PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jim Taker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikey Pepper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Taker
vs
Pepper

189 cm
22
187 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

180 cm
21
190 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Taker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mikey Pepper!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Lou da Vinci and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pepper shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Taker as he jumps to the side.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pepper.
Jim Taker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taker misses the jab.
Pepper avoids a kick to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pepper.
Jim Taker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikey Pepper.
Pepper ducks under a wild hook from Taker.
Taker throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Taker scores with a nice body kick.
Pepper looks gassed!

Pepper closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Taker just leaning against Pepper, taking a breather.

Taker gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Pepper regains guard.

Pepper looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Taker drops back looking for a leg! Pepper is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pepper manages to kick Taker off! Taker jumps back into Pepper's guard.
Taker is in close to Pepper's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taker wants to pass the guard but Pepper is keeping the position.
Taker trying to control but Pepper is working from the bottom.
Pepper working a defensive guard here.
Pepper keeping moving, preventing Taker from controlling successfully.
Taker working some strikes from top position.

Pepper looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pepper keeping moving, preventing Taker from controlling successfully.
Pepper utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

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.
Taker is in close to Pepper's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pepper wants to sweep but no luck.
Pepper is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Taker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Taker tries to free his leg and advance position but Pepper is retaining full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Taker tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Pepper moves into the clinch.
Taker tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Taker can't break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Taker's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pepper pushes Taker back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pepper is trying to drag Taker to the mat but Taker just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Taker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taker misses with an uppercut.
Taker misses with a double jab.
Pepper circles away from the clinch attempt

and Pepper counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Pepper throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pepper trying to control the position from guard on top but Taker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pepper pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Taker is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taker is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pepper works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Taker manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Taker looking for a guillotine here but Pepper defends easily.
Pepper throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pepper accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pepper trying to control the position from guard on top but Taker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pepper lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pepper moves out of range of the strikes.
Taker slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Taker misses with an uppercut.
Taker throws the kick towards the body but Pepper avoids it.
Pepper clinches but Taker breaks the clinch
and Taker finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Pepper slips under a jab.
Taker throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

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

Taker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Taker scores with a hook.
Pepper misses with a two punch combination.
Pepper fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Taker avoids it really well and circles away.
Taker scores with a jab.
Pepper is breathing heavily.
A punch combination from Pepper misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepper takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Taker throws the left hand but Pepper avoids the punch easily.
Taker connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Taker connects with a crisp jab.
Taker looks to clinch

and Pepper counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Taker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Taker manages to work his way to half guard, despite Pepper's best efforts.
Pepper prevents Taker from standing back up.
Taker manages to get to full guard.
Pepper preventing the sweep.
Taker keeping moving, preventing Pepper from controlling successfully.

Pepper is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Taker is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Taker has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taker working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pepper's head.
Taker slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Pepper throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Pepper on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Pepper is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Taker goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Pepper has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Taker but great work by Pepper.
Taker is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Pepper off and has taken his back!
Taker softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Pepper wants to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taker has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Pepper is defending well but eventually Taker manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Pepper has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jim Taker!