PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Nash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Pepper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Charles Pepper enters the cage!

Nash
vs
Pepper

189 cm
21
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
191 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steve Nash!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Charles Pepper!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Alyssa Summers and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nash closes the distance and clinches up with Pepper, looking for a takedown. Nash pushes Pepper against the cage but Pepper circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nash slips a jab and a cross from Pepper.
Nash misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Pepper bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Pepper cracks Nash with a big right hand but Nash just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Pepper just content to control the position.
Nash is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Pepper's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Pepper is thwarting Nash's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pepper drops an elbow to the side of Nash's head.
Pepper performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Pepper wants to pass to mount but Nash is defending the position.
Pepper moves nicely into side control.
Pepper connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Nash some visible discomfort.
Nash manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nash wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pepper keeps working.
Nash not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pepper trying to control from the bottom.
Pepper wants to get back to full guard.
Nash passes to full mount!

Nash is working for a guillotine from mount but Pepper frees his head quite easily.

Nash looking to secure an arm triangle but Pepper defends it well.
Pepper wants to control but Nash is having none of it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nash sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Pepper really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Nash looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepper tries to hold on but Nash pushes him away.
Nash throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Pepper is controlling an arm, preventing Nash from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pepper can do anything to dispel that myth.

Nash is working for a guillotine from mount but Pepper frees his head quite easily.
Nash is breathing heavily.
Pepper prevents any damage by holding on tight.

Nash is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Pepper has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Pepper!
Pepper controlling from the top position.

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.
Nash keeping full guard, as Pepper tries to pass.
Pepper stays in close to Nash's body and controls the position.
Nash tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nash is trying to control the position but Pepper postures up.
Pepper stays in close to Nash's body and controls the position.

Nash is looking for a triangle but Pepper pushes his legs off easily.
Pepper is stalling in the full guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, Charles Pepper just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nash gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Pepper counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pepper.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Pepper dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nash shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Pepper counters by clinching up.
Nash can't get the takedown.
Pepper gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Nash.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Nash. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nash is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pepper gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nash tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nash fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nash is working for takedown but Pepper is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nash tries for a takedown but Pepper manages to get underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepper tries to score a body lock takedown but Nash shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Nash is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Pepper can't fight it off and eventually Nash manages to take the fight to the floor. Pepper looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Pepper controlling the position.
Pepper trying to control the position.
Nash wants to control from the top but Pepper keeps moving.
Nash postures up.
Pepper looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nash is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pepper is breathing heavily.
Pepper can't keep his opponent in guard - Nash advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nash tries to pass to full mount but Pepper defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepper is trying to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nash tries for a takedown but Pepper circles away easily

and Pepper decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nash's guard.
Pepper must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pepper postures up.
Nash looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pepper is one step ahead there.
Nash controls Pepper momentarily but Pepper frees himself.
Pepper is stalling in the full guard.
Nash is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nash strikes from his own guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepper slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Nash controls Pepper momentarily but Pepper frees himself.
Nash looking for a sweep. Not yet Nash, not yet.
Pepper stands and throws Nash's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Nash is trying to improve his position.
Charles Pepper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nash gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Nash is trying to get back to full guard.
Pepper perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Pepper is pressing down on Nash's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nash is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nash slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Nash throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Pepper 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.
Pepper postures up and lands a big shot to Nash's brow.
Pepper controlling from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Pepper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nash tries for a takedown but Pepper circles away easily

and Pepper counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Pepper is controlling the pace.
Pepper is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Pepper has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nash's face.
Pepper has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Nash's face.
Nash tries to lock up and control but Pepper gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pepper controlling the pace for now.
Pepper in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Pepper controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepper dominating with strikes here.
Pepper controlling from the full mount.

Despite being in the dominant position, Charles Pepper just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Pepper.
Pepper in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Pepper advances to full mount.
Pepper controlling the pace for now.
Pepper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nash really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepper tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Nash is looking to improve his position but Pepper isn't that keen on the idea.
Pepper trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Nash regains half guard.
Nash trying to control here.
Nash is looking for a sweep. Pepper is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nash trying to control from the bottom.
Nash is not content to let Pepper control the position.
Nash works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nash trying to control the position.
Nash keeping moving, preventing Pepper from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nash misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Pepper to counter with a crisp jab.
Nash tries for a takedown but Pepper circles away easily

and Pepper counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Nash. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nash is looking to control Pepper's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nash avoid being mounted?
Nash wants to improve his position but Pepper is controlling well.
Nash misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nash is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pepper thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nash's head.
Nash wants to control but Pepper is keeping busy.
Nash gets full guard.

Nash looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Steve Nash has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Nash has his feet on Pepper's thighs here. He's pushed Pepper off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Pepper screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Steve Nash!