PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Needadis Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brett Landers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Landers has chosen The Sounds - Tony The Beat as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shepard
vs
Landers

186 cm
26
220 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

184 cm
26
215 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Needadis Shepard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brett Landers!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Landers tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shepard swivels and escapes.
Shepard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shepard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Landers.
Landers has a takedown stuffed.
Needadis Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett Landers.
Shepard throws a chopping leg kick but Landers manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shepard.
Landers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shepard is fending him off so far but Landers persists. Nope, Shepard circles away and we're back to standing.
Landers avoids the head kick by Shepard.
Landers is looking to clinch but Shepard is avoiding it.
Shepard lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Good work by Landers as he checks the leg kick.
Landers keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shepard.
Shepard scores with a leg kick.
Needadis Shepard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Landers fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shepard avoids it really well and circles away.
Landers looks gassed!
Shepard throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Brett Landers has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Shepard, right into the meat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shepard. That's going to slow Landers down.
Shepard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Landers shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shepard as he avoids it easily.
Shepard moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Shepard looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Landers takes a kick to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Landers blocks a head kick by Shepard.
Shepard throws a body punch but Landers moves out of range.
Shepard stuffs the takedown attempt from Landers. Landers gets slowly back to his feet.
Needadis Shepard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shepard tries a head kick but it misses.
Landers avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Shepard throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Shepard buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Shepard is looking to slow Landers down with leg kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Shepard, right into the meat.
Landers blocks a head kick by Shepard.
Shepard lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Landers shoots in looking for a takedown. Shepard tries to sprawl out of it but Landers keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shepard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Landers chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shepard can pounce on him.
Landers stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Shepard.
Shepard cracks the inside of Landers's front leg.
Landers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shepard is fending him off so far but Landers persists. Nope, Shepard circles away and we're back to standing.
Shepard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shepard connects with a solid leg kick.
Landers takes a kick to the side of the head.
Shepard lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Landers on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shepard. Shepard obviously looking to wear him down.
Shepard throws a leg kick which misses Landers's front leg but catches the back leg as Landers tries to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard throws a nice outside leg kick.
Shepard scores with a head kick.
Shepard throws a nice inside leg kick.
Landers takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Shepard with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Shepard with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Shepard throws a head kick but Landers moves out of range.
Shepard lands with a kick to the temple. Landers shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Shepard moves into the clinch.
Landers takes an elbow to the temple.

That has opened up Brett Landers's cut even more.
Landers drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Landers tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shepard smiles and moves away.
Shepard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shepard scores with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Landers's calf.
Shepard lands a nice leg kick that just misses Landers's sensitive parts.
Shepard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Landers's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Landers takes a kick to the side of the head.
Shepard scoring well with a low kick there.
Landers tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Shepard counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Landers is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Shepard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Shepard lands with a slapping head kick.
Shepard lands a lovely overhand right.

The cut above Brett Landers's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Landers shoots for a takedown but Shepard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shepard scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shepard feints and then cracks Landers's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Landers down.
Landers on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shepard. Shepard obviously looking to wear him down.
Shepard throws a nice outside leg kick.
Shepard with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Needadis Shepard dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brett Landers's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Landers shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shepard but Shepard pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shepard misses with a leg kick.
Shepard chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Landers closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Landers lands in his opponent's guard.
Landers won't allow Shepard to get back to his feet.
Landers throws a big right hand that misses.
Shepard looking to control.
Landers postures up in Shepard's guard and throws a big left but Shepard blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Landers accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shepard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard keeping moving, preventing Landers from controlling successfully.
Shepard on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shepard tries to get out of the position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Shepard throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Landers's head.
Landers looks for a takedown but Shepard sprawls well.
Shepard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Good leg kick by Shepard there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Shepard chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Good work by Landers as he checks the leg kick.
Shepard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Shepard gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Landers blocks the elbow strike.
Shepard throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Landers tries for a takedown. No joy.
Needadis Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett Landers.
Landers drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shepard gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Shepard is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Shepard misses with a knee strike.
Landers misses with a punch to the body.
Shepard lands a nice knee to the body.
Shepard lands a knee to the head.
Landers is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Shepard pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Shepard gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Shepard stops a takedown attempt from Landers.
Shepard creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Shepard crunches a lovely knee into Landers's ribcage.
Landers can't get the takedown.
Shepard misses with a knee strike.

Landers manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Landers 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Landers is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Landers with a flurry of punches that miss.
Landers missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Landers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Landers is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Landers tries to free his leg and advance position but Shepard is retaining full guard.
Landers throws a big right hand that misses.
Landers throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shepard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shepard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Landers can do to turn this around?
Shepard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Landers is one step ahead there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Landers shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shepard feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Landers's calf.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shepard. That's going to slow Landers down.
Some bone on bone action there as Landers checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Shepard cracks the inside of Landers's front leg.
Landers takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Landers blocks a head kick by Shepard.
Shepard tried to score with a low kick but Landers checks it.
Landers shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shepard pinned against the cage. Shepard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Landers tries to close the distance and clinch but Shepard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Shepard.
Shepard lands a nice leg kick that just misses Landers's sensitive parts.

Landers is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shepard's half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Needadis Shepard dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brett Landers's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Landers avoids the head kick by Shepard.
Shepard leaves Landers with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shepard throws a quick inside leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Landers is defended easily by Shepard.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Shepard.
Shepard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Landers. That did some damage!
Shepard tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Landers is able to avoid easily.
Shepard tried to score with a low kick but Landers checks it.
Landers takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Shepard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shepard scores with a leg kick.
Shepard throws a leg kick which misses Landers's front leg but catches the back leg as Landers tries to avoid it.
Needadis Shepard is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shepard rushes Landers and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Shepard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Landers blocks it with crossed arms.
Shepard gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Landers.
Needadis Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brett Landers.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Shepard lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Shepard missing with knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Shepard throws an elbow but misses.
Shepard missing with knees to the body.
Shepard throws a knee to the head but misses.

Landers works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Shepard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Landers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Landers stops Shepard from standing up.
Shepard keeping moving, preventing Landers from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Landers with a nice head shot there.
Landers throwing strikes but missing.
Landers throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Landers moves into the clinch.
Shepard gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Landers.
Shepard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Landers blocks it with crossed arms.
Landers avoids the elbow strike from Shepard, against the cage.
Landers blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Landers wants the takedown. Shepard is fighting it off but Landers persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Shepard's guard against the cage.
Shepard keeping moving, preventing Landers from controlling successfully.
Landers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shepard is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard wants to sweep here but Landers controlling him for the moment.
Landers loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Landers throwing strikes but missing.
Needadis Shepard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Landers has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Landers accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Landers makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shepard wants to stand up but Landers is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Shepard throws the kick towards the body but Landers avoids it.
Shepard throws a low kick but Landers avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Landers avoids the head kick by Shepard.
Landers shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Shepard as he jumps to the side.
Shepard thumps Landers with a low kick.
Landers shoots in for a takedown but Shepard shows good takedown defense.
Shepard throws a nice outside leg kick.
Landers takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Landers takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Brett Landers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shepard lands with a kick to the temple. Landers shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Shepard lands with a kick to the temple. Landers shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Shepard throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Landers.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Landers stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Shepard.
Landers avoids the head kick by Shepard.

Landers looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Landers throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Needadis Shepard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shepard, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:26
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Needadis Shepard!