PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Peter Pepper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mika Zibanejadass (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Pepper
vs
Zibanejadass

185 cm
30
141 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

170 cm
25
144 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Vitality

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 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Peter Pepper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mika Zibanejadass!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zibanejadass needs to keep his hands up - Pepper had a free shot at his head there.
Pepper throws a combination that misses

and Zibanejadass counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Pepper is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pepper manages to get to full guard.
Zibanejadass preventing the sweep.
Pepper really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zibanejadass controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zibanejadass won't allow Pepper to sweep him here.
Zibanejadass slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pepper takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Pepper tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zibanejadass taking a breather here.
Pepper is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zibanejadass's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zibanejadass is taking a breather. Pepper says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Pepper trying to control here.
Pepper missing with punches from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepper tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Pepper tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Pepper tries to kick Zibanejadass off but Zibanejadass keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Zibanejadass is keen to just control but Pepper is a slippery customer.
Zibanejadass slows the pace down in half guard.
Zibanejadass moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Pepper.
Zibanejadass slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Pepper.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepper flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Pepper is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Pepper throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zibanejadass takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
It looks like Zibanejadass might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Pepper is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You get the feeling that Pepper really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Zibanejadass content just to control the position here.
Zibanejadass with the ground and pound from mount.
Pepper is looking to improve his position but Zibanejadass isn't that keen on the idea.
Zibanejadass avoids the attempt from Pepper to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zibanejadass content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mika Zibanejadass will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zibanejadass slips a jab and a cross from Pepper.
Pepper with a poor takedown
and Zibanejadass counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pepper takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Pepper misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zibanejadass is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pepper.
Pepper throws a head kick that misses
and Zibanejadass counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pepper swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Zibanejadass counters by clinching up.
Pepper takes an elbow to the forehead.
Zibanejadass taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Zibanejadass misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Zibanejadass.

It looks like Peter Pepper has been cut.
A frustrated look appears on Pepper's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Pepper successfully pulls guard.
Pepper working a defensive guard here.
Zibanejadass is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Pepper 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.
Zibanejadass won't allow Pepper to get back to his feet.
Zibanejadass pushes down on Pepper's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Zibanejadass wants to take a breather but Pepper is having none of it.
Zibanejadass has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Pepper can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zibanejadass looking to control and managing it successfully.
Zibanejadass wants to control the pace but Pepper is squirming around nicely.
Zibanejadass blocks Pepper's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Pepper throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Pepper keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zibanejadass controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepper throwing hammer fists to the chest of Zibanejadass. What's that going to do exactly?
Zibanejadass won't let Pepper get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Pepper flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Pepper is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Pepper manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Pepper landing rabbit punches to the side of Zibanejadass's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zibanejadass keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Pepper is not content to let Zibanejadass control the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Pepper throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Zibanejadass passes to side control.
Pepper is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Zibanejadass has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Zibanejadass blocks the strikes from Pepper.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pepper throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pepper tries to bench press Zibanejadass off him but Zibanejadass keeps the position.
Pepper tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mika Zibanejadass will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Peter Pepper's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Pepper.

Zibanejadass clinches with his opponent.
Pepper is trying to break the clinch but Zibanejadass is controlling him.
Pepper takes an elbow to the forehead.
Zibanejadass landing knees to the body.
Pepper tries to break the clinch but Zibanejadass is controlling the position.
Zibanejadass tries to stall but Pepper uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Zibanejadass with a knee to the head.
Zibanejadass connects with a nasty looking knee right to Pepper's face.
A frustrated look appears on Pepper's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pepper doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zibanejadass stalling.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Zibanejadass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepper tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Pepper gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Zibanejadass is looking to improve his position.
Zibanejadass won't allow Pepper to pass to mount.
Zibanejadass is looking to control Pepper's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zibanejadass avoid being mounted?

Pepper is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Pepper not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Pepper is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepper prevents Zibanejadass from improving his position.

Pepper is looking for a kimura but Zibanejadass is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pepper to get the leverage.
Zibanejadass tries to roll over but Pepper keeps him under control.
Zibanejadass regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pepper advances position 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!

Pepper thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepper lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Zibanejadass holding on.
Mika Zibanejadass is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Zibanejadass is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Pepper goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Zibanejadass has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Pepper but great work by Zibanejadass.
Zibanejadass slows the pace down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zibanejadass trying to control the action but Pepper is working from the bottom.
Pepper is looking to reverse the position.
Zibanejadass gets to mount! Pepper was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Peter Pepper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zibanejadass looking to control and managing it successfully.
Pepper is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mika Zibanejadass.
I've got Zibanejadass winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mika Zibanejadass!
In his post fight interview, Mika Zibanejadass started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.