PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dario Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Jozic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shepard comes to the cage accompanied by Disturbed - Down With The Sickness. Dario Shepard could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ben Jozic's chin.

Shepard
vs
Jozic

171 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dario Shepard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ben Jozic!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jozic tries to clinch there but Shepard circles away.

Shepard gets a takedown into half guard.
Shepard keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like Shepard is going to stand back up.
Shepard perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shepard stands up and beckons Jozic to join him on the feet.

Jozic shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Jozic was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Shepard can't escape the position.
Shepard is breathing heavily.
Jozic can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shepard is looking to escape.
Shepard is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Jozic controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jozic is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Shepard wants to hold on but Jozic pushes him away.
Shepard is in all sorts of trouble here.
Jozic unloading with bombs!
Shepard is working to get back to half guard.
Jozic looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Shepard keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Jozic can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shepard is looking to escape.
Shepard is in a horrible position here. Jozic smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard wants to control but Jozic is having none of it.
Jozic can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shepard is looking to escape.
Shepard avoids a strike by Jozic and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Jozic's guard! Fantastic escape!
Jozic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Shepard wants to control from the top but Jozic keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Shepard wants to clinch.
Jozic tries to clinch but Shepard is having none of it.
Jozic shoots and misses

and Shepard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Shepard drops down looking for an ankle pick but Jozic pulls his leg out and moves away.
Jozic misses with a takedown

and Shepard counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Shepard wants to control but Jozic is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dario Shepard dominated that round.
That's time! Shepard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A decent looking body kick lands there for Jozic.

Shepard has closed the distance and engaged Jozic in a clinch.
Shepard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jozic just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jozic fails to pull guard.
Jozic gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shepard.
Jozic is trying to break free.
Jozic wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Shepard has picked Jozic up - he's going for a ride! Shepard dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Jozic tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Jozic is trying to get back to full guard.
Jozic preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard is thwarting Jozic's attempts to control the position.
Shepard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Shepard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jozic doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shepard.
Shepard tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Jozic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jozic is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shepard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jozic counters with an outside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dario Shepard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jozic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Shepard misses with a takedown attempt

and Jozic counters with a single leg into guard. Shepard didn't expect that.
Shepard wants to sweep but no luck.

Jozic thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shepard is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Shepard tries to score a body lock takedown but Jozic shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shepard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jozic throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Jozic.
Good leg kick by Shepard there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Dario Shepard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice sprawl there from Shepard as Jozic shoots in.
Jozic misses with a takedown attempt - Shepard sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Shepard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Shepard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shepard stands up and waves to Jozic to follow him.

Shepard scores a takedown into full mount!
Jozic is looking to get to half guard.
Shepard looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dario Shepard dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Shepard closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Shepard is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Jozic has managed to free his arm - good work.
Jozic is trying to stand back up but Shepard is controlling him
Jozic is staying active underneath Shepard, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Shepard is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Jozic defends it well.
Shepard wants to take a breather but Jozic is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jozic is looking to control Shepard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jozic avoid being mounted?
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jozic darts in trying to clinch

and Shepard counters with a takedown into side control.
Shepard is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Jozic regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shepard stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Nice sprawl there from Shepard as Jozic shoots in.
Shepard closes the distance and clinches up with Jozic, looking for a takedown. Shepard pushes Jozic against the cage but Jozic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jozic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shepard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jozic swivels and escapes.
Jozic wants to clinch but Shepard slips to the side

and Shepard counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard content to control rather than advance.
Jozic has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shepard is working away from the top position though.
Shepard is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Jozic!
Dario Shepard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shepard takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Shepard is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Jozic can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shepard controlling his opponent.
Shepard has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Shepard seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Jozic for as long as he can get away with.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dario Shepard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shepard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27

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