PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Radoslaw Michalak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baxter Pepe Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michalak comes into the arena with 50 cent-Ready for war blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Michalak
vs
Pepe Jr

188 cm
21
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Radoslaw Michalak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Baxter Pepe Jr!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Winston Howard and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michalak throws a right and a left that Pepe Jr avoids nicely.
Michalak leaves Pepe Jr with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Michalak.
Pepe Jr tries to score a power double leg takedown but Michalak sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pepe Jr somewhat.
Pepe Jr looks to clinch
and Michalak counters with a left and a right that stings Pepe Jr.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Michalak.
Pepe Jr misses with a body kick.
Pepe Jr takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Michalak looks to land a combination but Pepe Jr avoids it well.
Pepe Jr is looking to clinch.
Pepe Jr shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Pepe Jr changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Michalak tries to avoid it but Pepe Jr manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Michalak to the ground. Michalak escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Radoslaw Michalak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baxter Pepe Jr.
Pepe Jr tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Michalak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michalak circles away from the clinch attempt.

Michalak drives through with a takedown into Pepe Jr's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Michalak throwing strikes but missing.
Michalak trying to control the position from guard on top but Pepe Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pepe Jr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Michalak looking to pass the guard.
Michalak throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pepe Jr looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Michalak has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pepe Jr is proving hard to escape from.
Michalak has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Pepe Jr keeping moving, preventing Michalak from controlling successfully.
Pepe Jr avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pepe Jr preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Michalak postures up in Pepe Jr's guard and throws a big left but Pepe Jr blocks it.
Pepe Jr avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michalak controlling from the top position.
Michalak won't allow Pepe Jr to sweep him here.
Pepe Jr thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Michalak postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Michalak stands up over Pepe Jr, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pepe Jr trying to keep a closed guard but Michalak is proving a slippery customer.
Michalak trying to control the position from guard on top but Pepe Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Michalak gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A head kick by Michalak misses
and Pepe Jr counters with a nice uppercut.
Pepe Jr misses with a takedown attempt - Michalak sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pepe Jr looks gassed!
Michalak tries a head kick but it misses.
Pepe Jr tries a head kick but it misses.
Pepe Jr steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Michalak. That one must have hurt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Michalak throws a series of punches but Pepe Jr avoids them all with ease.
A left lands for Michalak.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pepe Jr blocks a head kick by Michalak.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Michalak swats away the attempt to clinch by Pepe Jr.
Michalak circles away from the clinch attempt.

Michalak drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Pepe Jr has his foot on Michalak's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Michalak works his way back into a safe position though.
Pepe Jr controls Michalak momentarily but Michalak frees himself.
Michalak tries to stand but Pepe Jr is controlling from the bottom.
Michalak preventing the sweep.

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

Michalak has closed the distance and engaged Pepe Jr in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michalak has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pepe Jr is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Pepe Jr breaks the clinch.
Michalak misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pepe Jr.
Radoslaw Michalak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Michalak tries to clinch up but Pepe Jr circles away and keeps his distance.
Michalak stuffs the takedown.

Michalak gets a clinch.
Michalak is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Pepe Jr is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Michalak pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Radoslaw Michalak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baxter Pepe Jr.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Michalak's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Michalak misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pepe Jr looks for a takedown but Michalak sprawls well.

Michalak clinches.
Michalak works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Michalak breaks the clinch.
Michalak stalks Pepe Jr and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Pepe Jr's face. Pepe Jr staggers backwards, shaken.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Michalak goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Michalak avoids the body shot from Pepe Jr.
Michalak throws a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepe Jr slaps away a takedown attempt from Michalak, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Michalak closes the distance but Pepe Jr moves to the side
and Pepe Jr counters with a low kick, right behind Michalak 's knee.
Michalak shoots in for a takedown but Pepe Jr shows good takedown defense.
Radoslaw Michalak is winning the standup battle so far.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Michalak is defended easily by Pepe Jr.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pepe Jr is defended easily by Michalak.

Michalak clinches up with Pepe Jr and pushes him back against the cage.
Pepe Jr looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Michalak has picked Pepe Jr up - he's going for a ride! Michalak dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Pepe Jr wants to improve his position but Michalak is controlling well.

Michalak stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Pepe Jr to get to his feet.
Michalak misses with a wild combination.

Pepe Jr has managed to clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pepe Jr misses with a punch to the body.
Michalak stalling against the cage.
Michalak tries to land a knee to the head but Pepe Jr blocks with his arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Radoslaw Michalak dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Michalak misses with a head kick.
Michalak lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Michalak.
Michalak stuffs the takedown.
Michalak stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Michalak wants it to stay on the feet.
Radoslaw Michalak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Michalak misses with a jab, cross combination.
Michalak closes the distance and clinches up with Pepe Jr, looking for a takedown. Michalak pushes Pepe Jr against the cage but Pepe Jr circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pepe Jr shoots for a double leg takedown but Michalak sprawls well. He's pushed Pepe Jr's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Radoslaw Michalak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Baxter Pepe Jr.
Pepe Jr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pepe Jr fails with an attempt to clinch.
A clash of legs there as Michalak blocks the low kick.
Pepe Jr is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Michalak tries to clinch but Pepe Jr moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pepe Jr shoots in for a takedown but Michalak shows good takedown defense.
Michalak shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pepe Jr as he jumps to the side.
Pepe Jr blocks a head kick by Michalak.
Michalak looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Pepe Jr closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pepe Jr wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pepe Jr drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Michalak pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pepe Jr displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Michalak.
Michalak throws a sloppy head kick and Pepe Jr moves out of range easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pepe Jr.
Michalak misses with a head kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pepe Jr is defended easily by Michalak.
Michalak shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pepe Jr as he avoids it easily.
Michalak closes the distance and clinches up with Pepe Jr, looking for a takedown. Michalak pushes Pepe Jr against the cage but Pepe Jr circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pepe Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Michalak paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pepe Jr leaves Michalak with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pepe Jr shoots in but no luck this time.

Michalak has taken the fight to the clinch.
Michalak is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Michalak manages to break the clinch.
Michalak lands with a slapping head kick.
Pepe Jr lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Pepe Jr avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Michalak fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pepe Jr shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Michalak misses with a double jab.
Pepe Jr misses with a low kick.
Michalak tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Pepe Jr forces Michalak back against the cage and clinches.
Pepe Jr is trying to push Michalak away but Michalak has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Michalak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Michalak throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pepe Jr's waist but Pepe Jr gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Michalak off to one side.
Pepe Jr fails with the takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pepe Jr misses with a hook. Michalak ducked under it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Radoslaw Michalak.
Well Michalak has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Radoslaw Michalak!
Radoslaw Michalak decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.