PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Farinelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Farinelli
vs
Shepard

175 cm
19
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Hell's Balls Fightwear

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Paulo Farinelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, John Shepard!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Glass and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Farinelli changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shepard tries to avoid it but Farinelli manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shepard to the ground. Shepard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Shepard forces Farinelli back against the cage and clinches.
Farinelli drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shepard swings wildly with an uppercut but Farinelli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Farinelli has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shepard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulo Farinelli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shepard prevents the takedown attempt.
A right hand to the body from Shepard.
Farinelli is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shepard pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Good body shot from Shepard.
Shepard lands a shot to the body.
Farinelli goes for a takedown in the clinch but Shepard prevents it.
Farinelli's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shepard scores with a shoulder strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Shepard.
Farinelli tries for a takedown. No joy.
Shepard lands a left hand.
Shepard throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Farinellis head.
Shepard throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Farinellis head.
Shepard presses Farinelli against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Farinelli has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shepard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Farinelli wants a takedown.
Farinelli is breathing heavily.
Shepard blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Shepard lands a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard lands with a short shot to the head.
Shepard prevents a body shot from Farinelli.
Farinelli takes a shot to the head.
A shot in the inside from Shepard.
Shepard lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Shepard working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Shepard throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Farinellis head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Farinelli obliges.
Shepard digs a right hand into Farinelli's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Farinelli's gas tank.
Farinelli tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shepard just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shepard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Farinelli.
Farinelli misses with a punch on the inside.
Farinelli goes for a takedown attempt but Shepard pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Shepard closes the distance and pushes Farinelli back into the cage.
Shepard stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Farinelli is looking to control Shepard's arms but Shepard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Farinelli has his back to the cage.
Farinelli drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Shepard creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Farinellis head.
Farinelli jumps guard but Shepard stands there with Farinelli around his waist. Farinelli gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Shepard lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Shepard lands a body punch.
Shepard digs a right hand underneath Farinelli's ribcage. Farinelli let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Shepard gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Farinelli.
Shepard scores with a hook to the body.
Shepard stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Shepard lands a shoulder strike.
A short right from Shepard.
Shepard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Farinelli tries for a takedown but Shepard manages to get underhooks.
Farinelli drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shepard gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Shepard scores with a shot to the side of Farinelli's head.
Farinelli tries to pull guard but Shepard won't allow it.
Shepard lands with a left to the head.
Farinelli misses with an elbow strike.
Farinelli drops down looking for an ankle pick but Shepard pulls his leg out and moves away.

Shepard rushes Farinelli and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard is leaning against Farinelli and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Farinelli tries to land a knee to the head but Shepard blocks with his arms.
Shepard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Shepard.
A short body shot lands from Shepard as the two fighters clinch.
Shepard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Shepard blocks the elbow strike.
Shepard makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Shepard lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Farinelli can't get the takedown.
A short left from Shepard.
Shepard gets through Farinelli's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Shepard prevents a takedown attempt there.
Shepard lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Farinelli backwards.
Shepard makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Shepard scores with a shot to the side of Farinelli's head.
A right hook to the body lands for Shepard.
Shepard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Shepard lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Shepard lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Farinelli looking to slow down the pace here.
Shepard lands an uppercut.
Shepard lands a body shot in the clinch.
Shepard lands a body punch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shepard.
Shepard softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Shepard.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Shepard creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Shepard lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Still in the clinch, Shepard scores with a nice short uppercut.
Farinelli missing with knees to the body.
Shepard presses Farinelli against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Shepard lands a left hand that snaps the head of Farinelli backwards.
Farinelli fails to pull guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Farinelli drops down looking for an ankle pick but Shepard pulls his leg out and moves away.
Shepard doesn't manage to clinch there - Farinelli circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Shepard dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Farinelli swats away the attempt to clinch by Shepard.
Shepard moves in looking to clinch but Farinelli pushes him off.

Farinelli forces Shepard back against the cage and clinches.
Farinelli wants a takedown but no success here.
Farinelli is trying to drag Shepard to the mat but Shepard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Shepard lands an uppercut.
Shepard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Farinelli misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shepard.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shepard.
Shepard prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulo Farinelli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shepard lands a hook that snaps the head of Farinelli backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short left from Shepard.
Farinelli has Shepard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Shepard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Farinelli misses with an elbow strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Farinelli has Shepard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Shepard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Farinelli lands an elbow inside.
Farinelli drops down looking for an ankle pick but Shepard pulls his leg out and moves away.

Shepard rushes Farinelli and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Shepard stops a takedown attempt from Farinelli.
Farinelli is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Shepard is keeping busy.
Shepard is working Farinelli over against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Shepard.
Shepard works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Shepard pushes Farinelli back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shepard is leaning against Farinelli and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Shepard working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Shepard lands a left hand.
Farinelli wants a takedown.
Still in the clinch, Shepard scores with a nice short uppercut.
Shepard lands an uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Shepard.
Shepard lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Farinelli or not.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Shepard creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Shepard lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Shepard softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Shepard lands a nice uppercut.
Shepard lands with a left to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Shepard.
A nice right hand lands inside from Shepard.
Farinelli tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shepard smiles and moves away.

Shepard has closed the distance and engaged Farinelli in a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Shepard scores with a nice short uppercut.
Shepard pushes Farinelli back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shepard lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Shepard lands a shot to the body.
Farinelli has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Shepard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Shepard.
Shepard pushes Farinelli back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shepard scores with a shoulder strike.
Farinelli is trying to drag Shepard to the mat but Shepard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Shepard lands a body punch in the clinch.
Shepard softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Farinelli looking for a takedown.
Shepard working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Shepard lands a body punch.
Shepard lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Farinelli backwards.
Nice body punch from Shepard.
Farinelli drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shepard gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Shepard digs a right hand underneath Farinelli's ribcage. Farinelli let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Shepard digs a right hand into Farinelli's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Farinelli's gas tank.
Farinelli tries for a takedown but Shepard manages to get underhooks.
A short left from Shepard.
Shepard lands a hook that snaps the head of Farinelli backwards.
Farinelli drops down looking for an ankle pick but Shepard pulls his leg out and moves away.

Shepard clinches up with Farinelli and pushes him back against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Shepard.
Shepard lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Shepard lands a shoulder strike.
Shepard lands a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Farinelli looking for a takedown.
A hook to the body from Shepard.
A short right from Shepard on the inside.
Shepard is leaning against Farinelli and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A hook to the body from Shepard.
Farinelli is trying to stall.
Shepard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Shepard lands with a right to the head.
Shepard works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Farinelli is working for takedown but Shepard is calmly controlling the position for now.
A right hand to the body from Shepard.
A short body shot lands from Shepard as the two fighters clinch.
Shepard scores with a hook to the body.
Shepard lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Farinelli backwards.
Shepard lands with a right to the head.
Shepard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Farinelli is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Shepard gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Shepard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shepard softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Shepard lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Shepard pushes Farinelli back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Shepard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Shepard!
Horrible takedown by Farinelli or perhaps it was just good defense by Shepard which made him look bad.
John Shepard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shepard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Farinelli paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shepard tries to clinch but Farinelli moves away

and Farinelli counters with a single leg into guard. Shepard didn't expect that.

Shepard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Farinelli cracks Shepard with a solid left hand.

Shepard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Farinelli can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shepard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Farinelli. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Farinelli trying to control the position from guard on top but Shepard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Farinelli pushing down on Shepard's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shepard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shepard is refusing to be controlled, as Farinelli sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Farinelli is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Shepard defends it well.

Shepard looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Shepard tries to get to full guard but Farinelli has control of the leg.
Farinelli sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shepard defending well though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shepard can do anything to dispel that myth.
Farinelli is trying to control. Shepard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Shepard trying to control here.
Farinelli wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shepard keeps working.

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

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

Shepard is trying to control Farinelli's posture. Farinelli takes advantage of the lull and advances to side control. He also appears to have an arm triangle here! Uh oh, big trouble for Shepard! Farinelli is rotating here... this could be the end... Shepard is out! Farinelli has ended this one emphatically! Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Paulo Farinelli!