PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergeant Peppers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ales Zhandunka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Peppers comes to the cage accompanied by I'll Be Missing You -- P. Diddy & The Family. Ales Zhandunka will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Peppers
vs
Zhandunka

195 cm
30
275 lbs
17 - 4 - 1

220 cm
29
275 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

"PWNAGE - over 100 designs under $20"
"PWNAGE - over 100 designs under $20"

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sergeant Peppers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ales Zhandunka!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Skip Squint and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Peppers scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Zhandunka looks to clinch
and Peppers counters with a good low kick that Zhandunka was not able to check.
Peppers slips a jab and a cross from Zhandunka.
Zhandunka on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Peppers misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ales Zhandunka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Peppers swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Zhandunka has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Peppers finds it's way round the side to connect with Zhandunka's head.
A jab from Zhandunka misses.
Zhandunka paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Peppers moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zhandunka tries to clinch but Peppers moves away
and Peppers counters with a slapping leg kick.
Zhandunka swings away with a body shot that misses
and Peppers counters with a good low kick that Zhandunka was not able to check.
Zhandunka misses with a looping right.
Zhandunka scores with a jab. Peppers acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Zhandunka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Peppers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Peppers misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Peppers with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Peppers.
Zhandunka looks to land a right hand but Peppers moved out of range.
Peppers uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zhandunka.
Peppers keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Zhandunka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Peppers.
Peppers throws a right hand that Zhandunka ducks under and follows up with a left that Zhandunka also avoids with ease.

Peppers scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Peppers controlling the position.

Peppers tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peppers in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Peppers controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka parries the strikes from Peppers easily there. Peppers is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Zhandunka to escape.
The referee asks Peppers politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Peppers prefers to stall for the moment though.
Peppers seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Zhandunka for as long as he can get away with.
Peppers advances to full mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zhandunka can do anything to dispel that myth.
Peppers controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peppers unloading with bombs!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Peppers throwing strikes here but Zhandunka is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Peppers controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zhandunka chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Peppers can pounce on him.
Peppers looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Zhandunka tries to clinch there but Peppers circles away.
Peppers wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice defenses there by Zhandunka.
Peppers throws a solid leg kick but Zhandunka takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Peppers.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Peppers.
Peppers takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zhandunka throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Peppers.
Peppers throws a combination that misses
and Zhandunka counters with a nice uppercut.
A nice inside leg kick there by Peppers. That's going to slow Zhandunka down.
Zhandunka misses with a lunging right hand
and Peppers counters with a good low kick that Zhandunka was not able to check.
Peppers throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zhandunka sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zhandunka is breathing heavily.
Zhandunka blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peppers feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zhandunka's calf.
Zhandunka tries to close the distance and clinch but Peppers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zhandunka checks a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Peppers.
Peppers cracks Zhandunka with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ales Zhandunka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zhandunka scores with a crisp jab that stopped Peppers in his tracks.
Zhandunka rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Peppers counters with a stiff right hand.
Zhandunka's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Zhandunka avoids a punch combination nicely.
Peppers ducks right into an uppercut from Zhandunka.

Peppers drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhandunka parries the strikes from Peppers easily there. Peppers is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Zhandunka to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka is trying to get back to half guard.
Peppers just content to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sergeant Peppers has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Zhandunka misses with a hook.
Peppers throws a nice inside leg kick.
Peppers buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zhandunka walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Zhandunka wants to clinch but Peppers slips to the side
and Peppers counters with an inside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Peppers lands with a kick to the temple. Zhandunka shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Peppers uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zhandunka.
A jab lands there for Peppers.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zhandunka. Peppers does a little dance to reset his feet.
Peppers throws a leg kick which misses Zhandunka's front leg but catches the back leg as Zhandunka tries to avoid it.
Peppers scores with a push kick.
Peppers throws a head kick but Zhandunka moves out of range.
Zhandunka wants to clinch but Peppers slips to the side
and Peppers counters with a right hand to the body.
Peppers throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A nice inside leg kick there by Peppers. That's going to slow Zhandunka down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Peppers darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Peppers throws a sloppy head kick and Zhandunka moves out of range easily.
Zhandunka throws a combination that misses
and Peppers counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Peppers dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zhandunka. That did some damage!
Peppers scores with a leg kick.
Sergeant Peppers is winning the standup battle so far.
Peppers lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Zhandunka. No joy for Peppers on that attempt.
Zhandunka doesn't manage to clinch there - Peppers circles away.
Peppers lands a high kick!
Zhandunka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Peppers was well out of range. Poor timing from Zhandunka.

Peppers drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Peppers sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zhandunka's guard.
Peppers is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergeant Peppers dominated that second round.
That's time! Peppers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A bone on bone clash there as Zhandunka blocks the leg kick.
Peppers scores with a jab.
Zhandunka thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zhandunka on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Peppers. Peppers obviously looking to wear him down.
Zhandunka sizes up Peppers with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Peppers scores with a nice head shot.
Zhandunka missing with a left hand there. Peppers was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zhandunka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Peppers lands a jab to Zhandunka's midsection.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Zhandunka ducks right into an uppercut from Peppers.
Peppers fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Peppers is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Zhandunka's half guard.
Peppers controlling the action here.
Sergeant Peppers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zhandunka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peppers not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Peppers sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sergeant Peppers.
Zhandunka looks to land a left hand but Peppers moved out of range nicely.
Zhandunka throws a hook to the side of Peppers's head but Peppers sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Peppers looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Peppers misses with a wild body shot.
Peppers moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Peppers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zhandunka can do to turn this around?
A punch combination from Zhandunka misses.
Peppers looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A nice leg kick lands there from Peppers.
Peppers shoots in but Zhandunka avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Peppers throws a nice looking combination but Zhandunka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Peppers with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peppers throws a leg kick that misses.
Peppers turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Peppers ducks right into an uppercut from Zhandunka.
Zhandunka tries to clinch but Peppers moves out of range.
Peppers turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Peppers chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Zhandunka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Peppers.
Peppers scores with a leg kick.
Zhandunka takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Peppers throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Peppers bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zhandunka's head backwards.
Nice cross by Peppers.
Peppers lands a leg kick that knocks Zhandunka off balance momentarily.
Peppers works Zhandunka's body with a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Peppers.

Zhandunka gets caught flat footed, as Peppers shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Peppers is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Peppers slips nicely into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Peppers is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergeant Peppers clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zhandunka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zhandunka swings widly with a right hand
and Peppers counters with a nice low kick that buckles Zhandunka's knee momentarily.
Zhandunka swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zhandunka blocks a leg kick.
Zhandunka misses the shot to the body.
Zhandunka throws a body punch but Peppers moves out of range.
Peppers throws a low kick but it's checked well by Zhandunka.
Peppers throws a leg kick but Zhandunka sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Peppers shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zhandunka as he avoids it easily.
Peppers tries to land a leg kick but Zhandunka saw it coming and moves away.
Zhandunka fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Peppers manages to avoid it.
Zhandunka throws a combination that misses
and Peppers counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peppers stuns Zhandunka with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Zhandunka is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Peppers feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zhandunka's calf.
Peppers misses with a head kick.
Peppers moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A solid body kick from Peppers.
Peppers lands a leg kick that knocks Zhandunka off balance momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Peppers buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zhandunka tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Peppers connects with an inside leg kick.
Peppers shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Zhandunka eats them both and turns towards Peppers to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Peppers jabs at Zhandunka's body.
Donk. Peppers catches Zhandunka right on the button with a cross.
Zhandunka takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Peppers.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Peppers.
Peppers scores with a spinning back kick!
Zhandunka takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A nice inside leg kick there by Peppers. That's going to slow Zhandunka down.
Zhandunka takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Peppers.
That kick from Peppers tenderised Zhandunka's leg. Zhandunka is trying to keep his angry face on.
Peppers lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Zhandunka takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zhandunka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A punch combination from Peppers misses.
Peppers looks to score with a jab to the body but Zhandunka is just out of range.
Peppers scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Peppers feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zhandunka's calf.
Zhandunka on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Peppers with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zhandunka to score with a decent uppercut.
Peppers misses with a few strikes there.
Zhandunka on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Peppers. Peppers obviously looking to wear him down.
Zhandunka takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Zhandunka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Peppers swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Peppers tries to work over Zhandunka's front leg with a kick but Zhandunka checks it.
Zhandunka throws a combination. Peppers tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Zhandunka throws a predictable looking body shot
and Peppers counters with a good low kick that Zhandunka was not able to check.
Peppers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Peppers misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peppers's corner calls for a 1-2. Peppers obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zhandunka blocks a head kick by Peppers.
Peppers misses with a double jab
and Zhandunka makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Peppers avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zhandunka lands a slapping body shot.
Peppers lands a leg kick that knocks Zhandunka off balance momentarily.
Zhandunka scores with a decent looking hook.
Zhandunka catches Peppers with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Peppers throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Peppers swats away the attempt to clinch by Zhandunka.
Peppers slips a jab and a cross from Zhandunka.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergeant Peppers had his way with Ales Zhandunka in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zhandunka throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Peppers is looking to slow Zhandunka down with leg kicks.
Peppers throws a front kick aimed at Zhandunka's knee but Zhandunka avoids it well.
A slapping leg kick lands for Peppers.
Zhandunka throws a shot to the body.
Zhandunka misses with a hook. Peppers ducked under it nicely.
Zhandunka just misses with a punch to the body.
Zhandunka doesn't manage to clinch there - Peppers circles away.
Zhandunka tries to close the distance and clinch but Peppers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Zhandunka darts in and clinches Peppers up against the cage.
Zhandunka is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Peppers is keeping busy.
A short left from Zhandunka.
Zhandunka lands a hook that snaps the head of Peppers backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Come on Peppers - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Zhandunka is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Zhandunka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Peppers breaks from the clinch.
Zhandunka misses with a two punch combination.
Peppers connects with a solid leg kick.
Peppers cracks Zhandunka with a good jab.
Peppers circles away from the clinch attempt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Peppers.
Peppers with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Zhandunka is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Zhandunka takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peppers throws a head kick that misses.
Zhandunka misses with a hook.
Zhandunka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Peppers swats him away and circles back towards the center.
That kick from Peppers tenderised Zhandunka's leg. Zhandunka is trying to keep his angry face on.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A swing and a miss from Zhandunka.
Peppers fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Zhandunka swings for the body but Peppers moves out of range.
Zhandunka fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zhandunka throws a body punch but Peppers moves out of range.
Zhandunka throws a big shot that misses.
Peppers throws a body punch but Zhandunka moves out of range.
Peppers throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zhandunka tries to clinch up but Peppers circles away and keeps his distance.
Peppers misses the jab.
Ales Zhandunka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zhandunka has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peppers lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Peppers is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Zhandunka takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Peppers circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zhandunka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Peppers manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zhandunka misses with a jab, cross combination.
Peppers uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zhandunka.
Peppers throws a right and a left that both miss.
A good leg kick by Peppers.
Zhandunka swings widly with a right hand
and Peppers connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Zhandunka throws a right and a left that both miss.
Peppers throws a head kick that misses.
Peppers dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zhandunka. That did some damage!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peppers fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhandunka has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Peppers.
Nice shot by Peppers.
Peppers connects with a solid leg kick.

Peppers shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Zhandunka napping and manages to drive through into side control!
A lull in the action here as Peppers stalls from top position.
Sergeant Peppers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergeant Peppers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Peppers, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 50:45
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 50:45
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergeant Peppers!
Sergeant Peppers took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.