PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jere Sephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Euro Shopper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sephens
vs
Shopper

176 cm
22
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jere Sephens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Euro Shopper!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shopper throws a front kick that sends Sephens stumbling back into the cage.
Sephens just misses with a punch to the body.
Sephens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shopper with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sephens tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Shopper fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sephens takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Sephens tries to bum rush Shopper with a series of wild strikes but Shopper uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shopper is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shopper looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sephens drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shopper wants to stand but Sephens is controlling the position.
Sephens is looking to work some ground and pound but Shopper has wrist control.
Shopper is wriggling around but Sephens manages to pass to half guard.
Sephens thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Shopper tries to kick Sephens off but Sephens keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sephens wants to take a breather but Shopper is having none of it.

Shopper kicks off Sephens and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sephens misses with a two punch combination.

Sephens gets a takedown into half guard.
Sephens tries to stand but can't do so whilst Shopper controls his leg.
Sephens thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shopper's head.
Shopper is trying to stand back up but Sephens is controlling him

Sephens stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Sephens throws a leg kick that is checked
and Shopper counters with an inside leg kick.
Euro Shopper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shopper avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sephens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shopper's waist but Shopper gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sephens off to one side.
Shopper wants to clinch.
Shopper keeps Sephens at a distance using the push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Sephens is predictable there
and Shopper counters with a slapping leg kick.
Shopper keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jere Sephens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sephens on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shopper. Shopper obviously looking to wear him down.
Sephens fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jere Sephens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sephens is breathing heavily.
Sephens circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sephens throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shopper stuffs the takedown attempt from Sephens. Sephens gets slowly back to his feet.
Sephens chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shopper can pounce on him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shopper. That's going to slow Sephens down.
Sephens takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Shopper cracks the inside of Sephens's front leg.
Sephens chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shopper can pounce on him.
Sephens looks to land a combination but Shopper avoids it well.
Shopper cracks the inside of Sephens's front leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sephens tries for a takedown but Shopper sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sephens misses with a body shot.
Shopper scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Shopper closes the distance and clinches.
Shopper lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sephens keeps control of Shopper as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Shopper tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Shopper throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sephens blocks it with crossed arms.
Shopper has Sephens pressed against the cage.
Sephens is trying to break the clinch but Shopper has him pressed against the cage.
Shopper lands a nice elbow.
Sephens blocks an elbow strike.
Sephens has had enough of the clinch but Shopper keeps him there for the moment.
Shopper is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Shopper tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sephens avoids it.
Sephens is trying to push Shopper away but Shopper has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Shopper just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sephens's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sephens keeps control of Shopper as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Shopper is trying to break the clinch but Sephens has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Sephens's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Shopper breaks from the clinch.
Shopper throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sephens fails to land the takedown.
Shopper throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sephens.
Shopper lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sephens throws a hook to the side of Shopper's head but Shopper sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shopper connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sephens misses with the combination.
Sephens takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Shopper moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Sephens misses with a series of wild punches.
A head kick from Shopper lands but Sephens takes it in his stride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Euro Shopper will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Shopper lands with a slapping head kick.

Sephens closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Shopper did well to prevent Sephens getting side control.
Shopper is trying to stand up here but Sephens is controlling him well.
Sephens not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Shopper makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Shopper dodges the punch combination from Sephens.
Shopper uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sephens.
Sephens is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Sephens fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shopper avoids it really well and circles away.
Shopper connects with a solid leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shopper lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sephens's sensitive parts.
Sephens throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shopper misses the shot to the body.
Sephens misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shopper scores with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Shopper.
Shopper lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sephens shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shopper but Shopper pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shopper lands with a kick to the temple. Sephens shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Jere Sephens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shopper tries to close the distance and clinch but Sephens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sephens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shopper throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Shopper.
A good leg kick by Shopper.
Shopper scores with a nice body kick.
Sephens throws a lazy head kick
and Shopper counters with a low kick, right behind Sephens 's knee.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Shopper, right into the meat.
Shopper lets loose with a powerful body kick. Sephens will feel that in the morning.
Sephens takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Sephens misses with a takedown attempt - Shopper sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jere Sephens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shopper tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sephens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shopper fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sephens has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Shopper connects with a solid leg kick.
Sephens misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
That kick from Shopper tenderised Sephens's leg. Sephens is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sephens chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shopper can pounce on him.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shopper.
Shopper feints and then cracks Sephens's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sephens down.
Shopper buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Shopper connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sephens will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sephens on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Shopper throws a nice inside leg kick.
Shopper thuds his shin into the meat of Sephens's side.
Shopper stuffs the takedown.
Sephens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sephens on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shopper. Shopper obviously looking to wear him down.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shopper.
Shopper plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Shopper thumps Sephens with a low kick.

Sephens gets tackled into the cage by Shopper. Shopper maintains the clinch.

Sephens's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shopper lets loose with a powerful body kick. Sephens will feel that in the morning.
Shopper lands a leg kick that knocks Sephens off balance momentarily.
Shopper fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sephens.
Sephens takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Sephens misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sephens will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Shopper throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A solid leg kick lands there for Shopper.
Shopper buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sephens fails with a takedown attempt.
Shopper lands a high kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shopper fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Shopper.
Shopper misses with the combination.
Nice sprawl there from Shopper as Sephens shoots in.
Shopper lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Shopper throws a leg kick which misses Sephens's front leg but catches the back leg as Sephens tries to avoid it.
Shopper explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Shopper looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Shopper connects with an inside leg kick.
Shopper feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sephens's calf.
Sephens has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Shopper.

Sephens closes the distance and clinches.
Sephens tries to circle away but Shopper has him pinned against the cage.
Shopper has had enough of the clinch but Sephens keeps him there for the moment.
Sephens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sephens avoids a wild elbow strike from Shopper.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Euro Shopper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Shopper lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sephens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sephens tries to bum rush Shopper with a series of wild strikes but Shopper uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sephens is defended easily by Shopper.
Shopper lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sephens misses with a two punch combination.
Sephens tries to bum rush Shopper with a series of wild strikes but Shopper uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Shopper has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shopper tries to land knees in the clinch but Sephens avoids the damage to the body.
Sephens takes an elbow to the temple.
Sephens avoiding damage as Shopper throws knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shopper looking to throw knees to the head but Sephens is blocking nicely.
Shopper stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sephens.
Sephens wants to break free but Shopper has control.
Sephens avoids a wild elbow strike from Shopper.
Sephens takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sephens has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shopper lands an elbow inside.
Shopper gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sephens is trying to push Shopper away but Shopper has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Shopper tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sephens avoids it.
Sephens wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sephens is trying to force a seperation but Shopper has the dominant position.
Shopper is trying to break the clinch but Sephens is controlling him.
Sephens blocks the elbow strike.
Sephens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Shopper just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sephens's brow.
Sephens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shopper landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Shopper is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sephens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sephens with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sephens wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shopper has him pressed against the cage.
Sephens keeps control of Shopper as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Shopper tries a knee to the head but Sephens blocks it.
Sephens wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Shopper misses with an elbow over the top.
Sephens tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shopper just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jere Sephens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sephens is trying to break the clinch but Shopper has him pressed against the cage.
Shopper tries a knee to the head but Sephens blocks it.
Shopper is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sephens is defending well for now.
Shopper stalling in the clinch but Sephens improves position.
Sephens tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shopper just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jere Sephens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sephens tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sephens prevents Shopper from breaking the clinch.
Shopper using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Sephens tries to circle away but Shopper has him pinned against the cage.
Shopper looking to slow down the pace here.
Shopper looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Shopper is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Shopper trying to land knees to the body.
Shopper looking to stall.
Sephens wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shopper has him pressed against the cage.
Sephens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shopper lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sephens blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shopper lands an elbow that stopped Sephens in his tracks for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sephens is trying to push Shopper away but Shopper has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sephens tries to land a knee to the head but Shopper blocks with his arms.
Shopper keeps control of Sephens as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Shopper tries to land knees in the clinch but Sephens avoids the damage to the body.
Shopper prevents Sephens from breaking the clinch.
Shopper wants to get back to striking at distance but Sephens won't allow it.
Shopper blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Shopper wants to break the clinch but can't.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sephens tries to break free but Shopper pushes him back against the cage.

Sephens's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shopper lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sephens's sensitive parts.
Sephens takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Shopper. Sephens shrugs it off though.
Sephens fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Shopper gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Shopper.

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.
Sephens tries to break the clinch but Shopper is controlling the position.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Sephens is looking to break free of the clinch but Shopper has double underhooks.
Shopper tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sephens avoids it.
Sephens tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shopper.
Shopper misses with an elbow over the top.
Sephens on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sephens trying to land knees to the body.
Shopper looking to slow down the pace here.
Shopper lands a nice elbow.
Sephens tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Euro Shopper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shopper throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sephens is trying to push Shopper away but Shopper has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Shopper misses with an elbow over the top.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sephens on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shopper tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shopper looking to throw knees to the head but Sephens is blocking nicely.
Shopper wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Euro Shopper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shopper winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Euro Shopper!