PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Epolito (ranked 867 p4p, 1523 weight class) and Better Dead (ranked 115 p4p, 200 weight class). Anthony Epolito has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Epolito
vs
Dead

172 cm
26
154
5 - 2 - 0

190 cm
27
162
4 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Anthony Epolito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Better Dead!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, David Hoff and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dead is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Epolito.
Epolito throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Epolito uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dead.
Dead misses with a jab, cross combination.
A combination from Dead does no damage.
Epolito works Dead's body with a nice hook.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A looping hook to the body misses from Epolito. Dead does a little dance to reset his feet.
Epolito thows a leg kick but Dead checks it
and Dead connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dead tests Epolito's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Epolito lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Dead at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Epolito misses with the combination.
Dead has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Dead throws a jab but it's blocked by Epolito.
Epolito has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Epolito there as he acknowledges the shot.
Epolito moves out of range as Dead strikes.
Better Dead seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Epolito takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Epolito misses with a straight left.
Epolito throws a jab but it's blocked by Dead.

Epolito closes the distance and clinches.
I was talking to Epolito's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A head punch on the inside from Epolito fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epolito throws a punch but it's blocked by Dead.
Epolito tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Epolito creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Epolito throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Epolito scores with a shot to the side of Dead's head.
Epolito doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Epolito can't find room to land a body shot as Dead controls the action.
Epolito has a couple of punches blocked by Dead.
Dead blocks an elbow strike from Epolito.
Epolito tries to work over Dead's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right hook to the body lands for Epolito.
Epolito lands an uppercut.
Epolito pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Dead looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Epolito throws a punch but it's blocked by Dead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dead dodges an elbow strike from Epolito.
Epolito tries to work over Dead's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A nice left hand lands by Epolito.
Dead is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Dead prevents a body shot from Epolito.
Epolito misses with an elbow over the top.
Epolito can't find room to land a body shot as Dead controls the action.
Epolito misses with a hook to the ribs.

Epolito escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dead cracks Epolito with an open hand slap.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dead throws a jab when Epolito was well out of range.
Dead ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Epolito has managed to clinch.
Epolito lands with a light punch inside.
Epolito tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dead's elbow.
Epolito misses with a hook from the clinch.
Epolito misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dead blocking some punches.
Epolito misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Epolito.
Epolito tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Epolito scores with a shoulder strike.
Epolito lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Better Dead has been cut.
Dead wants to get back to striking at distance but Epolito won't allow it.
Epolito lands with a light punch inside.
A hook to the body from Epolito.
Epolito scores with a nice hook to the head.
Epolito swings wildly with an uppercut but Dead uses good head movement to avoid it.
Epolito stalling the fight.
Dead prevents a body shot from Epolito.
Epolito misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Epolito tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Epolito breaks the clinch.
Epolito gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Dead.
Epolito tries to clinch but Dead moves out of range.
Dead bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Epolito's 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!
Dead moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Epolito tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dead paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dead changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Epolito looks to score with a jab to the body but Dead is just out of range.
Dead lands a jab to the nose.
Better Dead is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dead missing with a left hand there. Epolito was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dead takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Dead ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Dead lands a nice looking body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dead uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Epolito.
Epolito misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A little jabbing left from Dead on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Epolito tries to clinch
letting Dead counter with a right hand.
Epolito fails to land with a series of punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Epolito dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Better Dead'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.

A swing and a miss from Epolito.
Dead's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Epolito connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Dead scrambles back to his feet.
Epolito misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dead.

Epolito instigates a clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Epolito.
Epolito pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Epolito keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dead's efforts to push away.
Epolito throws a punch but it's blocked by Dead.
Epolito misses with a punch to the body.
Epolito comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Epolito fails to land.
Epolito is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dead can do to turn this around?
Epolito tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Epolito controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epolito tries a body shot but Dead blocks it.
Epolito looking to throw knees to the head but Dead is blocking nicely.
Epolito tries to work over Dead's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dead goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dead prevents a body shot from Epolito.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Epolito.
Anthony Epolito has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Epolito misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Epolito doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Epolito's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Epolito misses with a shot to the kidneys.

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.
Epolito scores with a shoulder strike.
Epolito misses with a body punch.
Dead takes a shot to the head.
Dead avoids the elbow strike from Epolito, against the cage.
Epolito throws a head punch that misses.
Epolito lands an uppercut.
Epolito tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dead blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dead blocks an elbow strike from Epolito.
Dead lands a hook that snaps the head of Epolito backwards.
Epolito tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Epolito taking a breather.
Epolito tries to work over Dead's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Epolito tries to throw a body punch but Dead avoids it by throwing Epolito back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Epolito fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Epolito misses with a punch to the body.
Epolito lands a body punch in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Epolito.
Dead blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Epolito fails to land.
Epolito tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dead's elbow.
Dead is trying to push Epolito away but Epolito has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Dead has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Epolito tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dead's elbow.
Epolito working aggressively here.
Epolito lands with a short shot to the head.
Epolito misses with a short punch on the inside.
Epolito misses with a knee to the head.
Dead can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Epolito throws a punch but it's blocked by Dead.
Epolito working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Epolito misses with the head strike.
A short right from Epolito.
Epolito misses with an elbow strike.
Dead blocks an uppercut.
Epolito doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Epolito breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Epolito connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Dead lands with an overhand left.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dead tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Epolito was well out of range. Poor timing from Dead.
Dead connects with a jab.

It looks like Anthony Epolito has been cut.
No joy there for Dead, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dead ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Epolito ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dead moves away.

Epolito clinches up with Dead and pushes him back against the cage.
Epolito will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Dead up against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Epolito dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Dead throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Epolito looks to land a right hand but Dead moved out of range.
A nice side step and Dead releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Epolito goes for a double leg but Dead avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Dead continues to drive forward.
Epolito working aggressively here.
Dead misses with a short punch on the inside.
Epolito misses with a hook from the clinch.
A hook to the body from Epolito.
Epolito throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dead being controlled against the cage.
Epolito tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Epolito swings wildly with an uppercut but Dead uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dead looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epolito throws a head punch that misses.
Dead is trying to break the clinch but Epolito has him pressed against the cage.
Dead has had enough of the clinch but Epolito keeps him there for the moment.
Epolito misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dead prevents a body shot from Epolito.
Epolito lands a nice uppercut.
Dead blocks an uppercut.
Epolito swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Epolito misses with a hook to the ribs.
Epolito misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Epolito.
Epolito throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Deads head.
A head punch on the inside from Epolito fails to land.
Epolito throws an elbow that misses.
Dead blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Better Dead has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epolito misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dead blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Epolito on the inside.
Epolito tries to work over Dead's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dead can't find room to land a body shot as Epolito controls the action.
Dead swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dead lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Epolito.
Epolito gets through Dead's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dead wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dead wants to break the clinch but can't.
Epolito stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Epolito throws a head punch that misses.
Dead is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Epolito lands a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Epolito misses with a short punch on the inside.
Epolito lands a shoulder strike.
Epolito throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Deads head.
Dead missing with knees to the body.
Epolito tries to work over Dead's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Epolito pushes off an throws an elbow but Dead leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Dead blocks an elbow strike from Epolito.
Epolito tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Epolito lands with a left to the head.
Epolito has a couple of punches blocked by Dead.
Epolito lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Epolito breaks the clinch.
Dead throws the left hand but Epolito avoids the punch easily.
Dead moves out of range of the strikes.
Dead cracks Epolito with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Epolito ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Dead is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Epolito gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dead lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Epolito circles away quickly and effectively.
Epolito misses with a wild body shot.
Epolito cracks Dead with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Dead looks to score with a jab to the body but Epolito is just out of range.
A jab from Dead misses.
Dead throws a combination that misses

and Epolito counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A short left from Epolito.
Dead scores with a nice hook to the head.
Dead has had enough of the clinch but Epolito keeps him there for the moment.
Anthony Epolito is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A short left from Epolito.

Epolito breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A jab from Dead misses.
Epolito scores with a nice head shot.
A head kick misses from Epolito.
Dead throws out a loose jab but Epolito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Epolito swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Epolito misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Epolito misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Epolito showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Epolito, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight for Anthony Epolito!
Judge David Hoff scores the fight for Anthony Epolito!
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight for Anthony Epolito!

Anthony Epolito wins by unanimous decision!
An intense looking Anthony Epolito took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'I saw the Highland preview had me losing this one. I might have to head over there and straighten them out.Just kidding, good fight!'.