PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pepper James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fredrick Lestat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fredrick Lestat struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 187.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Pepper James has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

James
vs
Lestat

185 cm
25
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

182 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Very confident

Malicious Intent Fight Gear

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pepper James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fredrick Lestat!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lestat drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Lestat scores with punches from side control.
Lestat throws a strike aimed at the side of James's head but James avoids it well.
James is not content to let Lestat control the position.
James defending against the ground and pound.
Lestat in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The ground and pound from Lestat seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
James is trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Lestat is putting a hurting on James here, landing some big shots from side control.
Lestat tries to advance to mount but James denies him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is pushing Lestat's head away, looking to escape. Lestat manages to hold on to the position though.
James is trying to control Lestat's posture but Lestat avoids it.
Lestat tries to advance to mount but can't.
Lestat working the head and body with strikes.
James is trying to buck Lestat off.
Lestat tries to score with some ground and pound. James controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Lestat really doesn't want to stay on the ground with James. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Lestat has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Lestat shoots in for a double leg but James sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
James wants to clinch up but Lestat keeps it at a distance.

Lestat scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lestat throws a strike but James avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lestat working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of James's head.
James will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Lestat loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lestat throws an elbow that misses. James uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lestat's guard. Nice move by James!
Lestat looking for a sweep. Not yet Lestat, not yet.

James drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and James jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lestat is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lestat is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James won't allow Lestat to sweep him here.

James drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and James jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
James wants to control from the top but Lestat keeps moving.
Lestat wants to sweep but no luck.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Lestat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James trying to stand up but can't free himself from Lestat's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Pepper James just wasn't active enough.

Lestat dives in and scores a takedown into James's guard.
James throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Lestat is in close to James's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Lestat looking to sit in guard and control but James gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
James passes into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
James passes the guard and advances to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from James enables Lestat to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. James manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Lestat distracts James with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

James kicks Lestat off and gets to his feet.
Lestat will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

James shoots in and gets a takedown into Lestat's guard.
Lestat looking to hit a scissor sweep but James is one step ahead there.
James pushing down on Lestat's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!

James escapes and gets back to his feet.

James gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lestat is trying to get back to full guard.
Lestat is breathing heavily.

James is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lestat sees it coming and defends easily.
James trying to pass the guard but Lestat defending well.

James in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Lestat tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from James!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Pepper James!
A victorious Pepper James thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.