PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mr Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Pep (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ward's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Everything in its right place- Radio Head. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ward
vs
Pep

150 cm
27
144 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

169 cm
25
148 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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Legal High's [CBK]

5th Round
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mr Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Frankie Pep!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pep throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Ward wants to clinch.
Ward misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pep.
Ward is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Ward closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ward lands in his opponent's guard.
Ward works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ward with the ground and pound but Pep uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Ward stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pep swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ward is working hard here to advance position.
Pep avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ward throwing strikes from guard but Pep blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pep thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Ward in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ward throws a strike but Pep rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ward is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pep seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Pep wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pep stays in close to Ward's body and controls the position.
Ward is adopting a defensive guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ward is on top in guard.
Ward is fighting to break Pep's control of his arms but Pep is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Frankie Pep was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ward is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Pep uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ward.
Ward fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pep throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ward has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mr Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pep swats away the attempt to clinch by Ward.
Pep connects with the punch.
Pep lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ward's sensitive parts.
Ward looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pep is fending him off so far but Ward persists. Nope, Pep circles away and we're back to standing.
Pep scores with a decent looking hook.
Ward takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Ward shoots in and gets a takedown into Pep's guard.
Ward 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.

Ward drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Pep manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ward has Pep in his guard.
Ward is breathing heavily.
Ward looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Pep puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pep is controlling the pace.
Ward wants to get back to full guard.
Pep with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ward trying to control but Pep postures up.
Pep not doing much here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Pep dominated that round.
That's time! Ward's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice defenses there by Ward.
Pep displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ward.
Ward fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pep swings for the body but Ward moves out of range.
Pep keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mr Ward. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ward looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Ward is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pep defends it well.
Ward wants to pass the guard but Pep is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward is looking for a kimura but Pep is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ward to get the leverage.
Pep keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Ward seems to be looking for submissions.
Pep has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ward is working away from the top position though.
Ward not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ward is pressing down on Pep's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pep is holding on for now.

Ward is working for a submission of some sort.
Ward missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ward looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Ward is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Pep to regain full guard.
Pep avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pep working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ward.

Ward drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Pep manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ward has Pep in his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pep's corner is telling him to maintain position.

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.
Pep wants to control from the top but Ward keeps moving.

Ward looking for a guillotine here but Pep defends easily.
Ward is pulling down on Pep's head to control his posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pep postures up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Frankie Pep hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ward dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mr Ward will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. 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.

Pep with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pep looks to score with a jab to the body but Ward is just out of range.

Ward gets a takedown into half guard.
Ward seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ward is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Ward thows a big elbow that misses.
Pep avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ward content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ward thows a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ward accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward looking to pass the guard.
Ward is looking to advance position but Pep has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Ward tries to hold on but Pep postures up.
Ward tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pep takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ward wants to hold on but Pep pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ward keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Pep can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ward is looking to escape.

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.
Pep controlling from the full mount.
Ward is desperately trying to improve his position but Pep has a good base and remains in mount.
Mr Ward overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pep trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ward is looking to improve his position but Pep isn't that keen on the idea.
Ward wants to hold on but Pep pushes him away.
Pep controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ward wants to control but Pep is having none of it.
Ward is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ward tries to hold on but Pep pushes him away.
Pep trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ward might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Pep controlling the position easily from mount.
Ward is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Pep trying to control but Ward is having none of it.
Pep sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Let's hope that Pep has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frankie Pep comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pep 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frankie Pep!