PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mario Pepe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexej Stepanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stepanov has chosen Limp Bizkit - My Generation as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pepe
vs
Stepanov

185 cm
26
173 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

180 cm
26
172 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mario Pepe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alexej Stepanov!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Wagner Zegers and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stepanov instigates a clinch.

Pepe tightens his grip and picks Stepanov up, before dumping him to the ground. Stepanov manages to land in guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pepe is looking to work some ground and pound but Stepanov has wrist control.
Pepe throws an elbow that misses. Stepanov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pepe's guard. Nice move by Stepanov!
Stepanov wants to control from the top but Pepe keeps moving.
Stepanov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Pepe's guard.
Pepe is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Stepanov is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stepanov stands and steps away. Pepe gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Stepanov with a poor takedown
and Pepe counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Pepe fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pepe scores with a shot to the body.
Pepe throws a series of punches but Stepanov moves out of range.
Stepanov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stepanov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pepe wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Pepe fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Stepanov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Stepanov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Stepanov lands in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pepe is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepe keeping moving, preventing Stepanov from controlling successfully.
Stepanov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pepe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pepe keeping moving, preventing Stepanov from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexej Stepanov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Stepanov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pepe sprawls well. Pepe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stepanov gets slowly back to his feet.
Mario Pepe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexej Stepanov.
Stepanov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pepe counters with a stiff right hand.
Alexej Stepanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stepanov is working for takedown but Pepe is calmly controlling the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pepe working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Pepe.

Pepe has clasped his hands together around Stepanov's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An elbow from Pepe crashes against the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stepanov rushes Pepe and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pepe goes for a takedown in the clinch but Stepanov prevents it.
Pepe wants a takedown.
Stepanov tries to score a body lock takedown but Pepe shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Stepanov stops a takedown attempt from Pepe.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mario Pepe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pepe has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Stepanov after a bit of a struggle.

Pepe has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Stepanov regains guard immediately.

Stepanov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pepe defends well.
Stepanov wants to get back to his feet but Pepe is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stepanov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stepanov has control of Pepe's left arm, preventing Pepe from doing any damage.
Pepe is stalling in the full guard.
Pepe stands up over Stepanov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Stepanov has momentary wrist control but Pepe slips an elbow through the middle.
Pepe trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stepanov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Pepe avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pepe wants to control from the top but Stepanov keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepe wants to pass the guard but Stepanov is keeping the position.
Stepanov trying to keep a closed guard but Pepe is proving a slippery customer.
Pepe stands and throws Stepanov's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pepe throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Pepe scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Stepanov to see if he's OK.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pepe landing a few strikes.
Pepe working the strikes but Stepanov uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Stepanov gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepe throwing strikes but missing.
Pepe is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Pepe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pepe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stepanov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pepe has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stepanov looking for a sweep. Not yet Stepanov, not yet.
Mario Pepe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stepanov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stepanov keeping moving, preventing Pepe from controlling successfully.
Stepanov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pepe working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Pepe avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pepe throws an elbow that misses. Stepanov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pepe's guard. Nice move by Stepanov!
Stepanov looking to pass the guard.
Pepe can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Stepanov controls the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pepe keeping moving, preventing Stepanov from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Pepe dominated that second round.
That's time! Pepe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stepanov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Pepe stuffs the takedown attempt from Stepanov. Stepanov gets slowly back to his feet.
Stepanov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pepe moves away.
Stepanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stepanov has a takedown stuffed.
Stepanov moves to clinch but Pepe breaks away
and Pepe connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stepanov was well out of range. Poor timing from Pepe.
Pepe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stepanov manages to avoid it.
Stepanov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pepe but Pepe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mario Pepe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexej Stepanov.
Stepanov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Pepe ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepe will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pepe misses with a body shot.
Alexej Stepanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Pepe throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stepanov was covering up waiting for the punch and Pepe finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Stepanov is trying to keep Pepe in close.
Pepe trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Stepanov manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Pepe keeping moving, preventing Stepanov from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepe wants to stand and escape but Stepanov is having none of it.
Stepanov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Stepanov tries to advance to mount but can't.
Pepe is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stepanov trying to control the position but Pepe is working away.

Stepanov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Mario Pepe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pepe tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stepanov trying to control but Pepe is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Pepe showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pepe has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Pepe!