PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kung Lao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julius Peppers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lao comes into the arena with Mortal Kombat-Techno Kombat blaring out of the sound system. Peppers is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Day N Nite-Kid Cudi. Julius Peppers told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Lao
vs
Peppers

167 cm
29
156 lbs
19 - 11 - 0

174 cm
24
155 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Firebird Designs
Firebird Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kung Lao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Julius Peppers!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Steve Montenegro and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Peppers looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Peppers takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lao misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Peppers throws the left hand but Lao avoids the punch easily.
Peppers tries to land a front kick but Lao steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Peppers is looking to slow Lao down with leg kicks.
Peppers fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lao manages to avoid it.
Peppers tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Peppers throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A head kick from Peppers lands but Lao takes it in his stride.

Lao feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Lao missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lao trying to control but Peppers is working from the bottom.
Lao slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lao is pushing down on Peppers's leg trying to pass to half guard. Peppers is fighting to maintain full guard but Lao has managed to sneak the leg through.
Lao is trying to control. Peppers wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lao is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Peppers is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lao takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kung Lao.

Lao clinches up against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Lao.
Peppers throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Laos head.
Lao works on Peppers's body with a couple of short punches.
Lao lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Peppers backwards.
Peppers controlling the action here for a moment.
Peppers lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lao backwards.
Lao lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Lao.

Lao gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Peppers is refusing to be controlled, as Lao sits in half guard.
Peppers is pressing down on Lao's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Peppers keeping full guard, as Lao tries to pass.
Lao won't allow Peppers to sweep him here.
Peppers keeping moving, preventing Lao from controlling successfully.
Lao passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Peppers is refusing to be controlled, as Lao sits in half guard.
Lao missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Peppers manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lao showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Peppers is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kung Lao dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Peppers, right into the meat.
Peppers looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Peppers swings for the body but Lao moves out of range.
Lao keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lao misses with a few strikes there.
Peppers scores with a nice head shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Peppers misses with a low kick.
Lao shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Peppers scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Lao ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peppers throws a head kick that misses.
Peppers keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Peppers misses the shot to the body.
Peppers scores with a nice right hand.
A solid leg kick lands there for Peppers.
Peppers throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lao connects with a looping right hand.
Lao tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Peppers. Lao does a little dance to reset his feet.
Julius Peppers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lao tries to clinch up but Peppers circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peppers with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A left and a right from Lao both land. Nice combination.
Peppers fails to land with a series of punches.
Peppers takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Peppers throws a low kick but Lao avoids it.
Peppers throws a low kick but Lao avoids it.
Peppers throws out a leg kick but Lao moves out of range and Peppers only half commits.
Peppers stuns Lao with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Peppers falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Lao counter with a right hand.
Peppers pivots, looking for a leg kick but Lao is out of range and Peppers settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lao fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Peppers manages to avoid it.
Peppers scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Peppers is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Lao rather than just go for the knockout.
Peppers misses with an attempted mid kick.
Peppers throws a sloppy head kick and Lao moves out of range easily.
Lao lunges at Peppers with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Peppers's hand.
Peppers throws a front kick aimed at Lao's knee but Lao avoids it well.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lao.
Peppers throws the kick towards the body but Lao avoids it.
Peppers dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Peppers. That's going to slow Lao down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lao looks to land a right hand but Peppers moved out of range.
Lao throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Peppers tries a low kick but Lao avoids it.
Lao looks to score with a jab to the body but Peppers is just out of range.
Lao ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Peppers moves away.
Peppers slips a jab from Lao.
An inside leg kick lands from Peppers.
Peppers throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Lao counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Peppers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lao checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Lao is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Peppers throws a quick inside leg kick.
Peppers ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lao moves away.
Peppers misses with the combination.
A low kick from Peppers is predictable there

and Lao counters with a shoot takedown. Peppers fights it but they end up in guard.
Lao advances position into side control!
Lao throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Peppers is looking for a sweep.
Peppers is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lao trying to control the position but Peppers is working away.

Lao looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Peppers tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lao wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Lao scoring with punches from side control.
Peppers regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Peppers manages to get to full guard.
Lao stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Peppers swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lao is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Peppers manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Peppers avoids the attempt from Lao to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lao is looking to get to half guard.
Peppers controlling from the full mount.
Peppers wants to control the pace but Lao is squirming around nicely.
Peppers scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Lao?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Lao tries to hold on but Peppers postures up.
Lao is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Peppers takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Peppers trying to control but Lao is having none of it.
Lao is desperately trying to improve his position but Peppers has a good base and remains in mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kung Lao showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lao has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kung Lao!