UFC 132 Play-by-Play: Brad Tavares vs. Aaron Simpson

Aaron Simpson

Round 1: Tavares opens with pressuring jabs and Simpson shoots quickly for a double leg, as the fighters clinch against the cage.  Simpson with some disruptive knees to the leg of Tavares.  Simpson looking for anything to bring Tavares to the mat; trips, drags, whizzer, nothing is working.  Simpson attempts a Judo throw, but Tavares is keeping an amazing base.  Three minutes left, and all we have seen is this clinch against the cage.  The referee finally steps in with two minutes left and we are back to action.  Simpson staying light on his feet, and using good lateral movement.

Brad Tavares and Aaron Simpson

Tavares snaps a leg kick that stings Simpson.  Body kick from Tavares, followed by a takedown attempt from Simpson as the fighters clinch against the cage.  Simpson pressuring Tavares and drags him briefly to the canvas, but Tavares stands right back up.  Muay thai clinch from Simpson as the round ends, with a couple of knees that land.  Tough round to score. MMAWeekly.com scores round one 10-9 for Tavares.

Simpson dropping down to shoot on Tavares

Round 2: Tavares snaps a jab that has Simpson off balance and falling to the floor.  Simpson rushes in as Tavares gets a bit over eager, and Simpson briefly has his back.  Simpson now clinches with Tavares and is pressuring him against the cage, landing peppering knees, all the while pummeling him into the cage, ala Randy Couture.  Tavares manages to turn Simpson into the cage and now he’s looking to take Simpson down.  Tavares with a double leg slam on Simpson! Wow that’s a shock.  However, Simpson recovers easily and snaps a power guillotine as Tavares was in a scramble.  Simpson drops levels while still holding the choke and lands some brutal knees to the skull of Tavares.  One minute left, and now the fighters are in a thai clinch, as Tavares escaped the choke.  Simpson now clinched with Tavares as he works some dirty boxing of his own as the round ticks down.  Simpson landing shots as the bell sounds. MMAWeekly.com scores round two 10-9 for Simpson

Aaron Simpson

Round 3: Tavares lands a few popping shots to start round 3.  Simpson rushes in for the clinch, and Tavares looks to use the whizzer, and once again, the fighters clinch against the cage.  Simpson pummeling from the clinch now landing a few peppering blows to Tavares.  Knees to the thighs of Tavares, from Simpson, and this fight looks very predictable at this point.  Simpson takes Tavares’ back and is landing knees to the back of his thigh, looking to drag him to the mat.  Simpson drops levels now, and looks to throw Tavares to the mat, but Tavares, to his credit, is having none of it.  I think these rounds should be scored for Tavares, simply because he is doing everything he can to make it a fight, not so much with Simpson.  Simpson finally shoots and gets his takedown as the round ends. MMAWeekly.com scores round three 10-9 for Simpson.

-Aaron Simpson def. Brad Tavares by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), R3