PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darrel Petersen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thom Epicosuarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Petersen
vs
Epicosuarez

182 cm
22
190 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

188 cm
24
191 lbs
4 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Darrel Petersen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thom Epicosuarez!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petersen misses the shot to the body.
Epicosuarez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Petersen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Epicosuarez.
Epicosuarez throws a head kick that misses.
Epicosuarez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Petersen blocks a head kick by Epicosuarez.
A big right from Petersen misses.
Petersen thuds his right hand into Epicosuarez's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Epicosuarez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Petersen was covering up waiting for the punch and Epicosuarez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Petersen wants to sweep here but Epicosuarez controlling him for the moment.
Epicosuarez postures up.
Epicosuarez looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Petersen managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epicosuarez won't allow Petersen to sweep him here.

Petersen has his foot on Epicosuarez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Epicosuarez works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Epicosuarez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Epicosuarez postures up in Petersen's guard and throws a big left but Petersen blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Epicosuarez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Petersen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Petersen is trying to keep Epicosuarez in close.
Petersen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Epicosuarez is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Epicosuarez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Petersen is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Darrel Petersen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Petersen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Epicosuarez moves away.
Petersen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Epicosuarez under the eye.
Petersen throws a jab when Epicosuarez was well out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Petersen. Epicosuarez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Petersen just misses with a punch to the body.
Petersen throws a jab when Epicosuarez was well out of range.
Epicosuarez misses with a low kick.

Epicosuarez has closed the distance and engaged Petersen in a clinch.

Epicosuarez works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Epicosuarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Petersen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petersen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Epicosuarez is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petersen keeping moving, preventing Epicosuarez from controlling successfully.
Petersen looking for a sweep. Not yet Petersen, not yet.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Petersen holds on and takes a little breather.

Epicosuarez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Petersen trying to keep a closed guard but Epicosuarez is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Petersen wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Epicosuarez is now in half guard.
Epicosuarez throwing shots but Petersen is blocking nicely.
Epicosuarez is keen to just control but Petersen is a slippery customer.
Petersen is in trouble now - Epicosuarez has advanced to mount!
Petersen is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Shark Tank MMA, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Petersen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Petersen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Petersen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Thom Epicosuarez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A telegraphed right hand from Petersen misses the target.
Petersen slips under a jab.
A big right from Petersen misses.
Epicosuarez throws a half hearted mid kick.
A quick step to the side and Petersen tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Epicosuarez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Petersen throws a body shot but no joy.
A big right from Petersen misses.
Petersen moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromEpicosuarez.
Petersen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Epicosuarez looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Petersen lands a right hook to the body.
Petersen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Epicosuarez digs a good body shot into Petersen's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petersen lands with a straight right. Epicosuarez didn't see that one coming.
Epicosuarez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Epicosuarez gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Epicosuarez staying out of range there.
Petersen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petersen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Petersen misses with an uppercut.
Petersen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Epicosuarez.
Epicosuarez throws a low kick but it's checked well by Petersen.
A thudding body kick lands there by Epicosuarez!
Epicosuarez scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Petersen doesn't seem bothered though.
Epicosuarez looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Epicosuarez moves out of range of the strikes.
Epicosuarez throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Petersen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Epicosuarez manages to avoid it.
Epicosuarez wants to clinch
and Petersen counters with a straight right hand.
Darrel Petersen is winning the standup battle so far.
Epicosuarez attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Epicosuarez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Petersen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Petersen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epicosuarez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Epicosuarez avoids the body shot from Petersen.
Petersen backing away here, and Epicosuarez unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Petersen scores with a jab to the jaw.
Epicosuarez defending well as Petersen loads up on a big left hand.
Epicosuarez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Petersen.
Petersen avoids the body shot from Epicosuarez.
Petersen misses the shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Petersen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Petersen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Petersen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Epicosuarez under the eye.

Epicosuarez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Petersen to the mat! Petersen manages to get full guard.
Thom Epicosuarez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Epicosuarez throws a big elbow that misses.
Petersen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Epicosuarez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petersen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Petersen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Petersen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Epicosuarez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Epicosuarez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Petersen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Petersen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Epicosuarez's guard.

Petersen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Epicosuarez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Petersen wants to control from the top but Epicosuarez keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petersen looking to pass the guard.

Epicosuarez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Petersen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Petersen tries to free his leg and advance position but Epicosuarez is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darrel Petersen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Epicosuarez moves away from the strike by Petersen.
Epicosuarez is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Petersen rather than just go for the knockout.
Petersen avoids the body shot from Epicosuarez.
Petersen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Epicosuarez.
Petersen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Epicosuarez lands a jab to the nose.
Petersen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A big left from Petersen misses.
Petersen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Epicosuarez.
A head kick misses from Epicosuarez.
It looked like Petersen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Epicosuarez throws a nice inside leg kick.
Petersen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Epicosuarez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Epicosuarez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Epicosuarez prevents a body shot from Petersen.

Epicosuarez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fighters circling - Petersen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Petersen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Petersen, as that shot connected.
Epicosuarez lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Petersen backs up against the cage.

Epicosuarez shoots in and gets a takedown into Petersen's guard.
Petersen wants to sweep here but Epicosuarez controlling him for the moment.

Petersen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Epicosuarez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Epicosuarez postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epicosuarez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Petersen is adopting a defensive guard.
Petersen controls Epicosuarez momentarily but Epicosuarez frees himself.
Petersen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Petersen looking for a sweep. Not yet Petersen, not yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Epicosuarez tries to move into range but Petersen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petersen misses with a lunging right hand
and Epicosuarez counters with a nice body kick.
Epicosuarez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice defenses there by Petersen.
A little feinted left hand from Petersen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Petersen misses with a hook. Epicosuarez ducked under it nicely.
Petersen misses with a hook.
Petersen loads up on a big right hand but Epicosuarez slips the punch.
Petersen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Petersen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Epicosuarez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Petersen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Epicosuarez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Epicosuarez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Petersen.
Petersen misses the jab.
Petersen throws a shot from downtown. Epicosuarez moves away and avoids it.
Petersen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Epicosuarez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Epicosuarez does it's job there.
Epicosuarez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Petersen.
Epicosuarez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Petersen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Epicosuarez misses with a lunging right hand

and Petersen counters with a single leg into guard. Epicosuarez didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Epicosuarez controls Petersen momentarily but Petersen frees himself.
Petersen advances position into side control!
Petersen working away.
Epicosuarez tries to improve position but can't.
Petersen has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Epicosuarez!
Petersen content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Darrel Petersen.
I think Petersen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darrel Petersen!