PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Maxx Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gendut Babi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shepard
vs
Babi

170 cm
25
140 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

165 cm
23
140 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Maxx Shepard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gendut Babi!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepard misses with a double jab.
Shepard ducks under a wild hook from Babi.
Babi cracks a nice hook into Shepard's ribs.

Shepard moves into range and clinches up with Babi.
Babi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Babi fails to land.

Shepard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Babi lands a jab to the head.
A jab from Babi misses.
Shepard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Babi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shepard avoids the body shot from Babi.
Shepard misses with a jab, cross combination.

Babi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Shepard being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard keeping moving, preventing Babi from controlling successfully.
Babi scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Babi throws a big right hand that misses.
Shepard keeping moving, preventing Babi from controlling successfully.
Shepard is looking to stand up but Babi isn't so interested in that idea.
Babi wants to pass the guard but Shepard is keeping the position.
Babi trying to control but Shepard is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shepard's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Babi connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Shepard scrambles back to his feet.
Babi swats away the attempt to clinch by Shepard.
Babi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Babi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Shepard is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Babi tries to get to full guard but Shepard has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Babi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Shepard throwing shots but Babi is blocking nicely.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Babi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Babi.
Shepard throwing strikes but missing.
Shepard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Babi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shepard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Shepard pushing down on Babi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Shepard trying to pass the guard but Babi defending well.
Shepard slips a nice elbow through Babi's hands, connecting with Babi's forehead.
Babi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shepard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepard is stalling here. Babi is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Shepard seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Babi has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
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!
Shepard is trying to control Babi's posture but Babi avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gendut Babi will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Babi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shepard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Babi swivels and escapes.
Shepard tries to close the distance and clinch but Babi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shepard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shepard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Shepard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Babi.

Babi gets a double leg takedown into Shepard's guard.
Shepard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Shepard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard keeping moving, preventing Babi from controlling successfully.
Shepard wants to get back to his feet but Babi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Babi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Babi trying to control but Shepard is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Gendut Babi wasn't active enough on the ground.
Babi lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Babi stuffs the takedown attempt from Shepard. Shepard gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babi has a takedown stuffed.
Babi misses with a lunging right hand

and Shepard counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shepard.
Babi is wriggling around but Shepard manages to pass to half guard.
Shepard trying to control from half guard but Babi is working away.
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!
Babi manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shepard trying to control but Babi is working from the bottom.
Shepard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Babi has his foot on Shepard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shepard works his way back into a safe position though.
Babi keeping moving, preventing Shepard from controlling successfully.

Babi is looking for a triangle but Shepard pushes his legs off easily.
Shepard distracts Babi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Shepard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Babi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Shepard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Babi is proving hard to escape from.
Shepard chips away with some ground and pound.
Shepard works over Babi with some ground and pound from guard.
Shepard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Babi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shepard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shepard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Babi 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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Maxx Shepard will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sloppy strikes from Babi. Those never looked like landing.
Babi shoots for a takedown but Shepard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shepard avoids the body shot from Babi.
Shepard shoots in but Babi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Babi connects with a right hand. Shepard shakes it off.
Shepard tries to clinch there but Babi circles away.
Babi misses with a lunging right hand

and Shepard counters with a nice double leg into side control. Babi won't be happy with that.
Babi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Shepard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Babi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Shepard controlling the pace.
Shepard is stalling here. Babi is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Shepard seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Babi has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babi lands a few punches from side control.
Shepard sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Babi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Babi is looking to advance position but Shepard won't allow it.
Shepard wants to get back to his feet.
Babi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Shepard wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shepard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Babi is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Shepard is looking to escape.
Babi throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Shepard to regain full guard.
Babi won't allow Shepard to sweep him here.
Babi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard keeping moving, preventing Babi from controlling successfully.
Shepard can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Babi controls the pace.
Babi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Babi slips nicely into half guard.
Babi with the ground and pound but Shepard uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Babi stopping the sweep attempt from Shepard.
Babi throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Babi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Shepard is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Babi, into his guard.
Shepard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Babi is keeping the position for now.
Maxx Shepard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shepard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Babi's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepard trying to control the position from guard on top but Babi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Babi is working an open guard so Shepard takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Maxx Shepard did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Babi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shepard manages to avoid it.

Shepard bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Shepard wants to lay and pray for a moment but Babi keeps working.
Babi taking punishment in the form of punches.
Babi is not content to let Shepard control the position.
Babi is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Shepard's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Shepard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Shepard lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard works his foot free and advances to mount.
Babi taking shots to the head.
Babi throwing hammer fists to the chest of Shepard. What's that going to do exactly?
Babi tries to reverse the position but Shepard maintains control.
Shepard tries to control but Babi wriggling away.
Babi tries to reverse the position but Shepard maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Babi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Shepard lands a heavy elbow.
Shepard lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Babi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Shepard is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Babi has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Babi!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shepard is on top in guard.
Babi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Shepard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Babi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Shepard thows a huge punch but Babi dodges it nicely.
Shepard lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Babi gets full guard.
Shepard preventing the sweep.
Babi keeping moving, preventing Shepard from controlling successfully.
Babi keeping full guard, as Shepard tries to pass.
Babi working a defensive guard but Shepard manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babi is looking to reverse the position.

Shepard has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Shepard ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Gendut Babi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Babi just misses with a punch to the body.
Babi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepard takes one to the chin there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shepard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Babi.
Shepard fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxx Shepard had his way with Gendut Babi in that round.
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!

Babi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Shepard counters with a one-two to the body.
Babi moves out of range of the body kick from Shepard.
Maxx Shepard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Babi takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Babi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shepard but Shepard pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Babi throws the left hand but Shepard avoids the punch easily.
Shepard blocks a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shepard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Babi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shepard is looking to clinch but Babi is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left lands for Babi.
Nice shot by Babi.
Babi just misses with a punch to the body.
Babi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shepard ducks under a wild hook from Babi.
Babi just misses with a punch to the body.
Babi fails with a takedown attempt.
Shepard avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Babi as he jumps to the side.
Shepard tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Babi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Babi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Babi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shepard is fending him off so far but Babi persists. Nope, Shepard circles away and we're back to standing.
Maxx Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gendut Babi.
Shepard wants to clinch up but Babi keeps it at a distance.

Babi tries to sprawl but Shepard drives through with a takedown into half guard.
It looks like Shepard is going to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shepard decides to stand up.
Babi throws a series of punches but Shepard moves out of range.
Babi misses with a body shot.
Babi fails to land with a series of punches.
Babi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shepard manages to avoid it.
Babi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Shepard shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A swing and a miss from Babi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Shepard. Those never looked like landing.
Babi misses with a wild body shot.
Babi misses with a hook

and Shepard counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Babi's guard now.
Shepard wants to stand but Babi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Babi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shepard manages to get himself to full guard.
Babi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Babi is looking to advance position but Shepard has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Babi is trying to escape the mount.

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 Maxx Shepard.
I think Shepard has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Maxx Shepard!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Maxx Shepard!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Maxx Shepard!

Maxx Shepard wins by unanimous decision!
Maxx Shepard decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.