PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jack Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Pepper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack Johnson could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ryan Pepper's chin.

Johnson
vs
Pepper

174 cm
28
152 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

178 cm
28
152 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Pepper!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Jonathan Paton and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Johnson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Johnson tries to clinch but Pepper is having none of it.
Johnson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pepper.
Pepper wants to clinch.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pepper swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Pepper.
Pepper fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson closes the distance but Pepper moves to the side
enabling Pepper to counter with a crisp jab.
We've been informed that Pepper has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Johnson clobbers Pepper with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Pepper clinches up against the cage.
Pepper scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Pepper lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Pepper blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Pepper controls the action.
Johnson tries a body shot but Pepper blocks it.
Pepper has a couple of punches blocked by Johnson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepper blocking some punches.
Pepper lands a body punch.
Johnson digs a right hand underneath Pepper's ribcage. Pepper let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Johnson scores with a shoulder strike.
Johnson lands with a right to the head.
Pepper misses with some punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Johnson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pepper misses with a punch to the body.
I was talking to Johnson's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Johnson lands an uppercut.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Pepper.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pepper blocking some punches.
Johnson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Pepper misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson lands with a left to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Johnson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johnson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pepper's elbow.
Johnson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Johnson tries a body shot but Pepper blocks it.
Pepper blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson is working Pepper over against the cage.
Pepper presses Johnson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Johnson throws a head punch that misses.
Johnson lands with a light punch inside.
A short uppercut from Pepper.
Johnson misses with a body punch.
Pepper throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
Pepper misses with the head strike.
Pepper misses with the head strike.
Pepper misses with a body punch.
Johnson pushes Pepper back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Johnson darts in and clinches Pepper up against the cage.
Johnson misses with a punch on the inside.
Pepper misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Pepper.
Pepper is leaning against Johnson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Pepper controls the action.
Johnson gets through Pepper's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Pepper's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Johnson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Johnson misses with a punch to the body.
Pepper blocks a body shot from Johnson.
Pepper throws a punch but it's blocked by Johnson.
A nice left hand lands by Johnson.
Pepper misses with a hook from the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Johnson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Pepper tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pepper goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Johnson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Peppers head.
Pepper lands with a light punch inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Johnson.
Johnson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.
Pepper takes a shot to the head.
Johnson throws a head punch that misses.
Pepper misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pepper lands with a short shot to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pepper.
Johnson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Johnson breaks from the clinch.

Johnson rushes Pepper and presses him up against the cage.
Pepper goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pepper throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Johnsons head.
Pepper lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Johnson or not.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Johnson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pepper throws a body shot but no joy.
Johnson seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Johnson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pepper.
Johnson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Pepper is avoiding it.
Pepper scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Johnson doesn't seem bothered though.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pepper swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Pepper closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pepper stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Johnson blocks a body shot from Pepper.
Johnson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jack Johnson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Johnson stalls.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short body shot lands from Johnson as the two fighters clinch.
Pepper misses with a hook from the clinch.
Johnson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pepper working aggressively here.
Pepper throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
Nice body punch from Johnson - that landed with a thud.
Pepper digs a right hand underneath Johnson's ribcage. Johnson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Pepper misses with some punches.
Johnson misses with a body punch.
A right hand to the body from Pepper.
Pepper trying to stall but Johnson improves his position.
Johnson gets through Pepper's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Johnson throws a punch but it's blocked by Pepper.
Pepper has a couple of punches blocked by Johnson.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but Pepper avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.
Pepper fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pepper has a couple of punches blocked by Johnson.
Johnson misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pepper throws a head punch that misses.
Pepper throws a head punch that misses.
Pepper tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pepper cracks Johnson with a nice body shot.
Johnson misses with some punches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pepper creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nice body punch from Johnson.
A right hand to the body from Pepper.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Johnson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pepper backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short body shot lands from Pepper as the two fighters clinch.
Pepper prevents a body shot from Johnson.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pepper can't find room to land a body shot as Johnson controls the action.
Johnson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pepper tries to throw a body punch but Johnson avoids it by throwing Pepper back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Johnson.
Pepper fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Johnson misses with the head strike.
Pepper swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pepper tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Pepper.
Pepper misses with the head strike.
Pepper blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Johnson throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Pepper fails to land.
Nice body punch from Johnson.
Johnson wants to break free but Pepper has control.
Pepper doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Johnson tries a body shot but Pepper blocks it.
Pepper throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Johnsons head.
Johnson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pepper lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pepper.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Pepper.
Pepper doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Johnson lands with a left to the head.
Pepper tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Johnson's elbow.
Johnson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short right from Pepper.
Johnson leaning against his opponent.
Johnson misses with some punches.
Johnson misses with the head strike.
Pepper prevents a body shot from Johnson.
Pepper working some nice short punches in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pepper.
Pepper blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pepper tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Johnson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pepper backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryan Pepper will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Johnson throws a jab but it's blocked by Pepper.
Pepper is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Johnson throws a one two combo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Johnson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pepper paws at him with a jab and circles away.
It seemed like Pepper was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Pepper tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pepper scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Johnson is looking to clinch.
Pepper connects with a body shot.
Pepper listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Johnson has managed to clinch.
Pepper swings wildly with an uppercut but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pepper lands a nice uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Johnson.
Pepper blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Johnson misses with some punches.
Johnson stalling.
Johnson scores with a shoulder strike.
Pepper misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pepper blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pepper lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Johnson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pepper's elbow.
Johnson blocks an uppercut.
Pepper misses with some punches.
Johnson scores with a hook to the body.
Johnson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pepper misses with some punches.
Johnson has a couple of punches blocked by Pepper.
Johnson trying to control the position but instead, Pepper has worked for underhooks and has pushed Johnson into the cage.
Pepper tries to pull guard but Johnson holds him up against the cage and eventually Pepper drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepper misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pepper blocks a body shot from Johnson.
Johnson throws a head punch that misses.
Johnson blocks an uppercut.
Pepper has a couple of punches blocked by Johnson.
Johnson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pepper presses Johnson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Johnson can't find room to land a body shot as Pepper controls the action.
Johnson throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.
Johnson lands a body shot in the clinch.
Johnson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Johnson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a body punch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Pepper.
Pepper swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Johnson.
Pepper lands with a left to the head.
Pepper throws a head punch that misses.
Pepper misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pepper.
Pepper lands a body punch.
Johnson slowing the pace effectively.
Pepper goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pepper fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pepper blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pepper goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Johnson misses with a punch to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pepper.
Johnson tries to throw a body punch but Pepper avoids it by throwing Johnson back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.

Pepper gets control of Johnson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Pepper will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Johnson preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Pepper keeps moving.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pepper swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Pepper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pepper has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Pepper!