PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darnell Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toowoomba Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Toowoomba Jones will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Shepard
vs
Jones

202 cm
23
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
23
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Darnell Shepard!
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, Toowoomba Jones!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Reed Andrews and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shepard closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Shepard takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Shepard stops a takedown attempt from Jones.
The referee calls for Shepard to work.
Jones tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jones has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shepard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Shepard is leaning against Jones and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Jones's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jones with a poor takedown
and Shepard counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Jones thinking.
Darnell Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toowoomba Jones.
Jones throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt

and Shepard counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Jones's guard now.
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 wanted to stand there but Jones had control of the position.
Shepard is in close to Jones's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Shepard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Shepard stays in close to Jones's body and controls the position.
Shepard tries to free his leg and advance position but Jones is retaining full guard.
Jones working a defensive guard but Shepard passes into half guard.
Shepard seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shepard wants to advance to full mount but Jones doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Jones throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones controls Shepard momentarily but Shepard frees himself.
Shepard tries to stand but Jones is controlling from the bottom.
Shepard is pushing down on Jones's leg trying to pass to half guard. Jones is fighting to maintain full guard but Shepard has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jones is trying to get back to full guard.
Shepard not doing much here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones is trying to maintain the position but Shepard is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard slips a nice elbow through Jones's hands, connecting with Jones's forehead.
Shepard wants to stand but Jones has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Jones is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jones is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shepard scores with a couple of nice shots.
Shepard performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Shepard is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Jones is trying to stand up here but Shepard is controlling him well.
Jones has a hand on Shepard's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Shepard takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepard looking to control and managing it successfully.
Jones can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darnell Shepard dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Shepard moves into the clinch successfully.
Jones jumps guard but Shepard turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Shepard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Jones. Those never looked like landing.

Shepard decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Shepard working Jones over with strikes.
Shepard lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Jones is trying to maintain the position but Shepard is very close to passing his half guard.
Shepard tries to pass the half guard into mount. Jones knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Shepard tries to stand but can't do so whilst Jones controls his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Shepard seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Shepard prevents Jones from improving his position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Shepard looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Shepard moves into full mount! Jones won't be happy about that!
Shepard with shots to the head and body - Jones looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Shepard 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.
Shepard controlling from mount.
Jones tries to lock up and control but Shepard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Jones is breathing heavily.

Shepard goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Jones turns into him and now he's in Shepard's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Shepard holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shepard throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Shepard 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.

Jones drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Shepard manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Jones has Shepard in his guard.
Jones is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jones looking for a guillotine here but Shepard defends easily.
Shepard is in close to Jones's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shepard would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Shepard lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darnell Shepard dominated that second 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!

Shepard looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Shepard passes to full mount!
Shepard tries to control but Jones wriggling away.
Shepard wants to take Jones's back here but Jones is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Jones taking shots to the head.
Jones really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Shepard controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard lands a big shot there that rocks Jones but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Shepard lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Jones hang on?
Jones is trying to reverse the position but instead Shepard has taken his back - oops!
I would not like to be Jones right now.
Jones controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Jones takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shepard looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

Shepard is persistently looking for the submission but Jones is defending it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones trying to control the hands but Shepard won't let him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shepard landing with strikes.
Shepard keeps control of the position easily here as Jones tries to buck him off.
Shepard looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Jones hold on?
Shepard controlling well, preventing Jones from escaping the position.
Shepard is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

Jones showing good submission defense here.
I would not like to be Jones right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Toowoomba Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shepard trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Jones doesn't escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones wants to control his opponent's hands but Shepard gets his hands free.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Shepard is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Jones is defending well though. Shepard let's go of the attempt for now.
Shepard has Jones flattened out and is raining down punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darnell Shepard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shepard 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darnell Shepard!