PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Victor Sheppard (ranked 6302 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shahin Nafisi (ranked 6788 p4p, 0 weight class). Shahin Nafisi has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Victor Sheppard's chin.

Sheppard
vs
Nafisi

176 cm
21
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
183 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Victor Sheppard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shahin Nafisi!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sheppard shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Sheppard decides to return to a standing position.
Nafisi tries to bum rush Sheppard with a series of wild strikes but Sheppard uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shahin Nafisi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nafisi throws a lazy head kick

and Sheppard counters by clinching up.

Sheppard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nafisi throws a right and a left that Sheppard avoids nicely.
Nafisi throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Sheppard counter with a right hand.

Sheppard throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Nafisi was covering up waiting for the punch and Sheppard finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Nafisi is wriggling around but Sheppard manages to pass to half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sheppard seems to be working for a kimura but Nafisi defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nafisi is looking to improve his position.

Sheppard stands up and beckons Nafisi to join him on the feet.
Nafisi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sheppard tries to counter by clinching up but Nafisi breaks away and moves out of range.
Nafisi misses the shot to the body.
Nafisi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
As Nafisi tries to get set, Sheppard tries to push him back and clinch up but Nafisi manages to avoid the attempt.
Nafisi shoots in for a takedown but Sheppard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sheppard is looking to counter the offense by Nafisi and move into the clinch.
Nafisi looks winded!
Nafisi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sheppard counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Nafisi thinking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nafisi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nafisi throws a right hand that Sheppard ducks under and follows up with a left that Sheppard also avoids with ease.
Sheppard avoids a punch combination nicely.

Nafisi gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sheppard to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Sheppard stands and steps away. Nafisi gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Nafisi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nafisi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sheppard could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nafisi fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sheppard shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nafisi's guard.
Nafisi is wriggling around but Sheppard manages to pass to half guard.

Sheppard seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Sheppard gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nafisi misses with a double jab
and Sheppard counters with a right hand to the body.
Nafisi tries a head kick but it misses.
Sheppard wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Sheppard throws a body kick that misses.
Sheppard jabs at Nafisi's body.

Sheppard closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nafisi to the mat! Nafisi manages to get full guard.

Sheppard decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Sheppard takes the fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nafisi stops a takedown attempt from Sheppard.
Sheppard tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Sheppard dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nafisi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sheppard circles away quickly and effectively.
Sheppard shoots in looking for a takedown but Nafisi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sheppard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sheppard fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Nafisi avoids it really well and circles away.
Nafisi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nafisi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sheppard counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sheppard.
Sheppard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nafisi can do to turn this around?
Sheppard taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nafisi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nafisi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sheppard chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Nafisi can pounce on him.

Sheppard changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nafisi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Nafisi wants to get back to his feet but Sheppard is dominant here and he's now got Nafisi's back!
Nafisi is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheppard controlling the position well here. Nafisi rolled but Sheppard kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Nafisi is trying to stand back up.
Sheppard trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Nafisi doesn't escape.
Nafisi is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Nafisi is in bad spot here.
Sheppard is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
You can see the frustration on Nafisi's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Sheppard slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Nafisi is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Nafisi right now.
Nafisi is in bad spot here.
Sheppard keeps control of the position easily here as Nafisi tries to buck him off.
Nafisi trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Nafisi is trying to break free.

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.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Sheppard has the hooks in. Nafisi is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
We've been informed that Nafisi has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sheppard biding his time, looking for the opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Sheppard dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Nafisi scores with a jab to the head.
Sheppard dodges the punch combination from Nafisi.

Sheppard looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Nafisi is trying to control the position but Sheppard postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sheppard decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nafisi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sheppard circles away quickly and effectively.
Nafisi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nafisi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sheppard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sheppard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nafisi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
As Nafisi tries to get set, Sheppard tries to push him back and clinch up but Nafisi manages to avoid the attempt.
Sheppard throws the kick towards the body but Nafisi avoids it.
Nafisi unleashes a big counter combination but Sheppard bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Nafisi fails to land with a series of punches.
Sheppard tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Nafisi manages to circle out of the way.
Sheppard lands with a shot to the body.
Nafisi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A head kick misses from Sheppard.

Sheppard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nafisi, pushing him back against the cage.

Sheppard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nafisi connects with a solid leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Sheppard checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sheppard thinks about countering with a head kick.
Sheppard throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nafisi's waist but Nafisi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sheppard off to one side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Nafisi misses.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sheppard or perhaps it was just good defense by Nafisi, which made it look bad.
Sheppard is looking to wear down Nafisi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Sheppard looks to score with a jab to the body but Nafisi is just out of range.
Nafisi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
No luck for Sheppard with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Victor Sheppard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sheppard misses with a body shot.
Shahin Nafisi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sheppard lands with a right hand.
Nafisi throws a right hand that Sheppard ducks under and follows up with a left that Sheppard also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nafisi throws a leg kick but Sheppard sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sheppard swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sheppard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nafisi.
Sheppard shoots in for a takedown but Nafisi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sheppard fails with a takedown attempt.
Nafisi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Shahin Nafisi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nafisi throws a one two combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sheppard decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Sheppard stands up out of the half guard.
Nafisi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nafisi avoids the body shot from Sheppard.
Nafisi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nafisi throws a head kick but Sheppard moves out of range.
Sheppard fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sheppard with a lazy takedown attempt
and Nafisi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Victor Sheppard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nafisi throws a left and a right that both miss

and Sheppard moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shahin Nafisi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

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