PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Carl Maywho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shepherd is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Alter Bridge - Addicted to pain . Rufus Shepherd is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Maywho
vs
Shepherd

164 cm
20
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
163 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Carl Maywho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rufus Shepherd!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maywho gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Shepherd to score an easy takedown into full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Maywho is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Shepherd pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maywho is keeping the position for now.
Shepherd trying to control the position from guard on top but Maywho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shepherd is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Maywho is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shepherd is aware though and is defending well.
Shepherd wants to control from the top but Maywho keeps moving.

Shepherd drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shepherd jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepherd passes Maywho's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Shepherd performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Shepherd is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Maywho is just riding it out for now. Shepherd eventually gives up the hold.

Shepherd is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd throwing shots but Maywho is blocking nicely.
Maywho is trying to get back to full guard.
Maywho knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shepherd on the ground.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maywho is trying to control but Shepherd manages to pass to mount!
Maywho holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Shepherd tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Maywho is in a horrible position here. Shepherd smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Shepherd has hold of Maywho's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Maywho manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Shepherd looking to secure an arm triangle but Maywho defends it well.
Maywho might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maywho wants to hold on but Shepherd pushes him away.
Maywho keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Maywho holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Shepherd tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Shepherd lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Maywho hang on?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shepherd is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Maywho is surviving well by controlling Shepherd's body position as best he can.
Maywho is desperately trying to improve his position but Shepherd has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shepherd has control of Maywho's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Maywho regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Maywho is trying to escape the mount.
Shepherd thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Shepherd lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Maywho hang on?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maywho is looking to improve his position but Shepherd isn't that keen on the idea.
Shepherd has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shepherd trying to control but Maywho is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Shepherd dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Shepherd shoots in and bounces Maywho off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Shepherd drops back looking for a leg! Maywho is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Maywho manages to kick Shepherd off! Shepherd jumps back into Maywho's guard.

Shepherd postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Maywho is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Shepherd, into his guard.
Maywho trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shepherd working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maywho doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maywho manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shepherd keeping moving, preventing Maywho from controlling successfully.
Maywho wants to stand but Shepherd has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd 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.
Shepherd has control of Maywho's left arm, preventing Maywho from doing any damage.

Carl Maywho has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Shepherd gets caught flat footed, as Maywho shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Maywho decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Shepherd is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Maywho's half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd throwing shots but Maywho is blocking nicely.
Shepherd looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Shepherd throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rufus Shepherd has got the better of the ground game so far.
Maywho wants to improve his position but Shepherd is controlling well.

Shepherd is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Maywho has managed to free his arm - good work.

Maywho is defending against the submission attempts here by Shepherd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shepherd is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Maywho is just riding it out for now. Shepherd eventually gives up the hold.
Shepherd blocks the strikes from Maywho.
Shepherd wants to control but Maywho is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Shepherd is working for a submission of some sort.
Shepherd is looking to pass Maywho's guard but actually Maywho recovers to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rufus Shepherd showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Shepherd gets tackled into the cage by Maywho. Maywho maintains the clinch.

Maywho manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Shepherd trying to control but Maywho is working from the bottom.
Shepherd trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maywho keeping moving, preventing Shepherd from controlling successfully.
Shepherd stops Maywho from standing up.
Shepherd trying to control the position from guard on top but Maywho is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rufus Shepherd was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Shepherd gets the takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maywho struggling a bit here.
Maywho parries the strikes from Shepherd easily there. Shepherd is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Maywho to escape.
Shepherd misses with the ground and pound.
Shepherd is looking to take a break and control but Maywho is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shepherd might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Maywho haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Maywho is looking to regain half guard here but Shepherd keeps moving and retains side control.
Maywho is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd grinds an elbow into Maywho's temple.

Shepherd tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shepherd has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Shepherd working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The strikes coming from Shepherd are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Maywho is looking to reverse the position.

Shepherd is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maywho has escaped the position, nice work there.
Shepherd landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shepherd is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Maywho knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Maywho tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shepherd wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Shepherd is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maywho is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Shepherd trying to control the position but Maywho is working away.
Maywho tries to bench press Shepherd off him but Shepherd keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Maywho's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shepherd wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maywho keeps working.

Shepherd looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rufus Shepherd is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Maywho is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Shepherd has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Shepherd tries for a kimura but Maywho is defending well.
Shepherd just content to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rufus Shepherd comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shepherd 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rufus Shepherd!
Rufus Shepherd seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.