PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Baki Pekyew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marko Lepesic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lepesic is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Thunderstruck. Baki Pekyew has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Pekyew
vs
Lepesic

180 cm
26
175 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

185 cm
23
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Baki Pekyew!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marko Lepesic!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Edson Gomes and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A cross from Pekyew lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Pekyew drags the fight down to the ground.
Lepesic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lepesic looking to pass the guard.
Lepesic trying to control but Pekyew is working from the bottom.
Lepesic throwing strikes from guard but Pekyew blocks nicely.
Lepesic chips away with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lepesic wants to stand and escape but instead Pekyew has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Pekyew throws a big right hand that misses.

Pekyew thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekyew throwing strikes but missing.
Pekyew stops Lepesic from standing up.
Pekyew loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pekyew throwing strikes from guard but Lepesic blocks nicely.
Pekyew is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lepesic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lepesic is looking to stand up but Pekyew isn't so interested in that idea.

Pekyew drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pekyew jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lepesic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pekyew working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lepesic's head.
Lepesic keeping moving, preventing Pekyew from controlling successfully.
Pekyew with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lepesic keeping moving, preventing Pekyew from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Pekyew moves into the clinch.
Lepesic tries to pull guard but Pekyew forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Lepesic breaks from the clinch.

Pekyew closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lepesic looks like he's trying to stand up.
Pekyew seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Pekyew throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Pekyew is working for a kimura but Lepesic is defending it quite comfortably.
Pekyew 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.
Pekyew scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Pekyew throwing shots but Lepesic is blocking nicely.
Pekyew scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Lepesic wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pekyew looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Pekyew takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Pekyew lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Pekyew throwing shots but Lepesic is blocking nicely.
Pekyew lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Lepesic scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Pekyew manages to mount him!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lepesic is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Pekyew looking to control but Lepesic is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baki Pekyew dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lepesic moves into range and clinches up with Pekyew.
Lepesic has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Pekyew after a bit of a struggle.

Pekyew has Lepesic pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Pekyew pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Lepesic tumbling to the mat - Pekyew dives into Lepesic's guard.
Lepesic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pekyew. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pekyew forces his way into half guard.
Pekyew not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pekyew missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pekyew missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pekyew throwing shots but Lepesic is blocking nicely.
Lepesic tries to kick Pekyew off but Pekyew keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekyew working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Pekyew is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lepesic sees it coming and defends easily.
Pekyew scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Pekyew with the ground and pound but Lepesic uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Lepesic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pekyew wants to control from the top but Lepesic keeps moving.
Pekyew throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pekyew is looking to work some ground and pound but Lepesic has wrist control.
Pekyew stands up over Lepesic, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pekyew wants to control from the top but Lepesic keeps moving.
Pekyew 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.
Pekyew wants to control from the top but Lepesic keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Lepesic uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Baki Pekyew is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lepesic lands a nice looking kick to the body. Pekyew takes a step back to recover.

Pekyew rushes Lepesic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lepesic is pressed up against the cage. Pekyew has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lepesic down to the mat. Lepesic avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Pekyew instigates a clinch.
Pekyew is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lepesic can do to turn this around?

Pekyew breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pekyew tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lepesic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pekyew seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Pekyew rushes Lepesic and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Pekyew pulls guard.
Lepesic stops Pekyew from standing up.
Lepesic advances position into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lepesic advances to full mount.
Pekyew is squirming around, avoiding Lepesic's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lepesic working Pekyew over with strikes here.
Lepesic landing punches.
Lepesic pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Pekyew is squirming around, avoiding Lepesic's attempts to control the action.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lepesic throwing strikes but Pekyew recovers to half guard. A much better position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Lepesic wants to pass to mount but Pekyew is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Baki Pekyew will probably get the nod.
That's time! Pekyew's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lepesic has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lepesic with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Pekyew pulls guard effortlessly.

Pekyew working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lepesic doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lepesic manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Pekyew wriggles free and stands up.
Marko Lepesic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lepesic moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pekyew has clasped his hands together around Lepesic's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pekyew working away.
Pekyew scores with a couple of short elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pekyew looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lepesic dodges the ground and pound from Pekyew.
Pekyew is looking to take a break and control but Lepesic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Pekyew tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lepesic taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pekyew wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lepesic keeps working.
Lepesic struggling a bit here.
Pekyew in side control lands a decent elbow.
Pekyew throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Pekyew throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Lepesic wants to get back to his feet but Pekyew drags him back down.
Baki Pekyew overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Pekyew goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Lepesic has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Pekyew but great work by Lepesic.
Lepesic lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pekyew can't do much from the bottom here.
Pekyew dodges the ground and pound from Lepesic.

Lepesic is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pekyew knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Pekyew gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Pekyew avoids a strike by Lepesic and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Lepesic's guard! Fantastic escape!
Lepesic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lepesic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pekyew is working Lepesic over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lepesic working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pekyew.
Lepesic trying to control the position.
Pekyew postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pekyew content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Marko Lepesic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pekyew postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Baki Pekyew is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pekyew won't allow Lepesic to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Baki Pekyew showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pekyew 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Baki Pekyew!