PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between August Thibodeaux (ranked 4681 p4p, 3339 weight class) and Curtis Sheppard (ranked 537 p4p, 442 weight class). 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.

Thibodeaux
vs
Sheppard

195 cm
19
186
1 - 5 - 0

191 cm
19
185
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Conviction
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, August Thibodeaux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Curtis Sheppard!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Sheppard misses the target.
Thibodeaux throws a hook but Sheppard blocks it.
Sheppard misses with an uppercut.
Sheppard moves out of range as Thibodeaux strikes.
Thibodeaux throws a head kick that misses.
Sheppard looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
An inside leg kick lands from Sheppard.
Thibodeaux misses with a body shot.
Thibodeaux swings widly with a right hand
and Thibodeaux takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sheppard chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Thibodeaux throws a wild body kick that Sheppard sees coming a mile off.
Thibodeaux tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sheppard was well out of range. Poor timing from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thibodeaux throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A countering left hand to the body from Sheppard misses.
Thibodeaux lands an overhand right.
Thibodeaux misses with a looping left.
Thibodeaux misses with an uppercut
and Sheppard counters with a slapping leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Thibodeaux misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheppard scores with a kick to the body.
Sheppard misses with a body shot.
Thibodeaux misses with a body shot.
Thibodeaux throws a shot from downtown. Sheppard moves away and avoids it.
Sheppard connects with a right hand. Thibodeaux shakes it off.
August Thibodeaux seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thibodeaux avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thibodeaux stuns Sheppard with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sheppard takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Thibodeaux throws a body punch but Sheppard moves out of range.
Thibodeaux throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sheppard wants to slow Thibodeaux down by chopping away at his legs.
Sheppard misses the shot to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Thibodeaux misses the target.
Thibodeaux throws a lazy right hand but Sheppard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thibodeaux looks to throw the jab but Sheppard is out of range.
Thibodeaux throws a chopping leg kick but Sheppard manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A countering left hand to the body from Sheppard misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard staying out of range there.
Thibodeaux backing away here, and Sheppard unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Sheppard has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Thibodeaux finds it's way round the side to connect with Sheppard's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A lazy left from Sheppard finds it's target.
Thibodeaux scores with a leg kick.
Sheppard fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Thibodeaux on the side of the head.
Thibodeaux throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thibodeaux throws a big shot that misses.
Good leg kick by Sheppard.
Thibodeaux takes a swing at Sheppard's ribcage but misses.
Thibodeaux throws a body shot but no joy.
Thibodeaux throws a shot from downtown. Sheppard moves away and avoids it.
Thibodeaux throws a lazy head kick
and Sheppard counters with a straight right hand.
A head kick misses from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux misses with a lunging right hand
and Sheppard counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Curtis Sheppard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

A swing and a miss from Sheppard.
Sheppard connects with a leg kick.
Thibodeaux tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sheppard takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Thibodeaux scores with a hook to the body. Sheppard takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thibodeaux lands a head shot.
Sheppard moves out of range of the body kick.
Sheppard throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Thibodeaux counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sheppard takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sheppard flicks out a counter leg kick but Thibodeaux steps away.
A low kick lands for Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux misses the shot to the body.
Thibodeaux delivers a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sheppard throws a hook to the side of Thibodeaux's head but Thibodeaux sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thibodeaux lands a nice looking body kick.
Sheppard paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheppard looks to throw the jab but Thibodeaux is out of range.
Thibodeaux listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sheppard connects with a jab.
Thibodeaux blocks the body kick.
The fighters circling - Sheppard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sheppard stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thibodeaux.
An inside leg kick lands from Thibodeaux.
August Thibodeaux is winning the standup battle so far.
A swing and a miss from Sheppard.
Thibodeaux smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sheppard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux throws a body kick that misses.
Sheppard throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Thibodeaux counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thibodeaux staying out of range there.
Thibodeaux looks to land a right hand but Sheppard moved out of range.
Sheppard steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Thibodeaux.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thibodeaux throws a head kick but Sheppard moves out of range.
Thibodeaux ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sheppard turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nice jab there from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux misses with an uppercut.
Sheppard takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Thibodeaux throws a predictable looking body shot
and Sheppard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Thibodeaux.
Sheppard avoids the head kick by Thibodeaux.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sheppard jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Thibodeaux throws a head kick but Sheppard moves out of range.
Sheppard scores with a jab. Thibodeaux acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Thibodeaux lands with a kick to the temple. Sheppard shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

August Thibodeaux dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Thibodeaux lands with a straight right. Sheppard didn't see that one coming.
Thibodeaux steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sheppard.
Sheppard uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux backing away here, and Sheppard unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Sheppard doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
That kick from Sheppard tenderised Thibodeaux's leg. Thibodeaux is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sheppard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thibodeaux throws a low kick but Sheppard moves out of range easily.
Thibodeaux throws a series of punches but Sheppard moves out of range.
Sheppard feints and then cracks Thibodeaux's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thibodeaux down.
Thibodeaux throws a leg kick
and Sheppard counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Decent striking displayed by Sheppard there.
Thibodeaux lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sheppard throws a poor cross that misses
and Thibodeaux counters with a stiff right hand.

Sheppard is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thibodeaux and Sheppard are patiently standing in front of each other looking for an opening. Thibodeaux throws a head kick. It's landed, knocking Sheppard into next week! Ooooh that was huge! Thibodeaux knows it - he's on the ropes flexing is biceps. That's a bit weird considering he won by kick but whatever.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). August Thibodeaux!