PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Norbert Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Denker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Simpson
vs
Denker

174 cm
21
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Norbert Simpson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Denker!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, David Schapiro and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Denker shoots in looking for a takedown. Simpson tries to sprawl out of it but Denker keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Simpson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Chris Denker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Denker closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Simpson did well to prevent Denker getting side control.
Denker working the head and body with strikes.
Denker is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simpson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Denker is pressing down on Simpson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Simpson is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denker is thwarting Simpson's attempts to control the position.
Simpson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Denker.
Simpson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Denker scores with a couple of nice shots.
Denker working Simpson over with strikes.

Denker decides to stand and escape the position.
Simpson moves in looking to clinch but Denker pushes him off.
Denker changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Denker throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Simpson's waist but Simpson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Denker off to one side.
Denker tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denker misses with a double jab
and Simpson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Simpson throws a head kick but Denker moves out of range.
Denker shoots in for a takedown but Simpson shows good takedown defense.
Simpson tries to counter with a takedown but Denker is quick to defend against it.
Norbert Simpson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Denker.
Denker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Simpson as he avoids it easily.
Denker just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromSimpson.
Simpson misses with a head kick.
Denker is looking to score with low kicks.
Denker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Simpson moves away.
Simpson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Denker throws a right hand that Simpson ducks under and follows up with a left that Simpson also avoids with ease.
Denker is trying hard to land a takedown here. Simpson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Denker looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denker avoids the head kick by Simpson.
Simpson connects with a high kick.
Denker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Simpson tries to counter with a takedown but Denker is quick to defend against it.
A head kick misses from Simpson.
Simpson lands a head kick. Denker smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Denker throws a lazy right hand but Simpson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Simpson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Denker tries to clinch there but Simpson circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Simpson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Denker's guard.
Denker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Denker looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Simpson passes into side control.
Denker defending against the ground and pound.
Simpson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Denker is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simpson in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Simpson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Denker shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Simpson defends it nicely.
Simpson stuffs the takedown attempt from Denker. Denker gets slowly back to his feet.
Simpson lands a head kick!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Simpson closes the distance and clinches.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Simpson pulls Denker into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Denker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Simpson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Denker gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Denker content to stall in guard here.
Chris Denker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Simpson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Denker is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Simpson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Denker is aware though and is defending well.
Simpson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Denker fails to land the takedown.
Norbert Simpson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Denker.
Denker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Denker is breathing heavily.
Denker looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Norbert Simpson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Denker instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denker tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Simpson just stands there and leans against the cage.

Simpson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Simpson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Denker wants to stand and escape but instead Simpson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Simpson stopping the sweep attempt from Denker.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Denker holds on and takes a little breather.
Denker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Simpson.
Simpson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Denker can do to turn this around?
Simpson is looking to work some ground and pound but Denker has wrist control.
Simpson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Simpson stands up over Denker, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Simpson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Denker is proving hard to escape from.
Simpson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Simpson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Simpson trying to control but Denker is working from the bottom.
Denker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Simpson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norbert Simpson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Denker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Simpson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Denker is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Simpson dives into side control.

Denker can't do much from the bottom here.
Simpson trying to control the action but Denker is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Denker tries to escape but Simpson is in control.

Simpson decides to stand back up. Simpson steps back and let's Denker get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Denker drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Simpson defends it well.
Denker misses with the combination.
Simpson looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Denker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Denker is looking to clinch but Simpson is avoiding it.

Denker closes the distance and pushes Simpson back into the cage.

Simpson manages to pull guard.
Denker wants to control from the top but Simpson keeps moving.
Denker stops Simpson from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Denker stands and steps away. Simpson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Denker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Simpson as he avoids it easily.
Simpson tries to counter with a takedown but Denker is quick to defend against it.
Norbert Simpson is winning the standup battle so far.
Denker has his takedown stuffed
and Simpson counters with a three punch combo that has Denker backing up. Denker nods at Simpson to acknowledge the strikes.
Norbert Simpson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Denker.
Simpson is looking to clinch.
Simpson fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denker shoots for a takedown but Simpson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Simpson is looking to clinch but Denker is avoiding it.
Simpson scores with a head kick. Denker tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Simpson lands a jab-cross combination.
Simpson shoots in for a double leg but Denker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Simpson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A little jabbing left from Denker on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Denker shoots in for a takedown but Simpson shows good takedown defense.
Simpson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Denker pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Denker takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Denker manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Denker misses with a body kick.

Simpson moves into the clinch.
Simpson is trying to pull guard but Denker has him pressed against the cage.

Simpson pulls guard effortlessly.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Denker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Norbert Simpson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Simpson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27

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