PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pepper OKeefe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slade Mortis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pepper OKeefe has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

OKeefe
vs
Mortis

210 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

190 cm
21
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Pepper OKeefe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Slade Mortis!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

OKeefe moves into the clinch.

OKeefe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
OKeefe fails with an attempt to clinch.

Mortis clinches with his opponent.

Mortis decides to pull guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Mortis working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
OKeefe has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mortis is proving hard to escape from.

OKeefe stands up from Mortis's guard - OKeefe perhaps looking for a knockout.
Mortis shoots for a double leg takedown but OKeefe sprawls well. He's pushed Mortis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
OKeefe shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Mortis counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mortis.
Mortis looking to pass the guard.

OKeefe throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OKeefe is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mortis trying to control the position from guard on top but OKeefe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OKeefe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
OKeefe seems keen to control Mortis's posture.
Mortis would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
OKeefe trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mortis works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mortis works his way into full mount!
Mortis tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Mortis unloads with some shots from mount but OKeefe bucks and avoids them well.
Mortis manages to capitalize on a mistake by OKeefe to take his back!
OKeefe holding both Mortis 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OKeefe tries to escape but Mortis has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

OKeefe manages to stand up with Mortis still on his back. Eventually Mortis drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
OKeefe is breathing heavily.
OKeefe shoots and misses
and Mortis counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Mortis displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from OKeefe.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pepper OKeefe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mortis fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mortis with a lazy takedown attempt

and OKeefe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by OKeefe.
OKeefe wanted to stand there but Mortis had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OKeefe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Mortis has his feet on OKeefe's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Horrible takedown by Mortis or perhaps it was just good defense by OKeefe which made him look bad.
OKeefe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mortis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
OKeefe shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mortis defends it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mortis throws a wild body kick that OKeefe sees coming a mile off.
OKeefe looks to clinch

and Mortis counters with a single leg into guard. OKeefe didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slade Mortis dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

OKeefe slaps away a takedown attempt from Mortis, before circling back to the center of the mat.

OKeefe closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - OKeefe lands in his opponent's guard.
OKeefe tries to stand but Mortis is controlling from the bottom.
OKeefe postures up in Mortis's guard and throws a big left but Mortis blocks it.
OKeefe is looking to stand up but Mortis won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
OKeefe trying to control but Mortis is working from the bottom.
OKeefe really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
OKeefe scoring with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mortis trying to control the position.
OKeefe works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mortis trying to hold on to OKeefe's head to control him but OKeefe postures up.
OKeefe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
OKeefe keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

OKeefe is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
OKeefe looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

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.
OKeefe 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.
OKeefe drops an elbow to the side of Mortis's head.
OKeefe is thwarting Mortis's attempts to control the position.
Mortis is trying to get back to full guard.
OKeefe keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Mortis is looking to control OKeefe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mortis avoid being mounted?
Mortis is staying active underneath OKeefe, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

OKeefe escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by OKeefe there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Mortis shoots in for a double leg but OKeefe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
OKeefe is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mortis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mortis tries to close the distance and clinch up but OKeefe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mortis tries to land a leg kick but OKeefe saw it coming and moves away.
Mortis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Mortis crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from OKeefe - the referee stops the clock and Mortis gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says OKeefe. Mortis manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A low kick from Mortis is predictable there

and OKeefe counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
OKeefe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mortis's head.
Mortis is trying to get back to full guard.
Mortis wants to control but OKeefe is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mortis is trying to stand back up but OKeefe is controlling him
Pepper OKeefe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
OKeefe trying to control from half guard but Mortis is working away.
OKeefe tries to stand but can't do so whilst Mortis controls his leg.
OKeefe has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Mortis works to full guard.
Mortis wants to sweep here but OKeefe controlling him for the moment.
OKeefe chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pepper OKeefe dominated that second round.
That's time! OKeefe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

OKeefe fails to land with a series of punches.

OKeefe has managed to clinch.
OKeefe connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Slade Mortis has been cut.
OKeefe putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Mortis in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
OKeefe is looking to control Mortis's arms but Mortis gets an underhook and turns him. Now OKeefe has his back to the cage.
A short right from OKeefe on the inside.
OKeefe tries for a takedown. No joy.
OKeefe wants a takedown but no success here.
OKeefe is trying to break free.
Mortis drops to a knee looking for a takedown but OKeefe gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mortis jumps guard but OKeefe stands there with Mortis around his waist. Mortis gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
OKeefe prevents the takedown attempt.
Pepper OKeefe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Slade Mortis.
OKeefe wants a takedown.
OKeefe wants to break free but Mortis has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mortis is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
OKeefe taking a breather.
Mortis drops to a knee looking for a takedown but OKeefe gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mortis wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

OKeefe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
OKeefe scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Mortis misses with a takedown
and OKeefe counters with a good low kick that Mortis was not able to check.

Mortis closes the distance and pushes OKeefe back into the cage.

OKeefe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

OKeefe moves into the clinch.

OKeefe pulls guard.
OKeefe looking for a sweep. Not yet OKeefe, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OKeefe trying to keep a closed guard but Mortis is proving a slippery customer.
OKeefe keeping moving, preventing Mortis from controlling successfully.

OKeefe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mortis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
OKeefe looking to control.
Mortis's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Slade Mortis wasn't active enough on the ground.
OKeefe with a poor takedown
and Mortis cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
OKeefe lands with a nice combination. Mortis backs away looking to recover.
Mortis lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
OKeefe shoots in looking for a takedown. Mortis tries to sprawl out of it but OKeefe keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mortis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
OKeefe fails with a takedown attempt.

OKeefe feints and as Mortis raises his hands in defense, OKeefe changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mortis looking to hit a scissor sweep but OKeefe is one step ahead there.

OKeefe decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OKeefe tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Mortis counters by moving into the clinch.
OKeefe can't get the takedown.

OKeefe manages to break the clinch.
OKeefe fails with a takedown attempt.
Mortis tries to clinch up

and OKeefe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by OKeefe.
OKeefe trying to control the position from guard on top but Mortis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
OKeefe looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pepper OKeefe showed his dominance in that final round.
I think OKeefe 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

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