tries to score with some ground and pound. Houle controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Houle wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Simpson throws an elbow but Houle slips to the side and avoids it well.
Houle is not content to let Simpson control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houle is trying to buck Simpson off.
Simpson is trying to ground and pound but Houle uses the momentary lack of control by Simpson to regain half guard.
Simpson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Houle's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson trying to mount his opponent but Houle defends it.
Houle is trying to stand.
Simpson trying to control from Houle's half guard. Houle has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Simpson trying to control but Houle is working from the bottom.
Simpson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Houle is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houle is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Simpson is controlling him.
Simpson throws an elbow that misses. Houle uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Simpson's guard. Nice move by Houle!
Simpson keeping moving, preventing Houle from controlling successfully.
Houle not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Houle wants to control from the top but Simpson keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houle content to stall in guard here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Steven Simpson has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Devin Houle.
Houle shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Simpson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Houle's knee momentarily.

Simpson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Simpson tries to advance to mount but Houle denies him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Simpson passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Houle!
Simpson wants to control the pace but Houle is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Simpson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

No luck for Simpson with that takedown attempt.
Simpson fails with a takedown attempt.

Houle drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Simpson controls Houle momentarily but Houle frees himself.
Houle stopping the sweep attempt from Simpson.
Houle 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.
Houle wants to control from the top but Simpson keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Simpson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Houle defends it easily.
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.
Houle trying to control but Simpson is working from the bottom.
Houle is really struggling to control Simpson but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Devin Houle just wasn't active enough.
Houle blocks a head kick by Simpson.
Houle shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Simpson sprawls well. Simpson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Houle gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houle moves out of range of the leg kick from Simpson.
Simpson shoots in looking for a takedown. Houle tries to sprawl out of it but Simpson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Houle manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Devin Houle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Simpson.

Simpson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Simpson looking for a sweep. Not yet Simpson, not yet.
Houle showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Simpson is on top in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Simpson prevents Houle from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson trying to control the position from guard on top but Houle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simpson won't allow Houle to get back to his feet.
Simpson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Simpson tries to advance to mount but Houle denies him.
Simpson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Houle is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houle wants to get back to his feet but Simpson drags him back down.
Simpson staying calm.
Simpson is looking to take a break and control but Houle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Simpson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Houle sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Steven Simpson just about did enough to take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Simpson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Simpson trying to control the action but Houle is working from the bottom.
Simpson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Houle blocking the ground and pound attempt from Simpson.
Simpson moves into full mount! Houle won't be happy about that!
Simpson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Houle is in a horrible position here. Simpson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Simpson controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houle tries to buck Simpson off but he can't manage it.
Simpson looking to finish with strikes here!
Simpson trying to control but Houle is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Simpson forces the positional change into back control.
Simpson scores with punches from the back.

Simpson looking to break Houle's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Houle remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Simpson will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simpson working for the choke.
Simpson throwing damaging strikes from the back! Houle could be in trouble here!
Houle looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Simpson lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

Houle fending off the submission attempt from Simpson.
Simpson trying to control momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Simpson misses with a punch to the head.
Simpson is striking well from the back but Houle escapes and manages to control the positon and works his way to half guard. A much better position - the crisis is over for the time being.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Simpson dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Simpson connects with a leg kick. Houle looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Devin Houle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Simpson scores with a leg kick.
Houle fails with the takedown.

Simpson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Simpson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Simpson unloads with some shots from mount but Houle bucks and avoids them well.
Simpson looking to control but Houle is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Houle is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Simpson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Houle looks a forlorn figure.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Houle avoids a series of strikes thrown by Simpson.
Simpson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson looking to ground and pound but Houle is blocking nicely.
Houle blocking the ground and pound.

Simpson throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Houle has his hands clasped together but Simpson breaks the hold and Houle is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Simpson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Steven Simpson! Steven Simpson retains his middleweight title!
A very excited looking Steven Simpson made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.