PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tetsuya Tate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Floyd Pepper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Tate
vs
Pepper

183 cm
24
165 lbs
12 - 11 - 0

174 cm
28
169 lbs
11 - 15 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 12 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tetsuya Tate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 15 - 2, fighting out of New York, Floyd Pepper!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tate looks for a takedown but Pepper sprawls well.
Tate has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Tate gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Pepper counters with a nice uppercut.
Tate will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tetsuya Tate. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tate with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pepper makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Tate really felt that one!
Tate misses with a takedown attempt
and Pepper cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pepper throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tate doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pepper counters with a left and a right that stings Tate.
Tate misses with a takedown attempt

and Pepper decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tate's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tate trying to keep a closed guard but Pepper is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tate pulls Pepper in to control the position.
Pepper working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pepper lands a couple of elbows.
Pepper working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pepper in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tate is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pepper in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tate looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pepper is one step ahead there.
Pepper throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tate works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tate wants to sweep here but Pepper controlling him for the moment.
Tate utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tate wants to sweep here but Pepper controlling him for the moment.
Pepper distracts Tate with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepper stands up over Tate, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tate wants to sweep here but Pepper controlling him for the moment.
Tate is working hard here to advance position.
Pepper pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tate is keeping the position for now.

Pepper drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pepper jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tate tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tate looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Tate trying to keep a closed guard but Pepper is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tate showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pepper.
Pepper stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pepper wants it to stay on the feet.
Pepper is looking for the big counter here.
Tate doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Pepper counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Tate!
Tate is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Pepper tries to score with some ground and pound. Tate controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pepper looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Tate is avoiding damage well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Floyd Pepper 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.

Tate with a poor takedown
and Pepper counters with a left and a right that stings Tate.
Pepper shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tate pinned against the cage. Tate gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tate with a poor takedown
and Pepper counters with a left and a right that stings Tate.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tate or perhaps it was just good defense by Pepper, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tetsuya Tate. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pepper throws a quick inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tate will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
It seemed like Pepper was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tate dives in for a single leg takedown but Pepper sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Tate tries for a takedown but Pepper circles away easily

and Pepper counters with a shoot takedown. Tate fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepper throws a big elbow that misses.
Pepper with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pepper tries to free his leg and advance position but Tate is retaining full guard.
Pepper distracts Tate with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tate is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Pepper lands a couple of digs.
Pepper is in close to Tate's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pepper has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tate 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 tries to get to full guard but Tate has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepper won't allow Tate to pass to mount.
Pepper is staying active underneath Tate, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Pepper gets full guard.
Tate slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tate wants to control from the top but Pepper keeps moving.
Tate trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepper wants to sweep but no luck.

Pepper looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tate wants to control from the top but Pepper keeps moving.
Tate stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pepper swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Pepper is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tate is stalling in the full guard.
Pepper lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tate 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 moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Pepper keeping moving, preventing Tate from controlling successfully.
Tate content to stall in guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tate pushes down on Pepper's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Pepper is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Floyd Pepper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pepper tries a head kick but it misses.
Pepper lets loose with a powerful body kick. Tate will feel that in the morning.
Pepper works the jab nicely.

Pepper feints and as Tate raises his hands in defense, Pepper changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pepper stopping the sweep attempt from Tate.
Pepper stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tate swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pepper postures up in Tate's guard and throws a big left but Tate blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tate looking to control.
Pepper postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pepper throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepper stopping the sweep attempt from Tate.
Tate manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pepper manages to get himself to full guard.

Tate stopping the sweep attempt from Pepper.
Pepper is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tate trying to control the position from guard on top but Pepper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pepper looking for a guillotine here but Tate defends easily.
Tate trying to control the position from guard on top but Pepper is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pepper is keeping the position for now.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Tate slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tate shoots in for a takedown but Pepper shows good takedown defense.
Tate shoots in looking for a takedown. Pepper tries to sprawl out of it but Tate keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pepper manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tate shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tetsuya Tate. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tate shoots in and drives through. Pepper sprawls well.
Pepper swinging wildly here.
Tate tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Pepper defends well and Tate ends up having to push Pepper into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Tate with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pepper counters with a one-two to the body.
Pepper scores with a nice body kick.

Pepper closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pepper putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Tate in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pepper lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Tetsuya Tate has been cut.
Pepper scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Pepper throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tate blocks it with crossed arms.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pepper lands an elbow that stopped Tate in his tracks for a moment.
Pepper doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pepper throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tates head.
Pepper lands a damaging elbow.
Pepper lands with a light punch inside.
Tate goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pepper prevents it.
Pepper with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tate changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pepper fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tate has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Tate is rocked!

And that's the end of the fight!
Floyd Pepper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pepper has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 25:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 25:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Floyd Pepper!
Floyd Pepper decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.