PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pepper James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Izaak Waters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

James
vs
Waters

185 cm
24
200 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Malicious Intent Fight Gear
Malicious Intent Fight Gear

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pepper James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Izaak Waters!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Waters slaps away a takedown attempt from James, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Waters throws out a loose jab but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
James fails with an attempt to clinch.
James throws a nice looking combination but Waters bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Waters misses with a straight left.
James wants to clinch
and Waters counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

James gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by James.
Waters controlling the action here for a moment.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Waters creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

James successfully pulls guard.
Waters throws a big elbow that misses.
Waters sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Waters stands up from guard. Let's bang!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
James can't break the clinch.
James misses with some punches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Waters receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
James can't break the clinch.
Waters misses with a body punch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Waters.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Waters lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Waters prevents a takedown attempt there.
James drops down looking for an ankle pick but Waters pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pepper James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Waters lands a head shot.
James looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Waters misses with an uppercut. James saw that one coming.
Waters goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Waters clinches up with James and pushes him back against the cage.

James gets control of Waters's arms and successfully pulls guard. James will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to control the position but Waters postures up.
Waters looking to sit in guard and control but James gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Waters working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Waters is controlling James's posture.
Waters wants to get back to his feet but James is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Waters has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but James can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Waters wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Waters is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James throws a big right hand that misses.
Waters bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in James's guard.
James throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Waters won't allow James to get back to his feet.
Waters 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.
Waters looking to sit in guard and control but James gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Izaak Waters dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James is looking to clinch but Waters is avoiding it.
Waters stalks James and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into James's face. James staggers backwards, shaken.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Waters swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Waters manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
James is looking to clinch.
Waters throws a right and a left that James avoids nicely.
Waters cracks James with a right hand to the side of the head.
Nice sprawl there from Waters as James shoots in.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Waters swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Waters slaps away a takedown attempt from James, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pepper James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Waters scores with a sloppy right hand. James should have avoided that one.
Waters thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Waters lands an impressive looking overhand right. James doesn't seem phased though.
Izaak Waters seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Waters swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
James walks into a left hand.
Izaak Waters is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Waters circles away from the clinch attempt.
Waters keeps the fight on the outside.
James drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Waters digs a good hook to James's body.
James takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Waters stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Waters wants it to stay on the feet.
James with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Waters to score with a decent uppercut.
Waters throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jab by Waters.

Waters moves into the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Waters.
A body shot lands from Waters.
Waters stalling the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Waters.
The referee is keeping an eye on Waters - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
James throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Waters blocks it with crossed arms.
Waters lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Waters prevents James from breaking the clinch.
James's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Waters is stalling here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Izaak Waters.
James bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Pepper James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James tries to score a power double leg takedown but Waters sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten James somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James moves in looking to clinch but Waters pushes him off.
Waters fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
James just misses with a punch to the body.
Waters uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Waters might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
James drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
James tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Waters counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Waters lands a lovely overhand right.

Waters moves into range and clinches up with James.
Waters lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Waters misses with a body punch.
James fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Waters lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Waters blocks it with crossed arms.
James prevents a body shot from Waters.
Waters lands a right hand.
James tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Waters's elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James jumps guard but Waters stands there with James around his waist. James gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
James wants to break free but Waters has control.
Waters lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of James backwards.
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Waters won't allow it.
Waters lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt James or not.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Waters lands a hook that snaps the head of James backwards.
Waters pushes James back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The referee calls for Waters to work.
Waters is working James over against the cage.
A short right from Waters on the inside.
Waters blocks the elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Izaak Waters showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

James shoots in and drives through. Waters sprawls well.
Waters lands a glancing blow to the side of James's head.
A big right from Waters misses.
Waters throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A left lands for Waters.
James tries to score a power double leg takedown but Waters sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten James somewhat.
James swinging wildly here.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Waters sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pepper James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Waters lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nice shot lands for Waters.
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!
Waters works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Waters scores with a sloppy right hand. James should have avoided that one.
Waters has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Waters lands a hook that stumbles James back into the cage. Waters follows up with a straight and another hook that land right on the button, dropping James to the canvas! Waters pounces and lands several unanswered shots - James has had enough and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Izaak Waters!
Our winner, Izaak Waters, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.