PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mario Pepe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Davey Steeves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Pepe
vs
Steeves

185 cm
30
188 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

195 cm
31
200 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Divinity 160Q

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 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mario Pepe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Davey Steeves!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Daniel Blasius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steeves feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Pepe's calf.
Steeves cracks the inside of Pepe's front leg.
Steeves shoots in for a double leg but Pepe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Steeves looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Steeves throws out a leg kick but Pepe moves out of range and Steeves only half commits.

Steeves feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Steeves wants to pass the guard but Pepe is keeping the position.
Steeves is looking to work some ground and pound but Pepe has wrist control.
Steeves lands a couple of digs.
Steeves content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steeves trying to control but Pepe is working from the bottom.
Pepe wants to hit a switch here but Steeves passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Pepe there!
Steeves controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steeves postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Pepe looks a forlorn figure.
Steeves sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Pepe keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steeves wants to control the pace but Pepe is squirming around nicely.
Steeves controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steeves's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee warns Pepe that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Steeves lands a heavy elbow.
Pepe tries to hold on but Steeves pushes him away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pepe is in a horrible position here. Steeves smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Steeves is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Pepe can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Steeves scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Pepe wants to hold on but Steeves pushes him away.
Steeves lands a couple of good shots and Pepe has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepe is covering up but some of the strikes from Steeves are getting through and doing damage.
Pepe is trapped and Steeves is scoring with shots to the head and body.
A lull in the action here.
Steeves lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Pepe tries to escape but Steeves has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Steeves is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Steeves avoiding Pepe 's attempts to control his hands.
Steeves scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Pepe is looking for a way out.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Steeves controlling well, preventing Pepe from escaping the position.
Steeves scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steeves is riding his opponent, not letting Pepe buck him off.
Pepe covering up well under a series of strikes from Steeves.
Pepe covers up after that shot from Steeves.
Steeves lands punches and elbows.
Well, with Steeves on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Pepe is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Pepe just trying to survive but Steeves is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pepe is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Steeves is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Steeves is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Steeves gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Steeves gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Steeves apologises and we restart here on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Davey Steeves dominated that round.
That's time! Pepe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pepe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Davey Steeves seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pepe stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Steeves.
Pepe tries to bum rush Steeves with a series of wild strikes but Steeves uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Horrible takedown by Steeves or perhaps it was just good defense by Pepe which made him look bad.
A big right from Pepe misses.
Steeves attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Steeves throws a low kick but Pepe avoids it.
Steeves slips a jab from Pepe.
Pepe connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Pepe misses with a straight left.
Steeves scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pepe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Steeves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steeves throws a solid leg kick but Pepe takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Steeves.
Pepe scores with a nice head shot.
Mario Pepe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steeves tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Steeves tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pepe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Steeves somewhat.
Steeves misses with a hook. Pepe ducked under it nicely.
Steeves fails with a takedown attempt.
Mario Pepe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Davey Steeves.
Steeves shoots in for a takedown but Pepe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Steeves has closed the distance and engaged Pepe in a clinch.
Pepe scores with a shot to the side of Steeves's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steeves successfully pulls guard.
Pepe trying to control but Steeves is working from the bottom.
Steeves has a closed guard, preventing Pepe from standing up.

Steeves is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pepe is aware though and is defending well.
Pepe has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Steeves pushes a forearm under Pepe's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Pepe is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Davey Steeves!
An out of breath Davey Steeves thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.