PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vincenzo Calliente (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Koepfer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koepfer has chosen Mongol as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Calliente
vs
Koepfer

179 cm
27
172 lbs
9 - 19 - 0

168 cm
20
175 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 19 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vincenzo Calliente!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephen Koepfer!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Joseph Jones and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Calliente keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Calliente shoots for a takedown but Koepfer saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Calliente fails with the takedown

and Koepfer counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Calliente's guard now.
Koepfer throws and elbow that misses. Calliente uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Koepfer's guard. Nice move by Calliente!
Koepfer is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Calliente postures up in Koepfer's guard and throws a big left but Koepfer blocks it.
Calliente throws a strike but Koepfer rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Koepfer drops back, looking for a kneebar! Calliente looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Calliente looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Calliente!
Calliente landing a few strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calliente working the ground and pound.

Calliente stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Koepfer moves out of range of the strikes.
Calliente darts in trying to clinch

and Koepfer counters with a single leg into guard. Calliente didn't expect that.
Koepfer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Koepfer thows a big elbow that misses.
Koepfer throws a big right hand that misses.

Koepfer decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Calliente, up you get!
Koepfer tries to land a front kick but Calliente steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Koepfer is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Calliente's half guard.
Calliente is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Koepfer is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Calliente has managed to free his arm - good work.
Koepfer sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Calliente defending well though.
Calliente trying to control but Koepfer postures up.

Koepfer is working for a submission of some sort.
Koepfer trying to control the action but Calliente is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calliente wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Koepfer trying to control from half guard but Calliente is working away.
Calliente won't allow Koepfer to pass to mount.

That's four 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Stephen Koepfer was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Koepfer feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Koepfer wants to control from the top but Calliente keeps moving.
Calliente is looking to stand up but Koepfer isn't so interested in that idea.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koepfer throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Koepfer dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Koepfer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Koepfer has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Calliente regains guard immediately.
Koepfer looking to sit in guard and control but Calliente gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Calliente lands a couple of elbows.
Calliente throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Koepfer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Koepfer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Calliente is one step ahead there.
Koepfer bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Calliente's guard.
Koepfer trying to control the position from guard on top but Calliente is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calliente wants to sweep here but Koepfer controlling him for the moment.
Koepfer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Calliente works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Koepfer has gone for a leg lock! Calliente slips out almost immediately though and dives into Koepfer's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Calliente's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Calliente distracts Koepfer with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Calliente will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Calliente pushes down on Koepfer's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Koepfer gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koepfer has momentary wrist control but Calliente slips an elbow through the middle.
Calliente distracts Koepfer with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Calliente working some strikes from top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Calliente trying to control the position from guard on top but Koepfer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Calliente thows a big elbow that misses.
Koepfer trying to control the position.
Koepfer wants to sweep but no luck.
Koepfer trying to control the position.
Calliente throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calliente throws and elbow that misses. Koepfer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Calliente's guard. Nice move by Koepfer!
Calliente is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Koepfer is controlling him.
Koepfer throwing strikes from guard but Calliente blocks nicely.
Koepfer throws a big right hand that misses.
Stephen Koepfer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Koepfer is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Koepfer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Calliente is keeping the position for now.
Koepfer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Koepfer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Calliente wants to get back to his feet but Koepfer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Koepfer gets to his feet. Calliente looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Koepfer shoots for a double leg takedown but Calliente sprawls well. He's pushed Koepfer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Stephen Koepfer will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Koepfer.
Calliente regains half guard, as Koepfer was trying to land strikes.
Koepfer thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Calliente to regain full guard.
Koepfer wants to pass the guard but Calliente is keeping the position.
Koepfer trying to control but Calliente is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calliente pulls Koepfer in close to prevent any damage.
Koepfer tries to free his leg and advance position but Calliente is retaining full guard.
Koepfer prevents Calliente from getting back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Koepfer shoots in but Calliente avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Koepfer tries to clinch up but Calliente circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nice sprawl there from Calliente as Koepfer shoots in.
Calliente leaves Koepfer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Vincenzo Calliente has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Koepfer.
Calliente throws a nice looking combination but Koepfer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Calliente clinches up with Koepfer and pushes him back against the cage.
Calliente lands a left hand that snaps the head of Koepfer backwards.
Calliente throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Koepfers head.
Calliente lands an uppercut.
Koepfer misses with some punches.
Calliente lands a left hand that snaps the head of Koepfer backwards.
Stalling in the clinch from Calliente.
Calliente scores with a shot to the side of Koepfer's head.
Koepfer scores with a shoulder strike.
Koepfer gets underhooks to prevent Calliente's takedown attempt.

Calliente decides to pull guard.
Koepfer trying to control but Calliente is working from the bottom.
Calliente seems keen to control Koepfer's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calliente keeping moving, preventing Koepfer from controlling successfully.
Koepfer engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Koepfer decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Vincenzo Calliente has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Calliente moves to clinch but Koepfer breaks away

and Koepfer counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Calliente utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koepfer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Koepfer makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Stephen Koepfer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Koepfer landing with the ground and pound.
Calliente keeping full guard, as Koepfer tries to pass.
Koepfer pushing down on Calliente's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Koepfer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Koepfer winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Koepfer!