PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Claudio Tenorio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Claudio Tenorio is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Simpson
vs
Tenorio

170 cm
23
150 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

170 cm
30
150 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raphael Simpson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Claudio Tenorio!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simpson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Tenorio closes the distance and clinches.
Simpson tries to pull guard but Tenorio forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.

Tenorio breaks the clinch.
Simpson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Simpson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Tenorio getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Tenorio with a jab.
Simpson swats away the attempt to clinch by Tenorio.

Tenorio moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Tenorio pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tenorio gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Simpson tries to pull guard but Tenorio won't allow it.

Tenorio breaks from the clinch.
Simpson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Tenorio throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Tenorio scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Tenorio lands with a cross.
Simpson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Tenorio is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tenorio looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tenorio clinches with his opponent.
Simpson tries to pull guard but Tenorio forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raphael Simpson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Simpson jumps guard but Tenorio stands there with Simpson around his waist. Simpson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Simpson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Tenorio to keep the fight standing.
Simpson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tenorio just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Simpson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tenorio just stands there and leans against the ropes.

Tenorio's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tenorio moves into the clinch successfully.
Simpson jumps guard but Tenorio stands there with Simpson around his waist. Simpson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Simpson jumps guard but Tenorio stands there with Simpson around his waist. Simpson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Tenorio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tenorio lands with a hook. Simpson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Tenorio wants to clinch.

Tenorio closes the distance and pushes Simpson back into the ropes.

Tenorio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Tenorio rushes Simpson and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Tenorio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tenorio stalks Simpson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Simpson's face. Simpson staggers backwards, shaken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tenorio tries to close the distance and clinch but Simpson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Claudio Tenorio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tenorio lands a nice shot that snaps Simpson's head back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Tenorio moves into range and clinches up with Simpson.
Simpson tries to pull guard but Tenorio won't allow it.
Simpson is trying to pull guard but Tenorio turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Simpson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Tenorio manages to break the clinch.
Tenorio tests Simpson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Simpson tries to move into range but Tenorio moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claudio Tenorio dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tenorio moves into the clinch successfully.

Tenorio breaks from the clinch.
Tenorio lands a nice shot that snaps Simpson's head back.
Tenorio throws a series of strikes that have Simpson backpedaling.

Tenorio clinches.

Tenorio pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tenorio lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Tenorio has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Tenorio clinches with his opponent.

Tenorio manages to break the clinch.

Tenorio has closed the distance and engaged Simpson in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tenorio's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Simpson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Tenorio fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Simpson, pushing him back against the ropes.
Simpson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Tenorio walks away with a smile on his face. Simpson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tenorio connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Tenorio might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Tenorio lands a jab to the head.
Tenorio tries to close the distance and clinch but Simpson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tenorio stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Tenorio shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Simpson eats them both and turns towards Tenorio to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Tenorio is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tenorio scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
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!
Tenorio tries to clinch up but Simpson circles away and keeps his distance.
Simpson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Tenorio moves into the clinch successfully.
Simpson tries to pull guard but Tenorio holds him up against the ropes and eventually Simpson drops back down to his feet.

Tenorio manages to break the clinch.

Tenorio has taken the fight to the clinch.

Tenorio manages to break the clinch.
Claudio Tenorio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tenorio clinches up with Simpson and pushes him back against the ropes.
Simpson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tenorio just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Tenorio has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. So far he's outscoring his opponent in the clinch so it seems to have been worthwhile.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raphael Simpson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Simpson tries to break the clinch but Tenorio is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tenorio smiles and moves away.
Tenorio is looking to clinch but Simpson is avoiding it.
Good standup being displayed there by Tenorio as he connects with a hook.
Tenorio scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Tenorio lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Simpson backs up against the ropes.
Tenorio connects with a jab.
Tenorio tries to close the distance and clinch but Simpson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tenorio lands a really nice looking cross but Simpson seems unphased.
Tenorio lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Tenorio rushes Simpson and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
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!

Tenorio breaks from the clinch.

Tenorio drives through and clinches with Simpson against the ropes.

Tenorio pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tenorio doesn't manage to clinch there - Simpson circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tenorio lands a jab to the nose.
Tenorio jabs Simpson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claudio Tenorio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Tenorio clobbers Simpson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Tenorio rushes Simpson and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Tenorio breaks from the clinch.
Tenorio moves into range and connects with a jab.
Simpson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Simpson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Simpson is rocked!

Tenorio closes the distance and clinches.
Oh Simpson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Tenorio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Simpson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A jab from Tenorio finds it's way through Simpson's defenses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Simpson tries to keep at a distance but Tenorio has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tenorio pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tenorio connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Tenorio drops Simpson with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Simpson! Tenorio dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:15 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Claudio Tenorio!
A relieved looking Claudio Tenorio thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.