PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between German Shephard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shephard comes into the arena with K9 Justice blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Penn's choice of entrance music: Everything in its right place. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shephard
vs
Penn

180 cm
31
182 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

181 cm
25
185 lbs
9 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, German Shephard!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, James Penn!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Micheangelo Fripello and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Penn gets a takedown into half guard.
Shephard won't allow Penn to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shephard is not content to let Penn control the position.

Penn is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Penn is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Shephard defends it well.
Shephard keeping hold of Penn's head, controlling as best he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Penn is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Shephard defends it well.
Penn passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Penn tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Penn has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Shephard is looking to reverse the position.
Penn is looking to take a break and control but Shephard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Penn tries to move into full mount but can't pass Shephard's legs.
Shephard gets back to half guard.

Penn is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Penn seems to be working for a kimura but Shephard defends the submission attempt.
Shephard is trying to control but can't.
Penn wants to free his trapped foot but Shephard is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Penn is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Penn prevents Shephard from improving his position.
Penn looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn is thwarting Shephard's attempts to control the position.

Penn is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Shephard has managed to free his arm - good work.

Penn seems to be working for a kimura but Shephard defends the submission attempt.

Penn is looking for a kimura but Shephard is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Penn to get the leverage.
Penn throws a strike but Shephard avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Penn is stalling in the full guard.
Penn wants to control from the top but Shephard keeps moving.

That's four 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.
Shephard keeping full guard, as Penn tries to pass.
Shephard is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shephard throws a head kick that misses.
Penn goes for a double leg but Shephard avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shephard continues to drive forward.
Shephard scores with a push kick.
Shephard punishes Penn's body with a nice straight punch.
Penn moves out of range of the body kick.
Penn ducks under a wild hook from Shephard.
Penn throws out a counter right but Shephard avoids it with no problem.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Penn fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Penn misses with a hook.
Shephard looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Penn dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Shephard lands with a thumping leg kick.
Shephard throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Penn cracks Shephard with an open hand slap.
Penn misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Penn looks to throw the jab but Shephard is out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Shephard misses the target.
Penn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shephard.
Penn connects with a looping right hand.
Shephard misses with a looping right.
German Shephard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Penn shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Penn showed some decent athleticism there.

Penn is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Shephard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Penn's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Penn's back!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Even with his hooks in, Shephard manages to miss with strikes from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn manages to escape to a better position under a series of strikes. Shephard is now in side control.
Penn taking a bit of punishment here - Shephard scoring with strikes.
Penn is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Shephard off and has taken his back!

Penn working for the choke.

Penn is looking for the choke from the back position but Shephard is controlling his hands well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shephard tries to roll but Penn sticks to his back.

Penn is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Shephard knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Shephard for a finish.
Penn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Penn patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Penn has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Penn doesn't have the hooks in and Shephard manages to turn into his guard.
Penn keeping full guard, as Shephard tries to pass.
Shephard passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
You can see the frustration on Penn's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shephard trying to control the action but Penn is working from the bottom.

Shephard is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Penn knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to improve position but can't.
Penn taking a bit of punishment here - Shephard scoring with strikes.
Shephard trying to control the action but Penn is working from the bottom.
Penn is trying to control Shephard's posture but Shephard 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.
Penn is trying to improve his position.
Penn is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Shephard off and has taken his back!
Penn missing with strikes from the back.

Penn is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Shephard has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Shephard is in bad spot here.
Penn throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Penn controlling well, preventing Shephard from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Penn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Penn misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Shephard counters with a good low kick that Penn was not able to check.
Sloppy strikes from Penn. Those never looked like landing.
Penn lands with a hook. Shephard tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Shephard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Penn.
Shephard finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shephard throws a nice looking combination but Penn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A lazy left from Shephard finds it's target.
A big left from Shephard misses.
Penn has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penn throws an overhand right that lands on Shephard's shoulder, as Shephard tries to avoid the shot.
Shephard throwing a counter right hand but Penn manages to avoid it.
Shephard ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Penn shoots in and drives through. Shephard sprawls well.
Shephard is looking to counter with a body kick.
German Shephard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Penn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shephard misses with a straight right.
Shephard scoring well with a low kick there.
Penn closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Shephard feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Penn's calf.
Penn throws a jab when Shephard was well out of range.
Jab by Penn.
Shephard listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Shephard will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Shephard scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Shephard lets loose with a powerful body kick. Penn will feel that in the morning.
Shephard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Penn throws a big counter head kick but Shephard avoids it with no problem.
Penn takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Shephard slips under a jab from Penn.
Penn fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shephard avoids it really well and circles away.
Shephard wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
James Penn is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Penn fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A counter left hand to the body from Shephard misses its target.
Penn throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shephard sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Penn blocks a head kick by Shephard.
Shephard stuffs the takedown.
Penn fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Penn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shephard lands a leg kick that knocks Penn off balance momentarily.
Shephard ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Penn on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shephard. Shephard obviously looking to wear him down.
Penn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shephard.
Despite the aggression on Penn's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
German Shephard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shephard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Penn somewhat.
Shephard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Shephard.
Penn fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shephard avoids it really well and circles away.
Shephard looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Penn! But no joy.
Penn closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shephard circles away.
German Shephard is winning the standup battle so far.
Shephard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Penn 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.
Penn steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Shephard. That one must have hurt.
Penn fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shephard avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shephard lands with a kick to the ribs.
Penn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Penn takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Penn throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Penn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shephard throws a body shot but no joy.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Shephard.
Shephard connects with a body shot that sends Penn's belly button to the back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
That kick from Shephard tenderised Penn's leg. Penn is trying to keep his angry face on.
Shephard throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Shephard sets himself, and Penn steps forward looking for the clinch! Shephard avoids it this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
German Shephard showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Penn has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Penn!
James Penn is the new welterweight champion!
James Penn decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.