PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Esau Pepson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lester Sampo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lester Sampo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pepson
vs
Sampo

165 cm
23
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Esau Pepson!
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, Lester Sampo!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pepson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Pepson breaks from the clinch.

Sampo pushes Pepson up against the cage in a clinch.
Pepson tries to break the clinch but Sampo is controlling the position.
Sampo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sampo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pepson.

Pepson breaks the clinch.
Pepson keeps the fight on the outside.
Sampo tries to clinch but Pepson moves out of range.
Pepson is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Sampo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sampo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pepson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pepson shoots in for a takedown but Sampo shows good takedown defense.

Pepson moves into the clinch.
Pepson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sampo gets control of Pepson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sampo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sampo wants to stand and escape but Pepson is having none of it.
Pepson throws a big elbow that misses.
Pepson stands and throws Sampo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pepson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sampo being controlled for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sampo wants to get back to his feet but Pepson drags him back down.
Pepson throws an elbow but Sampo slips to the side and avoids it well.
You can see the frustration on Sampo's face as Pepson controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepson tries to move into full mount but can't pass Sampo's legs.
Pepson trying to control the action but Sampo is working from the bottom.
Pepson 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.
Sampo wants to control but Pepson postures up.
Sampo is looking to regain half guard here but Pepson keeps moving and retains side control.
Pepson has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Sampo!
Pepson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Sampo is working to get back to half guard.

Pepson goes for an armbar but Sampo turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Sampo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sampo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pepson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sampo is refusing to be controlled, as Pepson sits in half guard.
Sampo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pepson.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sampo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pepson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pepson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Pepson lands with a punch from half guard.
Pepson wants to pass to mount but Sampo is defending the position.
Sampo has hold of Pepson's hands but Pepson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pepson is looking to take a break and control but Sampo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pepson working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esau Pepson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Pepson.

Sampo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Pepson manages to break the clinch.
Pepson shoots in for a takedown but Sampo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sampo fails with a takedown attempt.
Lester Sampo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pepson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sampo swivels and escapes.
Sampo is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Esau Pepson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sampo slips a straight right by Pepson.
As Pepson backs off Sampo throws a huge counter combo but Pepson manages to avoid it all.
Pepson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sampo can do to turn this around?
Pepson motions for Sampo to come forward. Pepson throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepson misses with a looping right.
Pepson is looking to clinch.
Sampo moves in looking to clinch but Pepson pushes him off.
Sampo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pepson.
Pepson tries for a takedown but Sampo circles away easily

and Sampo counters by moving into the clinch.
Pepson is pushing Sampo up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Pepson jumps into guard, dragging Sampo to the mat.
Sampo wants to control from the top but Pepson keeps moving.
Pepson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sampo stays in close to Pepson's body and controls the position.

Pepson has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Sampo should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Pepson has tightened it up now! Sampo should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Esau Pepson!