PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bjorn Simpson (ranked 3211 p4p, 5297 weight class) and Esad Chimaev (ranked 417 p4p, 581 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Simpson
vs
Chimaev

190 cm
25
185
1 - 0 - 0

198 cm
21
175
0 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bjorn Simpson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Esad Chimaev!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chimaev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Chimaev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A quick step to the side and Simpson tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Chimaev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Simpson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Bjorn Simpson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esad Chimaev.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chimaev fails with a takedown attempt.
Chimaev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Simpson counters with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Chimaev.
Simpson quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Chimaev wants to clinch up but Simpson keeps it at a distance.
Chimaev tries for a takedown but Simpson circles away easily
and Simpson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Chimaev shoots for a double leg takedown but Simpson sprawls well. He's pushed Chimaev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Simpson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Simpson slaps away a takedown attempt from Chimaev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Simpson looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Chimaev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Simpson as he jumps to the side.
Chimaev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Simpson defends well and Chimaev ends up having to push Simpson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Simpson definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nice sprawl there from Simpson as Chimaev shoots in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Simpson wants it to stay on the feet.
Chimaev shoots in for a takedown but Simpson shows good takedown defense.
A counter left hand to the body from Simpson misses its target.
Chimaev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Simpson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Simpson appears to be looking for a big counter.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Chimaev.
Chimaev has his takedown stuffed
and Simpson counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Chimaev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Simpson sprawls well. Simpson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Chimaev gets slowly back to his feet.
Simpson went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Chimaev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Simpson defends well and Chimaev ends up having to push Simpson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Chimaev fails with the takedown.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Simpson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Simpson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Chimaev shoots in for a takedown but Simpson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Chimaev shoots in looking for a takedown but Simpson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Chimaev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Simpson appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Chimaev shoots in looking for a takedown but Simpson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Chimaev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Chimaev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Simpson is fending him off so far but Chimaev persists. Nope, Simpson circles away and we're back to standing.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Simpson slaps away a takedown attempt from Chimaev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Simpson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Chimaev.
Chimaev fails with the takedown.
Simpson appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Chimaev with a poor takedown
and Simpson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Chimaev shoots in for a double leg but Simpson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Simpson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Chimaev looks winded!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev has his takedown stuffed
and Simpson counters with a right hand to the body.
Chimaev dives in for a single leg takedown but Simpson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Chimaev tries to score with a low kick but Simpson moves his leg out of the way.
Simpson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Chimaev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Simpson tries to avoid it but Chimaev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Simpson to the ground. Simpson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Simpson misses the target.
Chimaev with a poor takedown
and Simpson counters with a three punch combo that has Chimaev backing up. Chimaev nods at Simpson to acknowledge the strikes.
Simpson slaps away a takedown attempt from Chimaev, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev misses with a takedown attempt
and Simpson counters with a left to the body.
Chimaev tries for a takedown but Simpson circles away easily
and Simpson counters with a series of strikes. Chimaev will be more careful next time no doubt.
Chimaev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Simpson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chimaev somewhat.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Simpson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Chimaev shoots in and drives through. Simpson sprawls well.
Simpson throws a big counter combination but Chimaev scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
A head kick misses from Chimaev.
Chimaev throws a right hand that Simpson ducks under and follows up with a left that Simpson also avoids with ease.
Simpson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Chimaev throws a head kick that half lands.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chimaev shoots and misses
and Simpson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bjorn Simpson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Simpson leaves Chimaev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bjorn Simpson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Simpson slaps away a takedown attempt from Chimaev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
It appears Simpson was looking to counter with a kick there.
Chimaev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Simpson swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Bjorn Simpson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esad Chimaev.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chimaev with a poor takedown
enabling Simpson to counter with a crisp jab.
Chimaev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Simpson as he jumps to the side.
Chimaev is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chimaev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Chimaev tries for a takedown but Simpson circles away easily
and Simpson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Chimaev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Simpson tries to avoid it but Chimaev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Simpson to the ground. Simpson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Chimaev darts in looking for a takedown but Simpson gets double underhooks and turns Chimaev into the cage.
Esad Chimaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Simpson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Chimaev 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 Chimaev off to one side.
Chimaev tries for a takedown but Simpson circles away easily
and Simpson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Chimaev thinking.
Chimaev with a poor takedown
and Simpson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Chimaev shoots and misses
and Simpson counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Simpson counters with a right hand to the body.
Chimaev shoots in for a double leg but Simpson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Chimaev tries for a takedown but Simpson circles away easily
letting Simpson counter with a right hand.
Chimaev tries for a takedown but Simpson circles away easily
and Chimaev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Chimaev might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Simpson has got the better of the exchanges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Simpson swivels and escapes.
Chimaev has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Chimaev is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Chimaev shoots in for a double leg but Simpson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Chimaev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Simpson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Chimaev thinking.
Chimaev misses with a leg kick
and Simpson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Chimaev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Simpson counters with a right hand to the body.
Chimaev shoots in for a takedown but Simpson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Simpson circles away.
Chimaev dives in for a single leg takedown but Simpson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Simpson is looking to counter punch.
Chimaev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Simpson counters with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Chimaev fails with a takedown attempt.
As Chimaev looks to move away, Simpson throws a big counter combo but Chimaev just gets out of the way.
Chimaev misses with a takedown attempt
and Simpson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Chimaev thinking.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev has his takedown stuffed
and Chimaev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Chimaev has his takedown stuffed
and Simpson counters with a right hand to the body.
Chimaev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Simpson counters with a left to the body.
Bjorn Simpson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev has his takedown stuffed
and Simpson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Chimaev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Simpson to counter with a crisp jab.
Chimaev looks for a takedown but Simpson sprawls well.
Chimaev shoots for a double leg takedown but Simpson sprawls well. He's pushed Chimaev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Simpson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Simpson defends it nicely.
Simpson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Chimaev shoots in for a takedown but Simpson shows good takedown defense.
Simpson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Chimaev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Simpson is fending him off so far but Chimaev persists. Nope, Simpson circles away and we're back to standing.
Bjorn Simpson is winning the standup battle so far.
Chimaev motions for Simpson to come forward. Chimaev throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Simpson appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Chimaev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Simpson swivels and escapes.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev dives in for a single leg takedown but Simpson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Simpson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Simpson wants it to stay on the feet.
Chimaev shoots for a double leg takedown but Simpson sprawls well. He's pushed Chimaev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No luck for Chimaev with that takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chimaev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Simpson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bjorn 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight for Bjorn Simpson!
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight for Bjorn Simpson!
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight for Bjorn Simpson!

Bjorn Simpson wins by unanimous decision!
Bjorn Simpson seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.