PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Pepper (ranked 1727 p4p, 188 weight class) and Bobby Sands (ranked 2892 p4p, 278 weight class). Sands is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Irish Soldier Song ... Free & Green. Bobby Sands has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pepper
vs
Sands

178 cm
30
152 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

173 cm
24
150 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Dauntless

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Ryan Pepper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bobby Sands!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Sands or perhaps it was just good defense by Pepper, which made it look bad.
Pepper is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
A shot to the liver by Pepper. Beautiful body shot.
Sands takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pepper shoots in looking for a takedown but Sands manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pepper's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pepper lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sands shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sands tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pepper swivels and escapes.
Ryan Pepper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Sands.
Sands misses with a double jab.
Sands shoots for a takedown but Pepper saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sands fails to land the takedown.
Pepper stuffs the takedown attempt from Sands. Sands gets slowly back to his feet.
Pepper scores with a nice strike.
Sands wants to clinch but Pepper slips to the side
and Pepper counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepper misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pepper ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ryan Pepper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sands walks into a stiff left hand from Pepper.
Pepper leaves Sands with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pepper feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sands's calf.

Sands closes the distance and clinches.
Pepper tries to throw a body punch but Sands avoids it by throwing Pepper back against the cage.
A hook to the body from Pepper.
Sands tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sands blocks an uppercut.
Sands's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Pepper lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Pepper.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pepper misses with a punch to the body.
Pepper tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pepper lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sands.
Pepper scores with a shoulder strike.
Pepper throws a punch but it's blocked by Sands.

Sands gets control of Pepper's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sands will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sands is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pepper is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Sands throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Pepper is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Pepper's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sands under the eye.

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.
A combination from Sands does no damage.
Pepper getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Sands changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pepper looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sands working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sands thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Pepper is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sands misses with the ground and pound.
Pepper avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Sands.
Pepper takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Pepper dominated that round.
That's time! Pepper's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sands darts in looking for a takedown but Pepper gets double underhooks and turns Sands into the cage.
Pepper scores with a shot to the body.
Sands shoots in and drives through. Pepper sprawls well.
Pepper lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sands at a distance.
Pepper swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sands.
Sands tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Pepper defends well and Sands ends up having to push Pepper into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Pepper swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ryan Pepper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Sands.
Pepper scores with a shot to the body.

Pepper fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sands, pushing him back against the cage.
Pepper lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sands.
Nice body punch from Pepper - that landed with a thud.
A short uppercut from Pepper.
A short uppercut from Pepper.
Sands is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pepper lands with a left to the head.

Sands is rocked!
Pepper lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sands is still on wobbly legs! Can Pepper finish him?
Pepper lands a big right hand that drops Sands! The killer instinct kicks in and Pepper finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Pepper!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ryan Pepper!
Ryan Pepper decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.