PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between German Sheapard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilan Matan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Sheapard
vs
Matan

178 cm
19
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
23
189 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, German Sheapard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ilan Matan!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sheapard clinches up against the cage.
Sheapard missing with knees to the body.

Sheapard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matan blocks a head kick by Sheapard.
Sheapard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sheapard stuffs the takedown.
Sheapard throws a head kick that half lands.
Matan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sheapard as he jumps to the side.
Sheapard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sheapard tries to avoid it but Matan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sheapard to the ground. Sheapard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
German Sheapard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilan Matan.
A good leg kick by Sheapard.
Matan shoots in but no luck this time.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Matan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sheapard is defending well for now.
Matan tries to pull guard but Sheapard won't allow it.

Sheapard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Matan fails with the takedown.

Sheapard moves into range and clinches up with Matan.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Matan tries to keep at a distance but Sheapard has taken the fight into the clinch.
Matan trying to stall but Sheapard improves his position.
Matan tries to circle away but Sheapard has him pinned against the cage.
Matan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Sheapard breaks the clinch.
Sheapard lands a nice shot to the body.
Sheapard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sheapard moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Horrible takedown by Matan or perhaps it was just good defense by Sheapard which made him look bad.
Matan misses with a takedown attempt - Sheapard sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Matan looks gassed!
Sheapard cracks Matan with an open hand slap.
Sheapard throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Sheapard misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheapard looks for the body kick but Matan saw that one coming.
Matan has a takedown stuffed.

Sheapard darts in and clinches Matan up against the cage.
Matan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sheapard smiles and moves away.
Sheapard misses with a head kick.
Sheapard leaves Matan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Matan or perhaps it was just good defense by Sheapard which made him look bad.

Sheapard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Matan, pushing him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matan taking a breather.

Matan decides to pull guard.
Sheapard wanted to stand there but Matan had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheapard wants to stand and escape but instead Matan has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Matan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Matan drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Sheapard manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Matan has Sheapard in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Matan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Matan misses with a head shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Matan jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Sheapard manages to avoid the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

German Sheapard dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Matan clinches but Sheapard breaks the clinch

and Sheapard counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sheapard.

Sheapard manages to break the clinch.
Matan shoots in but no luck this time.
Matan tries for a takedown but Sheapard circles away easily
and Sheapard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Matan fails with the takedown.
German Sheapard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilan Matan.
Sheapard looks to land a combination but Matan avoids it well.
German Sheapard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matan closes the distance but Sheapard moves to the side
and Sheapard makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Matan moves out of range as Sheapard throws a body kick.
Sheapard wants to slow Matan down by chopping away at his legs.
Sheapard throws a head kick but Matan moves out of range.
Matan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Sheapard has closed the distance and engaged Matan in a clinch.
Matan wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sheapard trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A knee to the head by Sheapard.
Matan tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sheapard just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sheapard with a knee to the head.
Matan is trying to break the clinch but Sheapard has him pressed against the cage.
Matan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Sheapard manages to break the clinch.
Sheapard misses with a body shot.
Horrible takedown by Matan or perhaps it was just good defense by Sheapard which made him look bad.
Sheapard dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Matan closes the distance but Sheapard moves to the side
and Sheapard counters with a thumping low kick.
Matan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sheapard tries to score with a low kick but Matan moves his leg out of the way.
Matan shoots for a double leg takedown but Sheapard sprawls well. He's pushed Matan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sheapard pinned against the cage. Sheapard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matan shoots in but Sheapard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Matan shoots in but Sheapard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sheapard throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Matan looks to clinch

and Sheapard counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sheapard.
Matan tries to pull guard but Sheapard holds him up against the cage and eventually Matan drops back down to his feet.
Matan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sheapard walks away with a smile on his face. Matan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sheapard throws a head kick that misses.
Matan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matan tries to clinch but Sheapard moves away

and Sheapard counters by clinching up.
Sheapard with a knee to the head.

Sheapard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sheapard is fending him off so far but Matan persists. Nope, Sheapard circles away and we're back to standing.
Sheapard looks to land a combination but Matan avoids it well.
Nice sprawl there from Sheapard as Matan shoots in.
Matan shoots in but no luck this time.
Matan is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Good work by Matan as he checks the leg kick.
Sheapard fails to land with a series of punches.
Matan shoots in for a takedown but Sheapard shows good takedown defense.
Matan tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sheapard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Matan tries for a takedown but Sheapard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Sheapard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Matan tries to stall but Sheapard uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Matan fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Matan fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matan tries to pull guard but Sheapard holds him up against the cage and eventually Matan drops back down to his feet.

Sheapard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Matan fails to land the takedown.

Sheapard closes the distance and clinches.

Sheapard breaks the clinch.
Matan shoots for a double leg takedown but Sheapard sprawls well. He's pushed Matan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sheapard's waist but Sheapard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Matan off to one side.
Matan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sheapard loads up on a big right hand but Matan slips the punch.
Sheapard misses with a head kick.
Matan shoots in but no luck this time.
Sheapard catches Matan with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
German Sheapard is winning the standup battle so far.
Matan shoots in and drives through. Sheapard sprawls well.
Sheapard lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Matan backs up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

German Sheapard dominated that second round.
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!

Matan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sheapard as he avoids it easily.
Sheapard misses with a leg kick.
Sheapard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Matan circles away quickly and effectively.
Sheapard throws a head kick but Matan moves out of range.
Matan tries for a takedown but Sheapard circles away easily
and Sheapard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sheapard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sheapard wants it to stay on the feet.
German Sheapard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilan Matan.
Matan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matan shoots for a double leg takedown but Sheapard sprawls well. He's pushed Matan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sheapard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Matan moves away.
Matan blocks a head kick by Sheapard.
Sheapard waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Matan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sheapard leaves Matan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sheapard rushes Matan and presses him up against the cage.
Matan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sheapard walks away with a smile on his face. Matan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sheapard tries to avoid it but Matan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sheapard to the ground. Sheapard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matan shoots in for a takedown but Sheapard shows good takedown defense.

Sheapard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Matan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sheapard smiles and moves away.
Sheapard defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matan.

Sheapard has managed to clinch.
Matan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Matan working hard to break the clinch.
Matan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sheapard putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Matan in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Matan is trying to maintain a safe position but Sheapard gets an underhook and turns Matan into the cage.
Matan tries to pull guard but Sheapard holds him up against the cage and eventually Matan drops back down to his feet.
Sheapard connects with a nasty looking knee right to Matan's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheapard lands a knee to the body.
Matan tries to pull guard but Sheapard holds him up against the cage and eventually Matan drops back down to his feet.
Matan avoiding damage as Sheapard throws knees to the body.
Sheapard tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Matan wants to get back to striking at distance but Sheapard won't allow it.
Sheapard lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Sheapard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matan avoids the head kick by Sheapard.
Matan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Matan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Matan has hold of Sheapard's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Sheapard seems comfortable defending it but Matan has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Sheapard is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Sheapard is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Matan couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ilan Matan!