PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Salvador Pierce (ranked 25310 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Simpson (ranked 3783 p4p, 0 weight class). Simpson has chosen Grease Lightning as his entrance music. Salvador Pierce has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Pierce
vs
Simpson

171 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

182 cm
24
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Salvador Pierce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Simpson!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Richard Clark and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

Pierce ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Pierce no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Simpson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pierce looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pierce looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pierce!

Pierce sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Simpson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Pierce has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Simpson tries to control but Pierce manages to take his back.
Simpson just trying to survive but Pierce is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Simpson is trying to break free.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pierce punches the canvas rather than the man.
Pierce misses with punches from the back.
Simpson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Simpson trying to control but not successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Simpson is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Pierce gets his way!
Simpson is taking damage to the body and head.
Simpson wants to control his opponent's hands but Pierce gets his hands free.
Simpson covering up well and avoiding damage.
Pierce missing with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierce throwing sloppy strikes.
Simpson is trying to get back to his feet but Pierce has full control of the position and if anything, Simpson has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Pierce has the hooks in. Simpson is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Pierce missing with punches from the back.
Pierce throwing sloppy strikes.
Pierce could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Simpson can't escape the position.
Simpson covering up well under a series of strikes from Pierce.
Pierce is not going to allow Simpson to sit and survive in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson tries to break free.
Simpson trying to control the hands but Pierce won't let him.
Pierce landing with strikes.
Pierce thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Simpson is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Pierce throwing sloppy strikes.
Simpson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Simpson trying to control the hands but Pierce won't let him.
Pierce throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pierce keeps control of the position as Simpson tries to break free.
Pierce softening up his opponent with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvador Pierce dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Simpson darts in and clinches Pierce up against the cage.
Pierce tries for a takedown but Simpson manages to get underhooks.

Simpson drops Pierce with a big knee straight up the middle! Pierce is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

It looks like Salvador Pierce has been cut.
Simpson scores with a kick to the body.
Simpson throws a head kick that misses

and Pierce decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Simpson's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Simpson pushes Pierce off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Simpson forces Pierce back against the cage and clinches.

Pierce manages to break the clinch.

Simpson has Pierce up against the cage in a clinch.
Simpson missing with knees to the body.

Pierce has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Simpson uses from the top position.
Simpson is looking to stand up but Pierce won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson wants to stand and escape but instead Pierce has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Simpson working for submissions but it's allowed Pierce to get to half guard.
Simpson trying to get back to full guard but Pierce takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Simpson tries to reverse the position but Pierce maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierce lands with some strikes.
Pierce sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Simpson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Simpson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Simpson working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Simpson is squirming around, avoiding Pierce's attempts to control the action.

Pierce is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Simpson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Simpson shrugs it off.
Simpson wants to control but Pierce is having none of it.
Simpson's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's four 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.
Simpson tries to hold on but Pierce pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simpson tries to reverse the position but Pierce maintains control.
Simpson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Simpson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Simpson tries to lock up and control but Pierce gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Simpson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Simpson keeps trying to improve his position.
Pierce avoids the attempt from Simpson to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Simpson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Salvador Pierce's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Simpson clinches up against the cage.
Simpson wants to stall.
Simpson misses with the head strike.

Pierce's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Simpson fails to land the takedown.
Simpson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
It looked like Pierce was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simpson connects with a high kick.

Pierce gets tackled into the cage by Simpson. Simpson maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pierce manages to break the clinch.
Simpson throws a head kick that misses.

Simpson moves into range and clinches up with Pierce.
Pierce drops down looking for an ankle pick but Simpson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Simpson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Simpson rushes Pierce and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Simpson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Pierce breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pierce tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson can't break the clinch.
Simpson is trying to break free.

Pierce jumps guard and drags Simpson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Pierce striking from the bottom.
Pierce is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Pierce is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pierce not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Simpson pushes Pierce off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simpson moves into the clinch successfully.
Pierce scores with a knee to the head.

Pierce breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A solid body kick from Simpson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Simpson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Simpson jumps guard but Pierce stands there with Simpson around his waist. Simpson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Salvador Pierce has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Simpson.
Pierce tries for a takedown. No joy.
Simpson is trying to pull guard but Pierce has him pressed against the cage.
Pierce keeps control of Simpson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pierce is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Simpson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Simpson trying to land knees to the body.
Pierce fails to pull guard.
Simpson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pierce can't get the takedown.
Joe Simpson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Simpson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Simpson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Simpson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Pierce uses from the top position.
Simpson lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Simpson is trying to control the position but Pierce postures up.
Simpson wants to stand but Pierce is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Simpson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Simpson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Simpson!
A very excited looking Joe Simpson rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.