PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcell Mayer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Simpson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Mayer
vs
Simpson

191 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marcell Mayer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jake Simpson!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mayer moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Simpson misses with a series of wild punches.
A solid leg kick lands there for Mayer.
Mayer with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mayer throws a head kick but Simpson moves out of range.
Mayer lands with a slapping head kick.
Simpson connects with a single shot there.
Mayer throws the left hand but Simpson avoids the punch easily.
Simpson fails to land the takedown.
Mayer with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Simpson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mayer throws a series of strikes that have Simpson backpedaling.
Simpson's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Simpson duly obliges.
Simpson fails with the takedown.
Marcell Mayer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Simpson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayer throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Mayer throws a head kick that misses.

Mayer has managed to clinch.

Mayer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mayer throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Mayer lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mayer throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Simpson's head.
Mayer misses with an uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mayer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mayer throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Simpson blocks a head kick by Mayer.
Mayer lands with a kick to the ribs.
Mayer dodges the punch combination from Simpson.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mayer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simpson shoots in looking for a takedown. Mayer tries to sprawl out of it but Simpson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mayer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
An inside leg kick lands from Mayer.
Mayer is looking to slow Simpson down with leg kicks.

Simpson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Simpson looks gassed!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mayer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mayer is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simpson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Simpson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Mayer has one foot on Simpson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mayer lands with a kick to the ribs.
Mayer fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Simpson.
A slow jab from Mayer misses its intended target.
Marcell Mayer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Simpson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Simpson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mayer but Mayer pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Mayer rushes Simpson and presses him up against the cage.
Mayer landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Simpson tries to pull guard but Mayer won't allow it.
Mayer lands a knee to the body.

Mayer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mayer lands with a kick to the ribs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horrible takedown by Simpson or perhaps it was just good defense by Mayer which made him look bad.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mayer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcell Mayer dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mayer thuds his shin into the meat of Simpson's side.
Mayer thuds a left hand into Simpson's body.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Simpson crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Mayer - the referee stops the clock and Simpson gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Mayer. Simpson manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Simpson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mayer can pounce on him.
Nice sprawl there from Mayer as Simpson shoots in.

Simpson feints and as Mayer raises his hands in defense, Simpson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simpson prevents Mayer from getting back to his feet.

Simpson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Mayer manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Simpson has Mayer in his guard.

Simpson looking for a guillotine here but Mayer defends easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Simpson looking for a guillotine here but Mayer defends easily.

Simpson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Simpson keeping moving, preventing Mayer from controlling successfully.

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.

Simpson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mayer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mayer tries to free his leg and advance position but Simpson is retaining full guard.

Simpson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Simpson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mayer slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simpson tries to bench press Mayer off him but Mayer keeps the position.
Simpson sneaks back into half guard.

Simpson has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Mayer escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Mayer!
Mayer tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Simpson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mayer's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Simpson looking for submissions off his back.

Simpson looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Simpson is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Mayer pulls his head out easily.
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 Marcell Mayer will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Mayer scores with a nice body kick.
Mayer throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Simpson feints and as Mayer raises his hands in defense, Simpson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Simpson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Mayer manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Simpson has Mayer in his guard.
Mayer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Simpson working for submissions but it's allowed Mayer to get to half guard.

Mayer decides to return to a standing position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Simpson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mayer 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!
Simpson breaks Mayer's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Simpson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mayer is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Simpson, into his guard.

Simpson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Simpson has his foot on Mayer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mayer works his way back into a safe position though.

Simpson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mayer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mayer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mayer would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Simpson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Mayer is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Simpson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Mayer's back instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mayer defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Mayer fending off the submission attempt from Simpson.

Simpson is persistently looking for the submission but Mayer is defending it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mayer 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 Simpson gets his way!

Simpson is looking for the choke from the back position but Mayer is controlling his hands well.
Marcell Mayer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Simpson looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Mayer is controlling Simpson 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Jake Simpson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Mayer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Simpson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mayer 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!