PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Puder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Zepol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Puder comes to the cage accompanied by Composure- August Burns Red. Tony Zepol will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Puder
vs
Zepol

198 cm
23
205 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

172 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Daniel Puder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tony Zepol!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Russell Pearce and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Puder avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zepol should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Puder pulls out of a head kick attempt.
No luck for Puder with that takedown attempt.
Daniel Puder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Puder misses with a low kick.
Puder plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Tony Zepol has been cut.

Zepol shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Puder manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Zepol with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zepol wants to stand and escape but instead Puder has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Zepol tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Puder decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Puder throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Zepol.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puder throws a hook but Zepol blocks it.
Puder tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Zepol has eaten all the pies!
Zepol shoots in and drives through. Puder sprawls well.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Puder.
Zepol tries to clinch but Puder is having none of it.
Puder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Crunch! Zepol slams his shin into Puder's torso.
Puder is breathing heavily.
Zepol throws a right and a left that Puder avoids nicely.
Zepol tries to close the distance and clinch up but Puder swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice uppercut there from Zepol.
Zepol fails with the takedown

and Puder counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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!
Zepol not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zepol keeping full guard, as Puder tries to pass.
Puder wants to stand but Zepol has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puder trying to control the position from guard on top but Zepol is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zepol punching from the bottom.
Zepol controls Puder momentarily but Puder frees himself.
Puder stopping the sweep attempt from Zepol.
Zepol is adopting a defensive guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zepol lands a nice hook to Puder's body. Puder takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zepol shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Puder is trying to defend but Zepol finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Zepol looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zepol wants to stand up but Puder manages to regain full guard.
Puder will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Puder pushes Zepol off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Puder dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tony Zepol's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Zepol tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Puder was well out of range. Poor timing from Zepol.
Zepol throws a head kick but Puder moves out of range.
Puder stuffs the takedown.
Puder pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Puder misses with a head kick.
Puder throws a sloppy head kick and Zepol moves out of range easily.
Zepol closes this distance looking for a takedown but Puder circles away.
Zepol fails to land the takedown.
Daniel Puder has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Zepol.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zepol doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Puder counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Zepol blocks a head kick by Puder.
Puder shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zepol as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Puder throws a sloppy head kick

and Zepol counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zepol lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Puder backwards.
Puder looking for a takedown.
Zepol wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Puder looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Puder tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Puder with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zepol has Puder pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Puder manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Zepol has Puder pushed against the cage.
Puder with a knee to the head.
Puder lands a left hand.
Zepol blocks the elbow strike.
Zepol tries for a takedown. No joy.
Zepol is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Zepol tries to pull guard but Puder won't allow it.
Puder tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Zepol successfully pulls guard.
Puder trying to control the position from guard on top but Zepol is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Puder tries to free his leg and advance position but Zepol is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Puder trying to control the position from guard on top but Zepol is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Puder thows a big elbow that misses.
Puder stops Zepol from standing up.
Zepol keeping full guard, as Puder tries to pass.
Puder trying to control but Zepol is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zepol fails with the takedown

and Puder counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Puder works over Zepol with some ground and pound from guard.

Zepol wriggles free and stands up.
Zepol throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zepol misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zepol blocks a head kick by Puder.
Zepol fails to land the takedown.
Puder throws a head kick but Zepol moves out of range.

Zepol throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Puder was covering up waiting for the punch and Zepol finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zepol throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puder wants to get back to his feet but Zepol is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Daniel Puder overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zepol slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Zepol drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Puder dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Puder dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tony Zepol's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zepol avoids the head kick by Puder.
Zepol tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Puder with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zepol counters with a leg kick.
Puder shoots in looking for a takedown. Zepol tries to sprawl out of it but Puder keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zepol manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No joy there for Zepol, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Zepol shoots in and bounces Puder off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Puder wants to stand up but Zepol is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zepol wants to control from the top but Puder keeps moving.
Zepol wants to stand and escape but instead Puder has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Puder stopping the sweep attempt from Zepol.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Puder wants to control from the top but Zepol keeps moving.
Puder sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Zepol looking to hit a scissor sweep but Puder is one step ahead there.
Puder trying to control but Zepol is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zepol closes the distance but Puder moves to the side

and Puder counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zepol won't be happy with that.
Puder tries to score with some ground and pound. Zepol controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zepol is trying to get back to half guard.
Puder is chipping away with strikes.
Puder lands a few punches from side control.
Puder in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Puder scores with punches from side control.

Puder decides to stand up, so the ref orders Zepol to his feet.
Puder throws a head kick but Zepol moves out of range.
Puder misses with a head kick.
Puder tries a head kick but it misses.
Zepol moves in looking to clinch but Puder pushes him off.
Zepol shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Puder but Puder pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Puder gets a takedown into half guard.
Zepol is not content to let Puder control the position.
Puder throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Puder not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zepol trying to control but Puder postures up.
Zepol really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Puder. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zepol is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Puder trying to control from half guard but Zepol is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Puder showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Puder, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Puder!