PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zack Ewing (ranked 23105 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jo Jo Pepper (ranked 5430 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Ewing
vs
Jo Pepper

216 cm
19
278 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
235 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zack Ewing!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jo Jo Pepper!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Columbo Gatti and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ewing gets tackled into the cage by Pepper. Pepper maintains the clinch.

Ewing has hold of one of Pepper's legs. Pepper is fighting the takedown attempt but Ewing gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Pepper is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Ewing drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pepper pulls his leg out and moves away.

Pepper gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pepper working Ewing over with knees to the body.

Pepper escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Pepper shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ewing napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Pepper is staying tight to Ewing's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Pepper are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pepper tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Pepper stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Pepper connects with a high kick.

It looks like Zack Ewing has been cut.

Ewing gets tackled into the cage by Pepper. Pepper maintains the clinch.

Ewing gets control of Pepper's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ewing will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Pepper stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Pepper clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ewing tries for a takedown. No joy.

Pepper breaks from the clinch.

Pepper takes the fight into the clinch.
Pepper scores with a knee to the head.
Pepper digs a right hand underneath Ewing's ribcage. Ewing let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ewing is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

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

Pepper has Ewing up against the cage in a clinch.

Pepper manages to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepper is pulling down on Ewing's head to control his posture.
Pepper being controlled here, momentarily.
Ewing wants to pass the guard but Pepper is keeping the position.
Pepper not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Pepper looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pepper has Ewing pulled in close to control his posture.
Ewing not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ewing's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Further stalling from Ewing.
Pepper 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.
Ewing is stalling in the full guard.
Pepper controls Ewing momentarily but Ewing frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Ewing gets tackled into the cage by Pepper. Pepper maintains the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jo Jo Pepper dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zack Ewing's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pepper gets a clinch.

Pepper's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Pepper looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ewing is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pepper has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pepper thows a huge punch but Ewing dodges it nicely.
Pepper wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ewing keeps working.
Ewing trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ewing keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Pepper is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Ewing is surviving well by controlling Pepper's body position as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ewing tries to hold on but Pepper postures up.
Pepper throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Ewing because Pepper loaded up on that one.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ewing gets back to half guard.
Pepper is looking to stall here but Ewing recovers full guard.
Ewing wants to sweep but no luck.
Ewing will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pepper trying to control the position from guard on top but Ewing is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pepper trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pepper throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ewing works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pepper looking to sit in guard and control but Ewing gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pepper is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepper can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ewing controls the pace.
Ewing looking to pass the guard.
Pepper working a defensive guard here.
Ewing is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepper throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Ewing has closed the distance and engaged Pepper in a clinch.
Pepper lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A short left from Pepper.
Pepper stalling against the cage.

Pepper gets control of Ewing's arms and successfully pulls guard. Pepper will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pepper pushes Ewing off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Pepper gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ewing jumps guard but Pepper stands there with Ewing around his waist. Ewing gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Pepper slows down the pace here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pepper looking to throw knees to the head but Ewing is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jo Jo Pepper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zack Ewing's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Pepper decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pepper thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ewing's head.
Ewing trying to hold on to Pepper's head to control him but Pepper postures up.
Ewing trying to get back to full guard but Pepper takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Ewing bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Ewing trying to control but Pepper is working from the bottom.
Pepper wants to stand but Ewing is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pepper is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ewing defends well.
Pepper manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ewing manages to get himself to full guard.

Pepper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepper trying to control but Ewing is working from the bottom.
Ewing bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pepper's guard.

Pepper keeping moving, preventing Ewing from controlling successfully.
Ewing controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pepper looking to control.
Ewing looking to sit in guard and control but Pepper gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ewing is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ewing looking for a sweep. Not yet Ewing, not yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pepper accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Ewing is looking to cinch up a triangle. Pepper throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Ewing's body to avoid the submission. Ewing has instead reached around Pepper's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Ewing arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Zack Ewing!