PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Abdul Kaloev (ranked 1252 p4p, 909 weight class) and Bate Pepo (ranked 184 p4p, 135 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Kaloev
vs
Pepo

160 cm
28
185
10 - 4 - 0

190 cm
23
175
5 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Conquer

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdul Kaloev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bate Pepo!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kaloev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Pepo wants to stand up but Kaloev is controlling him.
Kaloev passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Kaloev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pepo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kaloev trying to control the action but Pepo is working from the bottom.
Kaloev controlling from side mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pepo parries the strikes from Kaloev easily there. Kaloev is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Pepo to escape.
Kaloev is looking to take a break and control but Pepo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kaloev looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kaloev tries to move to mount but Pepo blocks the move with his legs.
Pepo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kaloev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Kaloev looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Pepo is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Kaloev asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Kaloev is trying to get an arm triangle but Pepo is defending well.

That's two 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.
Kaloev tries to score with some ground and pound. Pepo controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pepo gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
We've been hearing that Kaloev has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Kaloev wants to control the action but instead Pepo gets a body lock and reverses into Kaloev's guard! Nice work!
Pepo stopping the sweep attempt from Kaloev.
Kaloev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kaloev working a defensive guard here.
Pepo wanted to stand there but Kaloev had control of the position.
Kaloev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kaloev is looking for a triangle but Pepo pushes his legs off easily.
Kaloev is trying to control the position but Pepo postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kaloev is on top in guard.

Pepo keeping full guard, as Kaloev tries to pass.
Kaloev advances position into side control!
Kaloev tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaloev advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaloev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Pepo has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Kaloev's lack of action.

Kaloev is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kaloev is trying to control. Pepo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kaloev trying to pass the guard but Pepo defending well.

Kaloev seems to be looking for submissions.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Kaloev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kaloev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pepo as he jumps to the side.
Kaloev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pepo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kaloev defends it well.
Abdul Kaloev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Pepo misses.
Pepo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pepo lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kaloev backs up against the cage.

It looks like Abdul Kaloev has been cut.
Kaloev goes for a double leg but Pepo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Pepo continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdul Kaloev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kaloev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kaloev wants a takedown but no success here.
Kaloev is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kaloev has Pepo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pepo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pepo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pepo throws a punch but it's blocked by Kaloev.
Pepo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kaloev backwards.
Kaloev is working for takedown but Pepo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kaloev is trying to drag Pepo to the mat but Pepo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepo lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kaloev backwards.
Kaloev looking for a takedown.
Pepo lands a body punch in the clinch.
Pepo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kaloev backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pepo.
Kaloev has Pepo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pepo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pepo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kaloev goes for a takedown attempt but Pepo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Some wild striking there from Pepo.
Kaloev shoots in for a takedown but Pepo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pepo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pepo lands a two punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kaloev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepo slaps away a takedown attempt from Kaloev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Pepo gets caught flat footed, as Kaloev shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Pepo scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Pepo fails to land with a series of punches.
Pepo lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Pepo stuffs the takedown attempt from Kaloev. Kaloev gets slowly back to his feet.
Pepo with the counter takedown but Kaloev avoids it easily.
Bate Pepo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kaloev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pepo's waist but Pepo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kaloev off to one side.
Pepo misses the shot to the body.

Kaloev shoots in and gets a takedown into Pepo's guard.
Abdul Kaloev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pepo keeping moving, preventing Kaloev from controlling successfully.
Kaloev pushing down on Pepo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Kaloev is looking for a kimura here.

Pepo manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaloev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pepo doesn't manage to clinch there - Kaloev circles away.
Pepo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pepo throws a nice looking combination but Kaloev bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kaloev shoots in for a takedown but Pepo shows good takedown defense.
Pepo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kaloev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kaloev.
Kaloev wants to control but Pepo is keeping him busy.
Kaloev tries to move into full mount but can't pass Pepo's legs.
Pepo is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaloev tries to advance to mount but can't.
Pepo pushes Kaloev away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kaloev gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Kaloev thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kaloev tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Pepo pushes Kaloev away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kaloev gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bate Pepo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Abdul Kaloev's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pepo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kaloev counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Pepo!

Kaloev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pepo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kaloev trying to control the action but Pepo is working from the bottom.
Kaloev is really struggling to control Pepo but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Kaloev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pepo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kaloev swings around for an armbar but Pepo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kaloev's guard.
Pepo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kaloev is proving hard to escape from.
Pepo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaloev wants to sweep but no luck.
Kaloev wants to stand but Pepo is controlling the position.
Kaloev 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.

Kaloev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Pepo stopping the sweep attempt from Kaloev.

That's two 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.

Kaloev is looking for a triangle but Pepo pushes his legs off easily.
Kaloev looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Pepo decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Pepo has Kaloev up against the cage in a clinch.
Pepo misses with a punch to the body.
Kaloev wants a takedown.
Pepo gets through Kaloev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kaloev is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepo misses with a hook to the ribs.

Kaloev has hold of one of Pepo's legs. Pepo is fighting the takedown attempt but Kaloev gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kaloev looking to pass the guard.
Pepo wants to stand and escape but Kaloev is having none of it.
Kaloev is stalling in the full guard.
Kaloev won't allow Pepo to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaloev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pepo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Left hook, right uppercut from Pepo.
Kaloev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pepo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kaloev somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abdul Kaloev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pepo's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Pepo duly obliges.
Kaloev dives in and grabs Pepo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pepo pushes down on Kaloev's head and hops out.
Kaloev misses with a takedown attempt - Pepo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pepo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Pepo slaps away a takedown attempt from Kaloev, before circling back to the center of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bate Pepo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pepo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bate Pepo!