PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Henry Willian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimbo Pepper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henry Willian has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Willian
vs
Pepper

190 cm
21
153 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

177 cm
23
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Henry Willian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jimbo Pepper!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Willian misses.
Pepper shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Willian as he avoids it easily.
Willian lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Horrible takedown by Willian or perhaps it was just good defense by Pepper which made him look bad.
Pepper shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Willian but Willian pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Willian shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Pepper eats them both and turns towards Willian to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Pepper takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Willian slaps away a takedown attempt from Pepper, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Henry Willian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimbo Pepper.
Willian fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Willian shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Pepper eats them both and turns towards Willian to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Willian throws a series of strikes that have Pepper backpedaling.
Pepper misses with a takedown attempt - Willian sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pepper thows a body shot but no joy.
Pepper keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willian goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Pepper tries for a takedown but Willian sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pepper takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Pepper circles away from the clinch attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Willian.
Willian looks to land a combination. Pepper sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Willian tries to sprawl but Pepper drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Willian is not content to let Pepper control the position.
Willian keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Willian is refusing to be controlled, as Pepper sits in half guard.
Pepper thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Willian is trying to stand up here but Pepper is controlling him well.
Willian tries to roll over but Pepper keeps him under control.
Pepper is looking to stall here but Willian recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepper is in close to Willian's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pepper stops Willian from standing up.

Willian has an active guard here but Pepper has managed to pass into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pepper scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Willian has one foot on Pepper's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Willian displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Willian keeps Pepper at a distance using the push kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Willian gets caught flat footed, as Pepper shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Pepper must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Willian is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Willian is breathing heavily.
Willian is looking to break free of the clinch but Pepper has double underhooks.

Willian manages to break the clinch.
Pepper dives in and grabs Willian's left leg, looking for a takedown. Willian pushes down on Pepper's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepper gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Willian counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Willian lands a nice hook to Pepper's body. Pepper takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Willian lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Willian is working the combinations to good effect here.
A shot to the liver by Willian. Beautiful body shot.
Willian fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Pepper looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Pepper throws a sloppy head kick
and Willian counters with a one-two to the body.
Willian doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Pepper decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Willian's guard.
Pepper working some strikes from top position.
Pepper really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Willian. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Pepper drops back looking for a leg! Willian is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Willian manages to kick Pepper off! Pepper jumps back into Willian's guard.
Pepper is working Willian over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pepper makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willian keeping moving, preventing Pepper from controlling successfully.
Pepper is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Willian tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pepper lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Willian throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Willian wants to stand and escape but Pepper is having none of it.
Pepper content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pepper landing with the ground and pound.
Pepper passes into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Willian trying to control but Pepper postures up.
Willian pushes Pepper off looking to stand but Pepper dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Henry Willian will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pepper drives through with a takedown into guard.
Willian utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pepper with a nice head shot there.
Willian is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Pepper regains full guard. Nicely done.
Willian tries to free his leg and advance position but Pepper is retaining full guard.

Willian has gone for a leg lock! Pepper slips out almost immediately though and dives into Willian's guard.

Willian looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Willian has momentary wrist control but Pepper slips an elbow through the middle.
Pepper is in close to Willian's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pepper passes into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Pepper wants to work for an arm triangle but Willian is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepper looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Pepper is working for a submission of some sort.
Pepper scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Willian is trying to stand up here but Pepper is controlling him well.
Jimbo Pepper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pepper trying to mount his opponent but Willian defends it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pepper connects with a nice short shot to Willian's temple.

Pepper wants to work for an arm triangle but Willian is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pepper connects with a nice short shot to Willian's temple.
Pepper 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepper is looking to advance position but Willian won't allow it.
Willian misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Willian on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Willian wants to get back to his feet.
Pepper trying to mount his opponent but Willian defends it.

Pepper is trying to work for a kimura but Willian is defending well.
Willian looks like he's trying to stand up.
Pepper drops an elbow to the side of Willian's head.
Pepper lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Willian looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepper scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Pepper lands a nice short elbow.
Pepper lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Willian wants to get back to his feet.
Pepper looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Willian with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Willian wants to get back to his feet.
Willian is refusing to be controlled, as Pepper sits in half guard.

Willian has one foot on Pepper's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Willian misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pepper avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pepper shoots in for a double leg but Willian sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pepper fails with a takedown attempt.
Willian will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pepper throws a poor cross that misses
and Willian counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Pepper closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Henry Willian is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pepper keeps the fight on the outside.
Pepper shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Willian as he jumps to the side.
Henry Willian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimbo Pepper.
Pepper throws a jab but it's blocked by Willian.
Willian will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimbo Pepper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Willian closes the distance looking to clinch

and Pepper counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Pepper slips a nice elbow through Willian's hands, connecting with Willian's forehead.
Pepper prevents Willian from standing back up.
Pepper scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Pepper is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Willian defends it well.
Willian pushes Pepper off looking to stand but Pepper dives back in and keeps control.

Pepper wants to work for an arm triangle but Willian is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Pepper wants to pass the guard but Willian is defending well.
Nice strikes from Pepper there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Willian is refusing to be controlled, as Pepper sits in half guard.
Pepper scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepper is looking to pass Willian's guard but actually Willian recovers to full guard.

Willian looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pepper pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Willian is keeping the position for now.
Pepper lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Pepper avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Willian is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pepper defends well.
Pepper trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepper makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Willian is looking to stand up but Pepper isn't so interested in that idea.
Pepper passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Willian is not content to let Pepper control the position.
Willian wants to get back to his feet.
Willian takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Willian is pushing Pepper's head away, looking to escape. Pepper manages to hold on to the position though.
Willian trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Willian takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Willian is trying to buck Pepper off.
Willian really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pepper is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Willian knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Pepper lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Willian down.
Pepper landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Willian is trying to buck Pepper off.
Willian takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Pepper scores with a couple of short elbows.
Pepper working the ground and pound.
Pepper is putting a hurting on Willian here, landing some big shots from side control.
Willian is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Pepper is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pepper connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Willian some visible discomfort.
Pepper cracks Willian with a big elbow.
Pepper grinds an elbow into Willian's temple.
Willian takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Willian is working to avoid the ground and pound but Pepper connects with a decent elbow.
Pepper lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Willian down.
Pepper scoring with punches and elbows.

Pepper is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Willian has escaped the position, nice work there.
Pepper is working Willian over with some ground and pound from side control.
Willian is trying to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimbo 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight for Jimbo Pepper!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Jimbo Pepper!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Jimbo Pepper!

Jimbo Pepper wins by unanimous decision!