PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Oj Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kale Ravenal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Simpson
vs
Ravenal

179 cm
31
183 lbs
21 - 7 - 1

180 cm
32
185 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 21 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Oj Simpson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kale Ravenal!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Leandro Rodrigues and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A clash of legs there as Ravenal blocks the low kick.
Simpson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ravenal's corner calls for a 1-2. Ravenal obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Simpson gets a clinch.
Simpson is working Ravenal over against the cage.
Ravenal prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ravenal wants to take the fight to the mat but Simpson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ravenal as Simpson tries to tie him up.
Simpson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ravenal's face.

It looks like Kale Ravenal has been cut.
Ravenal leaning his opponent against the cage.
Simpson blocking some punches.
Simpson can't find room to land a body shot as Ravenal controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson blocks a body shot from Ravenal.
Simpson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice elbow from Simpson.
Simpson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ravenal or not.
Ravenal tries to work over Simpson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ravenal tries a body shot but Simpson blocks it.

Ravenal has clasped his hands together around Simpson's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Ravenal throwing strikes but Simpson manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Simpson remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Ravenal is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson throws a strike aimed at the side of Ravenal's head but Ravenal avoids it well.
Ravenal tries to bench press Simpson off him but Simpson keeps the position.
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!
Ravenal manages to work his way to half guard, despite Simpson's best efforts.
Simpson is looking to stall here but Ravenal recovers full guard.
Simpson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ravenal looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Simpson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ravenal swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Simpson postures up in Ravenal's guard and throws a big left but Ravenal blocks it.
Simpson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Simpson trying to control but Ravenal is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson postures up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kale Ravenal hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Simpson digs a good hook to Ravenal's body.
Ravenal throws a leg kick but Simpson sees it coming and moves out of range.
Simpson lands a nice looking body kick.

Ravenal closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Simpson did well to prevent Ravenal getting side control.
Ravenal looks to land a strike but Simpson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Simpson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Simpson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ravenal!
Ravenal wants to hold on but Simpson pushes him away.
Ravenal is looking to improve his position but Simpson isn't that keen on the idea.
Simpson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Ravenal keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ravenal is squirming around, avoiding Simpson's attempts to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ravenal is wriggling around trying to escape.
Simpson controlling the position easily from mount.
Simpson is landing with some decent strikes but Ravenal is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oj Simpson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kale Ravenal's cut.
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 tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ravenal was well out of range. Poor timing from Simpson.
Simpson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ravenal jabs at Simpson's body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Simpson. That's going to slow Ravenal down.
Simpson misses with a kick to the body.
Simpson slaps away a takedown attempt from Ravenal, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ravenal looks to land a combination but Simpson avoids it well.

Simpson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ravenal looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ravenal tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Simpson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ravenal keeps working.
Simpson is staying tight to Ravenal's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ravenal is trying to control Simpson's posture but Simpson avoids it.
Ravenal is not content to let Simpson control the position.
Oj Simpson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ravenal avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Simpson.
Ravenal manages to work his way to half guard, despite Simpson's best efforts.
Simpson trying to mount his opponent but Ravenal defends it.
Ravenal is trying to maintain the position but Simpson is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ravenal keeps working.
Ravenal punching from the bottom.
Simpson is looking to advance position but Ravenal won't allow it.
Ravenal manages to get to full guard.
Simpson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Simpson blocks the strikes from Ravenal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ravenal is looking to regain half guard here but Simpson keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ravenal can't do much from the bottom here.
Simpson is working Ravenal over with some ground and pound from side control.
Ravenal defending against the ground and pound.
Ravenal manages to work his way to half guard, despite Simpson's best efforts.
Ravenal on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Simpson working over Ravenal with some ground and pound. Ravenal looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ravenal wants to get back to his feet.
Ravenal is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Simpson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Simpson's back!
Ravenal misses with a punch to the head.
Ravenal punches the canvas rather than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ravenal missing with strikes from the back.
Ravenal throws a series of strikes and Simpson wriggles onto his back, so he's now mounted. He's in real trouble here.
Simpson is looking to get to half guard.
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!
BOOM! Ravenal connects with a massive shot to the dome!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Simpson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Ravenal.
Simpson is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Oj Simpson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kale Ravenal's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ravenal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Simpson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ravenal.
Ravenal throws a leg kick which misses Simpson's front leg but catches the back leg as Simpson tries to avoid it.

Ravenal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Simpson misses with a body punch.
Ravenal lands a right hand.
Ravenal throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Simpsons head.
Simpson is pressed up against the cage. Ravenal has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Simpson down to the mat. Simpson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Simpson misses with an uppercut. Ravenal saw that one coming.
Simpson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ravenal manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ravenal fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Simpson is out of range.
Simpson swings for the body but Ravenal moves out of range.
Ravenal misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simpson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ravenal throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Simpson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
No luck for Simpson with that takedown attempt.
Ravenal fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Simpson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ravenal lands a body shot.
Simpson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ravenal is out of range.
Ravenal throws a series of punches but Simpson avoids them all with ease.
Simpson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ravenal was well out of range. Poor timing from Simpson.
Simpson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ravenal.
Kale Ravenal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Oj Simpson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ravenal looks for a takedown but Simpson sprawls well.
Oj Simpson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kale Ravenal.
Simpson tries to clinch but Ravenal moves out of range.
Ravenal shoots for a takedown but Simpson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Simpson works Ravenal's body with a nice hook.
Kale Ravenal seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Simpson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Simpson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ravenal closes the distance and clinches.
Ravenal is looking to control Simpson's arms but Simpson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ravenal has his back to the cage.
Simpson blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ravenal will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Simpson up against the cage.
Ravenal tries to circle away but Simpson has him pinned against the cage.
Ravenal misses with a body punch.
A short left from Ravenal.
Ravenal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Simpson misses with a body punch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ravenal.

Ravenal has hold of one of Simpson's legs. Simpson is fighting the takedown attempt but Ravenal gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Ravenal throws an elbow that misses. Simpson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ravenal's guard. Nice move by Simpson!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ravenal throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Simpson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Simpson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ravenal bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Simpson's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ravenal postures up in Simpson's guard and throws a big left but Simpson blocks it.
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!
Ravenal cracks Simpson with a solid left hand.
Ravenal loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kale Ravenal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Simpson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Oj Simpson!
Post fight, Oj Simpson stared into the camera and said 'I am fucking OJ Simpson.'.