PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Andreas Kartes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shepard has chosen Deftones- Ferticeira as his entrance music. Andreas Kartes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kartes
vs
Shepard

175 cm
21
148 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

182 cm
20
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Andreas Kartes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Shepard!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shepard moves into the clinch.
Good body shot from Shepard.

Kartes manages to break the clinch.
John Shepard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shepard clinches with his opponent.

Kartes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kartes.
Kartes looks to land a combination but Shepard avoids it well.
Shepard tries to counter by closing the distance.
Shepard cracks a nice hook into Kartes's ribs.
Nice sprawl there from Shepard as Kartes shoots in.
Shepard jabs Kartes to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Shepard misses with the combination.
Kartes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kartes doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kartes slips a jab and a cross from Shepard.
Some wild striking there from Kartes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kartes counters with a head kick. That will keep Shepard thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Kartes misses with a takedown attempt - Shepard sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Kartes moves into the clinch.
Shepard is pressed up against the cage. Kartes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shepard down to the mat. Shepard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andreas Kartes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kartes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shepard.
Kartes stuffs the takedown.
A leg kick checked by Kartes.
Kartes is looking to counter the offense by Shepard and move into the clinch.
Shepard throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kartes's waist but Kartes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shepard off to one side.
Kartes swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Shepard is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Shepard slaps away a takedown attempt from Kartes, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Kartes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kartes goes for a takedown in the clinch but Shepard prevents it.
Shepard is struggling to control the position.
Kartes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kartes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Kartes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kartes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shepard.
Shepard goes for a double leg but Kartes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kartes continues to drive forward.

Kartes clinches up with Shepard and pushes him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kartes misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard controlling the action here for a moment.
Kartes wants to take the fight to the mat but Shepard manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kartes lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Shepard misses with a knee to the head.
Kartes tries for a takedown but Shepard manages to get underhooks.
Kartes prevents Shepard from breaking the clinch.
Kartes wants a takedown but no success here.
Kartes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shepard looking to slow down the pace here.
Shepard can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kartes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Shepard as Kartes tries to tie him up.
Shepard misses with a body punch.
Shepard is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kartes is defending well for now.

Kartes decides to pull guard.
Kartes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Shepard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kartes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shepard has managed to get both his arms back between Kartes's legs - danger averted.
Kartes can't keep his opponent in guard - Shepard advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Shepard will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kartes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shepard moves in looking to clinch but Kartes pushes him off.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shepard is defended easily by Kartes.
Shepard throws a nice looking combination but Kartes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kartes checks a leg kick.

Shepard closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kartes jumps guard but Shepard turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kartes jumps guard but Shepard stands there with Kartes around his waist. Kartes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andreas Kartes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepard lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kartes backwards.
Kartes avoiding damage as Shepard throws knees to the body.
Kartes fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard tries to break the clinch but Kartes is controlling the position.
Shepard tries to pull guard but Kartes forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Shepard misses with a punch to the body.

Kartes manages to break the clinch.
Shepard scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Shepard closes the distance and clinches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Shepard lands a left hand.
Kartes unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Shepard lands a hook that snaps the head of Kartes backwards.
Kartes is pressed up against the cage. Shepard has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kartes down to the mat. Kartes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kartes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck for Shepard with that takedown attempt.
Shepard throws a head kick but Kartes moves out of range.

Kartes has managed to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kartes 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 trying to break free.
Kartes's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Kartes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
John Shepard seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Shepard darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kartes swings for the body but Shepard moves out of range.
Shepard looks to land a combination but Kartes avoids it well.
Shepard stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kartes avoids the head kick by Shepard.
Kartes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shepard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shepard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kartes shoots in but Shepard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shepard tries to close the distance and clinch but Kartes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shepard stalks Kartes and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kartes's face. Kartes staggers backwards, shaken.
Kartes shoots in for a double leg but Shepard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shepard lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kartes closes the distance and clinches.
Shepard looking to throw knees to the head but Kartes is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard tries to circle away but Kartes has him pinned against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Shepard's face as he tries to break the clinch.
John Shepard seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Shepard throws a knee to the head but misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kartes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shepard tries to clinch there but Kartes circles away.
Andreas Kartes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kartes darts in and clinches Shepard up against the cage.
Kartes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shepard prevents Kartes from breaking the clinch.
Shepard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kartes smiles and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Shepard 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!

Shepard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shepard connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Shepard moves into the clinch.
Kartes is trying to pull guard but Shepard turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kartes wants to take the fight to the mat but Shepard manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Shepard presses Kartes against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kartes is working for takedown but Shepard is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andreas Kartes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kartes tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shepard just stands there and leans against the cage.

Kartes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Kartes gets tackled into the cage by Shepard. Shepard maintains the clinch.
Shepard trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kartes breaks the clinch.
Shepard looks to land a body kick but Kartes moved away.
Shepard shoots in for a takedown but Kartes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Shepard instigates a clinch.
Kartes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Shepard tries to work over Kartes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kartes is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Shepard is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kartes with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kartes prevents Shepard from breaking the clinch.
Kartes tries to pull guard but Shepard forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Shepard with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shepard is pressed up against the cage. Kartes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shepard down to the mat. Shepard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kartes clinches with his opponent.
Kartes drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shepard gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Shepard stalling.

Kartes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shepard thuds a left hand into Kartes's body.
Shepard shoots in and drives through. Kartes sprawls well.
As Shepard tries to get set, Kartes tries to push him back and clinch up but Shepard manages to avoid the attempt.
Shepard tries to clinch but Kartes moves out of range.
Shepard tries to clinch but Kartes is having none of it.
Nice takedown defense from Shepard. No joy for Kartes on that attempt.
Shepard drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kartes defends it well.
Shepard feints a jab promting Kartes to slip. Shepard then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kartes slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shepard's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Shepard duly obliges.
Shepard dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Kartes instigates a clinch.
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 doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kartes is trying to pull guard but Shepard has him pressed against the cage.

Kartes breaks from the clinch.
Shepard lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kartes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Shepard clinches up with Kartes and pushes him back against the cage.
Shepard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kartes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kartes wants to stall.
Shepard is trying to force a seperation but Kartes has the dominant position.
Kartes wants a takedown but no success here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Shepard as Kartes tries to tie him up.
Shepard digs a right hand underneath Kartes's ribcage. Kartes let out a lung full of air as it connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Shepard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Shepard has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Shepard!
John Shepard took some time post fight to say the following; 'I get better with everyday in training, I get a little bit better at every aspect of the game. I can't wait to fight again'.