PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Pepper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Phillips (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Pepper
vs
Phillips

180 cm
20
162 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
160 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Pepper!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ian Phillips!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Phillips gets a clinch.

Pepper manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Phillips preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pepper has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Phillips can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Phillips throwing strikes but missing.
Pepper avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Phillips drops back looking for a leg! Pepper is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pepper manages to kick Phillips off! Phillips jumps back into Pepper's guard.

Pepper throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Phillips escapes and throws Pepper's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Pepper is looking to reverse the position.
Pepper struggling a bit here.

Phillips decides to stand up, so the ref orders Pepper to his feet.
Pepper connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepper is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Phillips.

It looks like Tommy Pepper has been cut.
Phillips tries to land a front kick but Pepper steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Phillips closes the distance and clinches.

Phillips manages to break the clinch.
Phillips uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pepper.

Phillips fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pepper, pushing him back against the cage.
Pepper has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Phillips is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Phillips lands with a short shot to the head.

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

Phillips drives through and clinches with Pepper against the cage.
Phillips is pressed up against the cage. Pepper has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Phillips down to the mat. Phillips avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Phillips closes the distance and pushes Pepper back into the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Phillips pushes Pepper back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A body shot lands from Phillips.
Pepper is breathing heavily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Phillips breaks from the clinch.

Phillips rushes Pepper and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Phillips scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepper fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Pepper. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Phillips breaks the clinch.
Pepper tries a low kick but Phillips avoids it.

Phillips closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pepper doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Phillips takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A short left from Phillips.
Pepper is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Phillips lands with a left to the head.
Phillips stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Phillips softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Pepper is rocked!
Phillips digs a right hand into Pepper's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Pepper's gas tank.
Oh Pepper is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Phillips pushes Pepper back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Phillips manages to break the clinch.

Phillips pushes Pepper up against the cage in a clinch.
Phillips gets through Pepper's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Phillips slows down the pace here.
Phillips lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Pepper to his knees! Phillips keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ian Phillips!
Ian Phillips is the new lightweight champion!