PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sullivan Gross (ranked 4739 p4p, 4984 weight class) and Asher Simpson (ranked 363 p4p, 374 weight class). Asher Simpson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gross
vs
Simpson

150 cm
20
150
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sullivan Gross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Asher Simpson!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Donatello Bradman and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simpson lands a head kick!
Simpson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gross walks into a stiff left hand from Simpson.
Gross tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Simpson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Simpson lands a really nice looking cross but Gross seems unphased.
Gross is looking to clinch.
Simpson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gross.

Gross looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Simpson!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gross decides to stand up, so the ref orders Simpson to his feet.
Gross on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Simpson. Simpson obviously looking to wear him down.
Simpson scores with a head kick.
Gross slips a jab and a cross from Simpson.
Gross fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Simpson scores with a head kick.

It looks like Sullivan Gross has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gross shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Simpson as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sullivan Gross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gross shoots in but Simpson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gross wants to clinch up but Simpson keeps it at a distance.
Simpson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Gross on the side of the head.
Simpson lands a right hook to the body.
Gross takes a kick to the side of the head.
Gross takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Simpson throws a shot to the body.
Simpson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Simpson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Gross tries to clinch up but Simpson circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson lands a high kick!
Simpson with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Simpson lands a nice hook to Gross's body. Gross takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Gross gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Gross's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Simpson throws a nice head kick!
Simpson scores with a shot to the body.
A head kick by Gross misses
and Simpson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gross is breathing heavily.
Simpson throws a one two combo.
Gross takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Simpson scores with a three punch combo!
Gross takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Gross tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Simpson counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Simpson duly obliges.
Simpson lands a glancing blow to the side of Gross's head.
Simpson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Simpson throws a one two combo.
Asher Simpson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Simpson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gross momentarily.
Simpson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gross looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gross closes the distance looking to clinch
and Simpson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
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!
A good leg kick by Simpson.
Simpson throws a head kick that Gross semi-blocks.
Simpson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gross's sensitive parts.
Gross tries to clinch up but Simpson circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gross takes one to the side of the head.
A slapping leg kick lands for Simpson.
Simpson scores with a nice strike.
Simpson scores with a hook to the body. Gross takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Simpson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Gross on the side of the head.
Simpson is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Gross had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Simpson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Asher Simpson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gross shoots in and drives through. Simpson sprawls well.
Simpson with a hook.
Simpson scores with a hook to the body. Gross takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Simpson throws a leg kick which misses Gross's front leg but catches the back leg as Gross tries to avoid it.
A left lands for Simpson.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Simpson cracks Gross with a right hand to the side of the head.
Gross tries to close the distance and clinch up but Simpson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Simpson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Asher Simpson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sullivan Gross's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gross takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Simpson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Simpson.
Gross looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Gross tries to clinch up but Simpson circles away and keeps his distance.
Gross takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Simpson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Gross closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Simpson manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Gross keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gross tries to land knees in the clinch but Simpson avoids the damage to the body.
Gross is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gross tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Simpson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Simpson dips to his left and cracks Gross with an uppercut!
Simpson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Simpson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Simpson scores with a head kick.
Simpson misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gross scores with a three punch combo!

Gross closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Simpson did well to prevent Gross getting side control.

Simpson manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Sullivan Gross is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Simpson punishes Gross's body with a nice straight punch.
Simpson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Simpson lands a high kick!
Gross gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Simpson lands a lovely overhand right.
Gross fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Simpson avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Simpson.
Simpson lands a front kick.
Simpson with the inside leg kick.
Gross takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A punch combination from Simpson misses.
Asher Simpson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Simpson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gross's head.
Simpson lands a high kick!
Simpson looks to land a combination. Gross sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Simpson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gross.

Gross drives through with a takedown into Simpson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Gross won't allow Simpson to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simpson has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Gross is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Simpson manages to break the clinch.
Gross steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Simpson. That one must have hurt.
Simpson scores with a head kick.
Gross chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Simpson can pounce on him.
Simpson goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Simpson connects with a leg kick.
Simpson tries to bum rush Gross with a series of wild strikes but Gross uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Simpson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gross counters with an inside leg kick.
Gross tries to score a power double leg takedown but Simpson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gross somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sullivan Gross. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Simpson cracks Gross with an open hand slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gross on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Gross drives through with a takedown into Simpson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Simpson pushes Gross off and scrambles back to his feet.
Simpson lands a nice looking kick to the body. Gross takes a step back to recover.
Simpson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Simpson lands with a slapping head kick.
A left and a right from Simpson both land. Nice combination.
A combination from Simpson does no damage.
Simpson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Asher Simpson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sullivan Gross's cut.
That's time! Gross's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Simpson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Simpson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Gross shoots in for a takedown but Simpson shows good takedown defense.
A nice inside leg kick there by Simpson. That's going to slow Gross down.
Simpson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Simpson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Simpson scores with a three punch combo!
Gross closes this distance looking for a takedown but Simpson circles away.
Simpson lands with a hook. Gross tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gross takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Simpson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gross takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Simpson jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Gross shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Simpson counters with a leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sullivan Gross. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left lands for Simpson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Simpson lands a slapping body shot.
Simpson feints and then cracks Gross's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gross down.
Gross moves to clinch but Simpson breaks away
and Simpson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gross takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Simpson scores with a nice right hand.
Gross definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Simpson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Simpson lands with a kick to the temple. Gross shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Simpson. Gross shrugs it off though.
Nice shot lands for Simpson.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gross takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gross takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gross takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Simpson lands a head kick. Gross smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Gross takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Simpson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Simpson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Simpson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gross tries to clinch up but Simpson circles away and keeps his distance.
Gross takes a shot to the body in his stride.
An inside leg kick lands from Simpson.
Simpson pushes Gross away with a front kick.

Gross has managed to clinch.

Simpson breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson lands a leg kick that knocks Gross off balance momentarily.
Simpson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Nice uppercut there from Simpson.
Simpson scores with a jab. Gross acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Gross swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Simpson counters with a nice kick to the body.
Simpson thuds his right hand into Gross's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Simpson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gross's head.
Simpson scores with a jab to the body.
Simpson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gross's sensitive parts.
Simpson dips to his left and cracks Gross with an uppercut!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Simpson moves out of range of the body kick.
Simpson connects with an inside leg kick.
Simpson lands with an uppercut that bounces Gross off the cage and back into range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simpson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gross.
A punch combination from Gross misses.
Simpson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Simpson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gross.
Simpson lunges at Gross with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gross's hand.
Simpson throws a nice head kick!
Simpson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gross momentarily.
Gross on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Simpson feints and then cracks Gross's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gross down.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice combination there by Simpson.
Simpson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sullivan Gross has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Simpson staying out of range there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Asher Simpson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Simpson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 25:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 25:30
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Asher Simpson!
Asher Simpson bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.