PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Emmanuel Baptiste (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Doctor Pepper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Baptiste
vs
Pepper

185 cm
23
195 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

200 cm
25
185 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Emmanuel Baptiste!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Doctor Pepper!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Baptiste misses.

Baptiste gets a takedown into half guard.

Baptiste is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Pepper wants to get back to full guard.
Pepper gets back to full guard.
Pepper wants to sweep but no luck.
Baptiste postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Pepper keeping moving, preventing Baptiste from controlling successfully.
Baptiste in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pepper looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baptiste is one step ahead there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pepper bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Baptiste's guard.

Baptiste looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pepper forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baptiste is looking for a sweep. Pepper is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pepper is looking to advance position but Baptiste won't allow it.
Baptiste moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Baptiste looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Pepper is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Pepper tries to free his leg and advance position but Baptiste is retaining full guard.
Pepper works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Baptiste actively working from the bottom here.
Baptiste is looking to improve his position.

Baptiste looking for submissions off his back.
Baptiste is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pepper is trying to work for a kimura but Baptiste is defending well.

Baptiste is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pepper pulls his head out easily.
Baptiste wants to control but Pepper is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Pepper is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Baptiste!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pepper working for a guillotine from mount but Baptiste is in no mood to give up.
Baptiste tries to hold on but Pepper postures up.

Pepper is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Baptiste has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Pepper takes Baptiste's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pepper is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Baptiste is defending well though. Pepper let's go of the attempt for now.
Baptiste tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Baptiste tries to hold on but Pepper pushes him away.
Baptiste working to try and regain half guard.
Pepper takes Baptiste's back.

Pepper looking for the choke but no joy.

Pepper is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pepper is trying to stick to Baptiste's back but Baptiste is turning into Pepper. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Pepper's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Baptiste.
Baptiste slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Baptiste creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Pepper is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Baptiste is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pepper doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Baptiste.
Pepper slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Baptiste trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Doctor Pepper will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Baptiste gets the takedown into side control.
Baptiste scores with punches from side control.
Baptiste working the ground and pound but Pepper is defending the strikes.
Pepper tries to bench press Baptiste off him but Baptiste keeps the position.

Baptiste is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pepper is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Pepper is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Baptiste is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pepper has escaped the position, nice work there.
Pepper is looking for a sweep.
Pepper is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Baptiste's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Pepper is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Baptiste's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Baptiste's back!

Pepper looking for the RNC.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Pepper working for a choke but Baptiste is defending well.
Baptiste might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baptiste manages to reverse the position and now he's in Pepper's guard. Nice work there by Baptiste.

Baptiste is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Baptiste working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Pepper has his foot on Baptiste's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Baptiste works his way back into a safe position though.
Baptiste trying to control the position from guard on top but Pepper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baptiste stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pepper swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Baptiste pushing down on Pepper's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Baptiste is looking for a kimura but Pepper is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Baptiste to get the leverage.

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.
Pepper tries to get to full guard but Baptiste has control of the leg.
Baptiste missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pepper moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pepper is on top in guard.

Baptiste is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Baptiste wants to sweep here but Pepper controlling him for the moment.
Pepper slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Baptiste is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pepper tries for a kimura but Baptiste is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Pepper advances to mount.
Baptiste sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Pepper is pressing down on Baptiste's thigh, looking to free his foot. Baptiste is holding on for now.
The fighters are battling for position here. Baptiste manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pepper is pushing down on Baptiste's leg trying to pass to half guard. Baptiste is fighting to maintain full guard but Pepper has managed to sneak the leg through.

Pepper 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.

Baptiste is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pepper pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baptiste looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pepper works his way into full mount!
Pepper moves to take his opponent's back.

Baptiste preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Pepper.
Baptiste tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Doctor Pepper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Baptiste moves into range and clinches up with Pepper.

Baptiste ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Baptiste no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Baptiste is trying to control the position but Pepper postures up.
Pepper works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Baptiste is trying to get back to full guard.
Baptiste has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pepper is working away from the top position though.
Pepper looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Baptiste gets full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pepper looking to pass the guard.

Baptiste working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pepper doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pepper manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baptiste looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pepper slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Pepper tries to move into full mount but can't pass Baptiste's legs.
Baptiste can't do much from the bottom here.

Pepper is trying to get an arm triangle but Baptiste is defending well.
Baptiste struggling a bit here.
Baptiste sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste is in trouble now - Pepper has advanced to mount!
Baptiste is working to get back to half guard.
Baptiste is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Pepper is trying to take his opponent's back.

Pepper jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Baptiste is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Baptiste and Pepper has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Pepper tries to advance to mount but can't.
Baptiste is trying to control Pepper's posture but Pepper avoids it.
Baptiste prevents Pepper from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste wants to control but Pepper postures up.
Pepper tries to move into full mount but can't pass Baptiste's legs.
Baptiste can't do much from the bottom here.
Baptiste is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Baptiste prevents Pepper from moving into mount.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Baptiste fails with the takedown.

Pepper gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Pepper looking for a guillotine here but Baptiste defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baptiste passes Pepper's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Emmanuel Baptiste has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baptiste scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Baptiste is working for a kimura but Pepper is defending it quite comfortably.
Emmanuel Baptiste overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pepper is looking for a sweep. Baptiste is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Baptiste looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Baptiste is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Pepper makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pepper.

Baptiste drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Baptiste jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emmanuel Baptiste showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pepper has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!