PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aaron McCall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rene Simard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rene Simard is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

McCall
vs
Simard

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
175 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Juggernaut And Gladiators

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron McCall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rene Simard!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCall stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
McCall thows a body kick. Simard tries to catch it but that hurt him.
McCall is trying hard to land a takedown here. Simard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
McCall misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Simard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and McCall counters by clinching up.
Simard tries to break the clinch but McCall is controlling the position.
McCall lands a nice knee to the body.
Simard drops down looking for an ankle pick but McCall pulls his leg out and moves away.

McCall has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCall comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
McCall lands a body shot in the clinch.

McCall pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McCall looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Simard is fending him off so far but McCall persists. Nope, Simard circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron McCall. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCall fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simard with a poor takedown
and McCall counters with a series of strikes. Simard will be more careful next time no doubt.
McCall keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

McCall rushes Simard and presses him up against the cage.
McCall wants a takedown but no success here.
McCall landing knees to the body.
McCall prevents the takedown attempt.

McCall manages to break the clinch.

McCall rushes Simard and presses him up against the cage.
McCall gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Simard.

McCall breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCall dives in and grabs Simard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Simard pushes down on McCall's head and hops out.
McCall scores with a head kick.
An inside leg kick lands from McCall.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

McCall gets a clinch.
McCall lands a knee to the body.

McCall manages to pull guard.
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.
McCall is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Simard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
McCall is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Simard is controlling him.
McCall looking to hit a scissor sweep but Simard is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simard trying to control the position from guard on top but McCall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCall has his hands on Simard's head, controlling the position.
McCall knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Simard on the ground.
Simard is pushing down on McCall's leg trying to pass to half guard. McCall is fighting to maintain full guard but Simard has managed to sneak the leg through.
McCall is staying active underneath Simard, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
McCall is doing well to control the position and prevent Simard from advancing to side control.

Simard is looking for a kimura here.
McCall keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McCall is trying to stand back up but Simard is controlling him
McCall is refusing to be controlled, as Simard sits in half guard.
McCall wants to get back to full guard.
Simard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McCall does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
McCall is trying to stand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Simard walks forward, straight into a front kick from McCall.
Simard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McCall as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron McCall dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Simard shoots in for a takedown but McCall shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

McCall has closed the distance and engaged Simard in a clinch.
McCall lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
We've been informed that Simard has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
McCall lands an elbow inside that Simard shrugs off.
Simard wants a takedown but no success here.
McCall putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Simard in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
McCall using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
McCall is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

McCall pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simard stopping the sweep attempt from McCall.
Simard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McCall is keeping the position for now.
Simard is breathing heavily.
McCall has control of Simard's left arm, preventing Simard from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCall working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Simard.
McCall has his hands on Simard's head, controlling the position.

McCall had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Simard defends it easily.
McCall looking to hit a scissor sweep but Simard is one step ahead there.
Simard wants to control from the top but McCall keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCall keeping full guard, as Simard tries to pass.
McCall is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Simard is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

McCall instigates a clinch.
McCall comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Simard takes an elbow to the forehead.
Still in the clinch, McCall scores with a nice short uppercut.
McCall unloads a knee to the mid-section.
McCall using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
McCall is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Simard can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCall digs a right hand into Simard's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Simard's gas tank.
McCall cracks Simard with a nice body shot.

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

McCall moves into the clinch successfully.

McCall escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Simard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McCall swivels and escapes.
Aaron McCall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rene Simard.

McCall moves into the clinch.

McCall breaks from the clinch.
McCall shoots for a takedown but Simard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

McCall darts in and clinches Simard up against the cage.
McCall landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Aaron McCall has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McCall.

McCall breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCall throws a combination. Simard tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

McCall closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from McCall.
McCall scores with a nice hook to the head.
Simard tries to pull guard but McCall won't allow it.

McCall gets control of Simard's arms and successfully pulls guard. McCall will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
McCall is adopting a defensive guard.
Simard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McCall is keeping the position for now.
Simard trying to control the position from guard on top but McCall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron McCall dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McCall throws a right hand that Simard ducks under and follows up with a left that Simard also avoids with ease.

McCall looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Simard is trying to keep McCall in close.
McCall controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
McCall working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Simard's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
McCall wants to control from the top but Simard keeps moving.
McCall is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Simard is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Simard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McCall is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
McCall wants to control from the top but Simard keeps moving.
Simard trying to keep a closed guard but McCall is proving a slippery customer.
McCall content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
McCall lands a couple of digs.
Aaron McCall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McCall wants to pass the guard but Simard is keeping the position.
Simard working a defensive guard here.
McCall chips away with some ground and pound.
McCall works over Simard with some ground and pound from guard.
McCall connects with a couple of short punches.
McCall working some strikes from top position.
Simard controls McCall momentarily but McCall frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simard wants to sweep here but McCall controlling him for the moment.
Simard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
McCall stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Simard swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

McCall closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Simard to the mat! Simard manages to get full guard.
Simard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McCall landing with the ground and pound.
McCall stands and throws Simard's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCall controlling the position from side mount.
McCall creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Simard wants to control but McCall postures up.
McCall is looking to take a break and control but Simard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McCall lands some shots froms side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McCall wants to lay and pray for a moment but Simard keeps working.
Rene Simard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aaron McCall is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McCall controlling the position from side mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron McCall showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McCall 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:26
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:25
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron McCall!