PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mark Zork (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Epstein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Epstein has chosen One Hundred Songs as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zork
vs
Epstein

180 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
21
159 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Fenrir Fightgear

Syndicate Drugs
Hell's Balls Fightwear

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Zork!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Scott Epstein!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Epstein throws a series of punches but Zork avoids them all with ease.
Nice takedown defense from Epstein. No joy for Zork on that attempt.

Epstein gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Epstein blocks the strikes from Zork.
Epstein looks up at the clock and then as Zork takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Epstein smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Zork has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Zork is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Epstein's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Epstein is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Epstein stopping the sweep attempt from Zork.
Epstein trying to control the position from guard on top but Zork is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Epstein trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zork not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Epstein loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zork looking to hit a scissor sweep but Epstein is one step ahead there.
Zork bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Epstein's guard.
Epstein striking off his back but it's not causing Zork any problems.
Zork with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zork loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zork wants to control from the top but Epstein keeps moving.
Epstein 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Epstein wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Zork manages to pass to side control.
Zork thows a huge punch but Epstein dodges it nicely.
Epstein pushes Zork off but Zork dives into side control.

Zork looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Zork stands up.
Nice defenses there by Zork.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zork takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Zork tries for a takedown but Epstein circles away easily
and Epstein counters with a stiff right hand.
Zork uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Epstein.
Zork ducks under a wild hook from Epstein.
Zork uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Epstein.
Epstein misses with an uppercut.
Zork misses with the combination.
Zork tries for a takedown but Epstein circles away easily

and Epstein decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zork's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Zork. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Epstein controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zork trying to keep a closed guard but Epstein is proving a slippery customer.
Epstein is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Zork looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Epstein's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Epstein gets to his feet. Zork looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
No joy there for Epstein, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Epstein dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zork darts in trying to clinch
and Epstein counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Zork wants to clinch but Epstein slips to the side
and Epstein counters with a straight right hand.
Epstein throws a hook to the side of Zork's head but Zork sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zork tries to clinch

and Epstein counters with a takedown into side control.
Zork is trying to improve his position.
Epstein wants to control but Zork is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Zork's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Zork is looking for a sweep.
Epstein working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zork sneaks back into half guard.
Epstein thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zork's head.
Epstein tries to stand but can't do so whilst Zork controls his leg.
Zork trying to control from the bottom.
Epstein is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Epstein is trying to control the action in half guard but Zork is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Epstein lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Zork pushes Epstein off looking to stand but Epstein dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zork manages to get to full guard.
Epstein pushing down on Zork's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Zork trying to control but Epstein postures up.
Epstein is keen to just control but Zork is a slippery customer.
Epstein not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Epstein missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zork trying to control but Epstein postures up.
Epstein performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Epstein wants to pass to mount but Zork is defending the position.

Zork actively working from the bottom here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zork gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Epstein.
Epstein lands a jab.
Zork jabs Epstein right on the nose. Epstein blinks but takes it well.
Epstein lands with an uppercut that bounces Zork off the cage and back into rage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Epstein misses with a wild combination.
Epstein fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Epstein clobbers Zork with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Zork gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zork takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zork has his takedown stuffed
and Epstein counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Zork is rocked!
Zork shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Epstein counters with a straight right hand.
Oh Zork is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Zork. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Epstein digs a good hook to Zork's body.
Zork seems to have got his legs back now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Epstein connects with a crisp jab.
Zork fails with the takedown
and Epstein counters with a stiff right hand.
Epstein throws a series of punches but Zork moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Epstein showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Epstein jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zork ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Epstein moves away.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Zork. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Epstein uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zork has time to react.
Epstein dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jab from Epstein.
Nice shot by Epstein.
Zork shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Epstein lands a stunning uppercut that sends Zork to the mat!
Epstein is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Epstein seems content to control.
Epstein tries to stand but can't do so whilst Zork controls his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epstein prevents Zork from improving his position.
Epstein winds up and cracks Zork with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Epstein landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Epstein controlling the pace.
Zork is trying to stand.
Epstein throwing shots but Zork is blocking nicely.
Epstein perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zork wants to get back to his feet.
Zork wants to get back to full guard but Epstein has passed into side control.
Epstein tries to control but Zork wriggling away.
Epstein tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Epstein putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zork tries to lock up and control but Epstein gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Epstein lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Epstein prevents Zork from getting the reversal.
Epstein takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Zork keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Epstein avoids the attempt from Zork to control.
Zork tries to reverse the position but Epstein maintains control.
Epstein sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Zork tries to hold on but Epstein postures up.

That's four 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.
Epstein working Zork over with strikes here.
Epstein with a couple of short strikes.
Epstein scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Zork?
Epstein controlling his opponent.
Zork is working to get back to half guard.
Mark Zork has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Scott Epstein is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Epstein content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Epstein comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Epstein has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 26:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Epstein!