PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tom Sheppard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carls Classic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carls Classic has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sheppard
vs
Classic

156 cm
24
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Tom Sheppard!
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, Carls Classic!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Eddie Farnsworth and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sheppard gets a takedown into half guard.
Classic is looking to get back to full guard here but Sheppard has managed to pass to side control instead.
Sheppard controls the position.
Classic is trying to buck Sheppard off.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sheppard tries to stand but Classic is controlling his head.
Classic misses with a strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheppard remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Sheppard laying and praying for a moment but Classic takes advantage and regains half guard.
Sheppard tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Sheppard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Classic on the ground.
Classic wants to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Tom Sheppard just wasn't active enough.

Sheppard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Classic, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sheppard manages to break the clinch.
Classic closes the distance and clinches up with Sheppard, looking for a takedown. Classic pushes Sheppard against the cage but Sheppard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Sheppard shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Classic is trying to stand.
Classic has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sheppard is working away from the top position though.
Classic holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sheppard working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Classic is looking to control Sheppard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Classic avoid being mounted?
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sheppard wants to stand up but Classic is controlling the position.
Sheppard wants to pass the guard but Classic is defending well.
Classic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sheppard stalling.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Sheppard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard is looking to stand up but Classic won't let him.
Classic seems keen to control Sheppard's posture.
Classic is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sheppard slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Classic.
Sheppard perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Classic looking for submissions off his back.
Classic is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Sheppard dominated 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.

Sheppard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sheppard misses with a knee to the head.

Sheppard has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Classic regains guard immediately.
Classic is pulling down on Sheppard's head to control his posture.

Sheppard stands up and waves to Classic to follow him.
Classic looks to score with a jab to the body but Sheppard is just out of range.

Sheppard has taken the fight to the clinch.

Sheppard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Classic tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Classic bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sheppard's head backwards.
Classic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Classic misses with a body kick.

Sheppard closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Classic did well to prevent Sheppard getting side control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sheppard connects with a nice short shot to Classic's temple.
Classic tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Sheppard manages to move to mount!
Sheppard controlling the pace for now.
Sheppard wants to get back to his feet but Classic is holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Classic swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Classic taking shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Classic throwing hammer fists to the chest of Sheppard. What's that going to do exactly?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sheppard avoids the attempt from Classic to control.
Tom Sheppard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sheppard looking to control and managing it successfully.
Classic wants to control but Sheppard is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard with good strikes from the mount here!
Sheppard content just to control the position here.
Classic is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Classic sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sheppard throws a series of punches but Classic moves out of range.
Sheppard shoots in looking for a takedown. Classic tries to sprawl out of it but Sheppard keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Classic manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sheppard jabs Classic right on the nose. Classic blinks but takes it well.

Sheppard gets a double leg takedown into Classic's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Classic throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sheppard prevents Classic from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Sheppard dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sheppard goes for a double leg but Classic avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Classic continues to drive forward.

Sheppard manages to break the clinch.
Sheppard avoids the head kick by Classic.
Classic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Classic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sheppard tries to avoid it but Classic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sheppard to the ground. Sheppard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Sheppard drives through and clinches with Classic against the cage.

Sheppard manages to pull guard.
Sheppard is pulling down on Classic's head to control his posture.
Sheppard might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Classic stopping the sweep attempt from Sheppard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheppard being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tom Sheppard.
Classic cracks Sheppard with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Sheppard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Sheppard has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sheppard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Classic shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sheppard sprawls well. Sheppard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Classic gets slowly back to his feet.
Classic shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sheppard pinned against the cage. Sheppard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tom Sheppard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carls Classic.
A combination from Classic does no damage.
Classic throws a wild body kick that Sheppard sees coming a mile off.
Classic fails to land the takedown.
A nice combination there by Classic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Classic works Sheppard's body with a nice hook.
Tom Sheppard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sheppard scores with a takedown into Classic's guard.
Sheppard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Classic wants to stand up but Sheppard is controlling him.
Classic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Classic looking to control.
Classic pulls Sheppard in close to his closed guard and prevents Sheppard from doing any damage or advancing position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Classic working for a triangle but Sheppard defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Classic is looking to stand up but Sheppard isn't so interested in that idea.
Classic trying to strike off his back.
Carls Classic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Classic can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sheppard controls the pace.
Sheppard wants to pass the guard but Classic is keeping the position.

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 Tom Sheppard.
Well Sheppard 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Sheppard!