PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Donny Jepp (ranked 4058 p4p, 4108 weight class) and Jack Thedog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Jepp
vs
Thedog

185 cm
25
195
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
21
185
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Donny Jepp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jack Thedog!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thedog has managed to clinch.

Jepp breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Thedog tries to sprawl but Jepp drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Thedog regains full guard. Nicely done.
Thedog working a defensive guard here.

Jepp got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thedog has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Jepp has managed to get both his arms back between Thedog's legs - danger averted.

Thedog is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jepp is aware though and is defending well.
Jepp trying to control but Thedog is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jepp slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Jepp scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jepp throws an elbow that misses. Thedog uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jepp's guard. Nice move by Thedog!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jepp is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Thedog gets to his feet. Jepp looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Jepp shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Jepp scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Thedog wants to get back to full guard.
Thedog is refusing to be controlled, as Jepp sits in half guard.
Jepp lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thedog tries to get to full guard but Jepp has control of the leg.
Jepp content to control rather than advance.
Jepp seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thedog does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jepp is really struggling to control Thedog but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Jepp slips a nice elbow through Thedog's hands, connecting with Thedog's forehead.
Jepp knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thedog on the ground.
Jepp landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Still in half guard, Jepp seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thedog tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Thedog is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Thedog looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jepp is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Jepp thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thedog's head.
Jepp trying to control the action but Thedog is working from the bottom.
Jepp is controlling the pace.
Thedog moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Jepp trying to control but Thedog is working from the bottom.
Jepp looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Thedog working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jepp doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jepp manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jepp postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Jepp decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Donny Jepp dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Jepp shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Thedog manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Jepp scores a nice knee to the body.
Jepp has Thedog pressed against the cage.
Jepp lands a good knee to the midsection. Thedog won't want to take too many of those.
Jepp holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Jepp lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Thedog pushes Jepp off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thedog is breathing heavily.

Jepp forces Thedog back against the cage and clinches.
Jepp keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thedog's efforts to push away.
Jepp is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thedog pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jepp has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Thedog clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Donny Jepp overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jepp has Thedog flattened out and is raining down punches.
Jepp landing with strikes.
Jepp is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Thedog up.
Jepp lands a shot to the head.
Thedog just trying to survive but Jepp is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Jepp softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Jepp scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jepp scores with punches and elbows.
Jepp is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jepp has good solid back control here.
Jepp is landing with strikes from the back.
Jepp has Thedog flattened out and is raining down punches.
Thedog looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Jepp is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Jepp is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Jepp has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Thedog.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jepp lands punches and elbows.
Jepp lands a shot to the body.
The referee is taking a good look at Thedog as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Jepp!
Jepp punishes Thedog with strikes from the back mount.
Jepp slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Jepp is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Thedog knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Thedog for a finish.
Thedog wants to control his opponent's hands but Jepp gets his hands free.
Jepp is punishing Thedog with some ground and pound.
Thedog is taking damage to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jepp tries to get the hooks in deep but Thedog pushed the leg off.
Thedog is taking damage to the body and head.

Jepp looking to break Thedog's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Thedog remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Jepp will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Jepp scores with punches to the body.
Jepp is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Jepp gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Jepp gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Jepp apologises and we restart here on the feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Jepp clinches up against the cage.
Nice elbow from Jepp.

It looks like Jack Thedog has been cut.
Jepp slowing the pace effectively.

Jepp ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Jepp no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Jepp pulls Thedog in close to his closed guard and prevents Thedog from doing any damage or advancing position.
Thedog won't allow Jepp to sweep him here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Donny Jepp dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jack Thedog's cut.
That's time! Jepp's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Jepp dives in and scores a takedown into Thedog's guard.
Jepp works over Thedog with some ground and pound from guard.

Thedog manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Jepp has Thedog pressed against the cage, preventing Thedog from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Jepp is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thedog can do to turn this around?
Thedog prevents a takedown attempt there.
Jepp lands a damaging elbow.

Jepp manages to break the clinch.

Jepp gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jepp pressing his opponent against the cage.
Jepp connects with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thedog changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Jepp fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Thedog tries to sprawl but Jepp drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Thedog manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Jepp keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Thedog takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jepp throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Jepp has Thedog pressed against the cage.
Jepp lands a damaging elbow.

Jepp pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Thedog tries to keep at a distance but Jepp has taken the fight into the clinch.
Donny Jepp has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Thedog escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thedog fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jepp is looking to counter the offense by Thedog and move into the clinch.

Thedog tries to keep at a distance but Jepp has taken the fight into the clinch.

Jepp has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Thedog clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Jepp doesn't have the hooks in and Thedog manages to turn into his guard.
Jepp working a defensive guard here.

Jepp uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Thedog looks for a takedown but Jepp sprawls well.
Donny Jepp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Thedog.

Jepp moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jepp holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Thedog tries to circle away but Jepp has him pinned against the cage.
Thedog tries to pull guard but Jepp forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Jepp trying to land knees to the body.
Thedog wants to break the clinch but can't.
Jepp putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Thedog in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Jepp breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Jepp changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thedog looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Jepp working the body and head with strikes.
Jepp grinds an elbow into Thedog's temple.
Jepp lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jepp in side control lands a decent elbow.

Jepp stands up.
Jepp throws a head kick but Thedog moves out of range.
Despite the aggression on Thedog's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Jepp shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Jepp was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jepp landing a few strikes.
Jepp lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Jepp scoring with punches from side control.
Thedog tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Jepp controlling from side mount.
Jack Thedog has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Donny Jepp is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donny Jepp showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jepp has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donny Jepp!