PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Sheppard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Clarence Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Sheppard
vs
Carter

183 cm
20
154 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
157 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Sheppard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Clarence Carter!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carter misses with a few strikes there.
Carter keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sheppard.

Carter scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Carter misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Carter throwing strikes but Sheppard manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Carter manages to get back to half guard.
Carter is trying to get back to full guard.
Sheppard is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Sheppard decides to stand and escape the position.
Sheppard blocks a jab.

Carter closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sheppard wants to get back to his feet but Carter drags him back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Carter is trying to ground and pound but Sheppard uses the momentary lack of control by Carter to regain half guard.
Sheppard is looking to escape.
Carter is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Carter thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Carter missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sheppard is trying to stand back up but Carter is controlling him
Carter working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sheppard pushes Carter off and gets back to his feet.
Carter misses with a wild body shot.
Sheppard throws a head kick that half lands.
Sheppard keeps the fight on the outside.
Sheppard staying out of range there.
Sheppard stuns Carter with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sheppard throws a hook but Carter blocks it.
Sheppard throws a shot from downtown. Carter moves away and avoids it.
Sheppard misses with a body shot.
Carter takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A combination from Sheppard does no damage.
Carter doesn't manage to clinch there - Sheppard circles away.
Carter clobbers Sheppard with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Carter misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Sheppard counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard moves away from the strike by Carter.
A big left from Carter misses.
Carter wants to clinch
and Sheppard counters with a straight right hand.
Sheppard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Carter closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sheppard counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Carter throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Carter has his takedown stuffed
and Sheppard counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Carter thinking.
Carter rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sheppard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sheppard throws a shot from downtown. Carter moves away and avoids it.
Sheppard thuds his right hand into Carter's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Carter misses with a takedown
and Sheppard counters with a left to the body.
Sheppard lands a two punch combo.
Sheppard works the jab nicely.

Carter decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Carter thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sheppard's head.
Sheppard is trying to stand up here but Carter is controlling him well.
Carter wants to pass the guard but Sheppard is defending well.
Sheppard regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Carter.
Carter stops Sheppard from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Clarence Carter will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sheppard scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sheppard stuffs the takedown attempt from Carter. Carter gets slowly back to his feet.
Sheppard misses with a straight right.
Sheppard connects with a body shot.
Sheppard lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Sheppard throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Carter.
Carter throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Carter is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Sheppard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Carter sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sheppard misses with a hook. Carter ducked under it nicely.
Sheppard throws a chopping leg kick but Carter manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Carter wants to clinch but Sheppard slips to the side
and Sheppard counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Carter is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Sheppard throws a nice looking combination but Carter bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Carter closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sheppard makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
John Sheppard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter misses with a straight right.
Sheppard jabs Carter right on the nose. Carter blinks but takes it well.
Sheppard ducks under a wild hook from Carter.
Sheppard fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Carter on the side of the head.
Carter looks to land a right hand but Sheppard moved out of range.
Carter with a poor takedown
and Sheppard counters with a nice body kick.
Sheppard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Carter keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sheppard.
Carter wants to clinch but Sheppard slips to the side
and Sheppard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sheppard tests Carter's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sheppard has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sheppard there as he acknowledges the shot.
Carter tries to clinch but Sheppard moves away
and Sheppard finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Sheppard misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard stuns Carter with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Clarence Carter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sheppard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sheppard tests Carter's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Carter tries to clinch
and Sheppard counters with a left to the body.
Sheppard scores with a nice right hand.
Carter throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Sheppard counter with a right hand.
Carter looks to land a left hand but Sheppard moved out of range nicely.
Carter throws a body punch but Sheppard moves out of range.
Sheppard misses with a double jab.
Carter shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sheppard counters with a stiff right hand.
John Sheppard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Clarence Carter.
Sheppard with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sheppard lands with a shot to the body.
Carter is breathing heavily.

Carter drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter stops Sheppard from standing up.
Sheppard can't keep his opponent in guard - Carter advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sheppard blocking the ground and pound attempt from Carter.
Carter trying to advance position but Sheppard counters by regaining guard.
Carter stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sheppard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carter prevents Sheppard from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Carter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Carter trying to control but Sheppard is working from the bottom.
Sheppard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Carter slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sheppard throws a jab but it's blocked by Carter.
Carter closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sheppard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A lazy left from Sheppard finds it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Sheppard dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Carter tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sheppard counters with a nice body shot.
Sheppard loads up on a big right hand but Carter slips the punch.
Carter throws a jab but it's blocked by Sheppard.
Carter staying out of range there.
Carter fails with the takedown
and Sheppard counters with a two punch combo.

Carter gets a takedown into half guard.
Carter throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sheppard on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sheppard tries to get out of the position.
Sheppard wants to get back to his feet.
Carter has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Carter trying to control the action but Sheppard is working from the bottom.
Carter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheppard looks like he's trying to stand up.
Carter is looking to advance position but Sheppard won't allow it.
Sheppard is looking to escape.
Carter missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Carter thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sheppard's head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Carter looks to throw the jab but Sheppard is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Carter closes the distance but Sheppard moves to the side
and Sheppard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sheppard delivers a nice body kick.
Sheppard displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Carter throws out the jab.

Carter shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Carter prevents Sheppard from standing back up.
Carter sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sheppard defending well though.
Carter looks to land a strike but Sheppard avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Carter throws and elbow that misses. Sheppard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Carter's guard. Nice move by Sheppard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carter tries to strike from the bottom.
Sheppard wanted to stand there but Carter had control of the position.
Sheppard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Carter wants to sweep but no luck.
Carter is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Carter with a poor takedown
and Sheppard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sheppard goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Nice uppercut there from Sheppard.
Carter misses with a takedown
enabling Sheppard to counter with a crisp jab.
John Sheppard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Clarence Carter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Carter throws a lazy right hand but Sheppard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sheppard fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Carter throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sheppard counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Carter takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sheppard throws a head kick that misses.
Sheppard jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Carter tries to clinch but Sheppard moves away
and Sheppard counters with a straight right hand.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sheppard, as that shot connected.
John Sheppard is winning the standup battle so far.
Sheppard slips a straight right by Carter.
A jab lands there for Sheppard.
Carter might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Carter closes the distance but Sheppard moves to the side
and Sheppard counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sheppard throws a hook but Carter blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Sheppard showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sheppard has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

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