PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Carl Sheppards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: On March The Saints. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sheppards
vs
Johnson

181 cm
28
159 lbs
21 - 13 - 0

170 cm
25
159 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Carl Sheppards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nick Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sheppards misses with a wild body shot.
Johnson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sheppards.
Johnson tries to clinch but Sheppards is having none of it.
Sheppards displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Johnson lands with a right hand.
Johnson connects with a nice looking jab.
Sheppards loads up on a big right hand but Johnson slips the punch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Johnson, right into the meat.
A slapping leg kick lands for Johnson.
Sheppards moves out of range as Johnson strikes.
Sheppards looks to land a right hand but Johnson moved out of range.
Sheppards takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Johnson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sheppards is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Sheppards is trying to keep Johnson in close.
Sheppards pulls Johnson in close to his closed guard and prevents Johnson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Johnson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sheppards's head.
Johnson postures up and lands a big shot to Sheppards's brow.
Sheppards looking for a sweep. Not yet Sheppards, not yet.
Johnson postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sheppards looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Johnson trying to control but Sheppards is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Johnson postures up and lands a big shot to Sheppards's brow.
Johnson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Johnson throws a strike but Sheppards rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Johnson controlling Sheppards's posture.
Johnson is looking to stand up but Sheppards isn't so interested in that idea.
Johnson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sheppards looking to pass the guard.
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Sheppards is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Sheppards looking to pass the guard.
Johnson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sheppards stays in close to Johnson's body and controls the position.
Johnson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Johnson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Johnson lands a leg kick that knocks Sheppards off balance momentarily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johnson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheppards checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A little feinted left hand from Sheppards on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Johnson misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Sheppards to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Johnson wants to clinch
and Sheppards counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sheppards slips under a jab.
A punch lands to the side of Johnson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Sheppards misses with an uppercut. Johnson saw that one coming.
Johnson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice leg kick lands there from Johnson.
Sheppards swings widly with a right hand
and Johnson counters with a nice uppercut.
Sheppards misses with a body shot.
Sheppards misses with a lunging right hand
and Johnson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Johnson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sheppards throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Johnson feints a counter leg kick.

It looks like Carl Sheppards has been cut.
Sheppards takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sheppards feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Johnsons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Sheppards jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Johnson thumps Sheppards with a low kick.
A swing and a miss from Johnson.
A chopping leg kick lands by Johnson.
Sheppards is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Sheppards lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson throws a lazy uppercut
and Sheppards counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Johnson.
Nick Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sheppards looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sheppards moves out of range of the body kick from Johnson.
Sheppards throwing a counter right hand but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Johnson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheppards throws a poor cross that misses
and Johnson counters with a nice body kick.
Johnson is looking to chop away at Sheppards's legs.
Nick Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sheppards misses with a straight left.
Sheppards displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Johnson throws out the jab.
Johnson connects with a right hand. Sheppards shakes it off.
Johnson connects with an inside leg kick.
Sheppards misses with a straight right.
Johnson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Sheppards was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Sheppards throws a jab when Johnson was well out of range.
Sheppards ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Johnson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Johnson loads up on a big right hand but Sheppards slips the punch.
A quick step to the side and Sheppards tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a leg kick but Sheppards sees it coming and moves out of range.
Johnson scoring well with a low kick there.
Carl Sheppards is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A left lands for Johnson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Sheppards counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sheppards missing with a left hand there. Johnson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
It seemed like Johnson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Johnson lands a jab to the nose.
Sheppards looks to land a left hand but Johnson moved out of range nicely.
Sheppards on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Johnson. Johnson obviously looking to wear him down.
Johnson cracks the inside of Sheppards's front leg.
Johnson tries to score with a low kick but Sheppards moves his leg out of the way.
It looked like Sheppards was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Johnson.
Johnson lets loose with a powerful body kick. Sheppards will feel that in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson looks to land a right hand but Sheppards moved out of range.
Johnson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sheppards was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
A jab from Johnson misses.
Johnson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sheppards throws out the jab.
Johnson is looking to slow Sheppards down with leg kicks.
Nice defenses there by Sheppards.
Sheppards slips a straight right by Johnson.
Johnson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Johnson.
Sheppards is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Sheppards misses with a two punch combination.
Sheppards misses with a hook. Johnson ducked under it nicely.
Sheppards lands a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws a body punch but Sheppards moves out of range.
Johnson misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Sheppards to counter with a crisp jab.
Johnson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sheppards throws a body punch but Johnson moves out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Johnson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sheppards slips under a jab.
Sheppards swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Johnson scoring well with a low kick there.
Sheppards throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A jab from Sheppards misses.
Sheppards looks to land a right hand but Johnson moved out of range.
Johnson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sheppards sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sheppards ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Carl Sheppards's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Johnson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sheppards stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sheppards takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sheppards slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A slow jab from Johnson misses its intended target.
Sheppards throws a hook but Johnson blocks it.
Johnson scores with a leg kick.
Johnson scores with the left hand. Sheppards knows he should have avoided that one.

Johnson moves into range and clinches up with Sheppards.
Johnson slowing the pace effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sheppards throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johnson thuds his right hand into Sheppards's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson feints and then cracks Sheppards's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sheppards down.
Johnson shoots in but Sheppards avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice straight punches there by Johnson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Johnson.
Johnson swings for the body but Sheppards moves out of range.
It looked like Sheppards wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sheppards misses with a looping right.
Johnson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sheppards takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Johnson shoots in but Sheppards avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sheppards is looking to counter punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheppards throws a hook to the side of Johnson's head but Johnson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice defenses there by Johnson.
Johnson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sheppards in his tracks.

Johnson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sheppards to the mat! Sheppards manages to get full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Johnson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Johnson with a nice head shot there.
Johnson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sheppards is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Nick Johnson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Sheppards preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nick Johnson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sheppards is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
Carl Sheppards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sheppards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sheppards gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Johnson.
A solid leg kick lands there for Johnson.
Johnson connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sheppards. Sheppards circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Johnson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Johnson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Sheppards down.
Johnson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Sheppards to see if he's OK.
Johnson working away.
Johnson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control the position but Sheppards is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sheppards is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Johnson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Still in half guard, Johnson seems content to control.
Johnson drops an elbow to the side of Sheppards's head.
Johnson throwing shots but Sheppards is blocking nicely.
Sheppards wants to get back to full guard.
Johnson throwing shots but Sheppards is blocking nicely.
Sheppards is looking to control Johnson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sheppards avoid being mounted?
Johnson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sheppards throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Johnson 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Johnson!
A less than humble Nick Johnson misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.