PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Azman Hazardi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Sheppard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hazardi comes to the cage accompanied by Niilin hanhet. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hazardi
vs
Sheppard

188 cm
23
190 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
23
200 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Frank`s TASTE 'Q147 Recovery*45$

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Azman Hazardi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jesse Sheppard!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hazardi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sheppard is looking to regain half guard here but Hazardi keeps moving and retains side control.
Hazardi throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Sheppard is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hazardi working the strikes but Sheppard uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Hazardi throwing shots but Sheppard is blocking nicely.
Ground and pound from Hazardi.
Sheppard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hazardi.
Sheppard is not content to let Hazardi control the position.
Hazardi throwing shots but Sheppard is blocking nicely.

Hazardi is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Sheppard has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hazardi looks to land a strike but Sheppard avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazardi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hazardi wants to control from the top but Sheppard keeps moving.
Hazardi throwing strikes but missing.
Sheppard trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hazardi throwing strikes from guard but Sheppard blocks nicely.

Hazardi drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sheppard looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sheppard looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sheppard!
Hazardi tries to buck Sheppard off but Sheppard is having none of it.
Sheppard gets to mount! Hazardi was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Hazardi tries to reverse the position but Sheppard maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard avoids the attempt from Hazardi to control.
Hazardi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hazardi is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You get the feeling that Hazardi really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hazardi is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sheppard controlling from the full mount.
Hazardi wants to hold on but Sheppard pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hazardi tries to reverse the position but Sheppard maintains control.
Sheppard looking to control but Hazardi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azman Hazardi dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sheppard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sheppard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hazardi throws a nice looking combination but Sheppard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sheppard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Hazardi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sheppard won't be happy with that.
Hazardi working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Hazardi working the ground and pound but Sheppard is defending the strikes.
Hazardi working the body and head with strikes.
Hazardi looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Sheppard is avoiding damage well.
Hazardi taking a break here but Sheppard is having none of it and regains half guard.
Hazardi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sheppard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazardi is nestled in close to Sheppard, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hazardi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sheppard is looking to escape.
Sheppard is breathing heavily.
Hazardi working the head and body with strikes.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hazardi connects with a nice short shot to Sheppard's temple.
Hazardi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hazardi trying to pass the guard but Sheppard defending well.
Sheppard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hazardi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hazardi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sheppard is just riding it out for now. Hazardi eventually gives up the hold.
Hazardi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hazardi is pressing down on Sheppard's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sheppard is holding on for now.
Hazardi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hazardi is trying to control the action in half guard but Sheppard is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hazardi wants to pass to mount but Sheppard is defending the position.
Hazardi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sheppard keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sheppard is defending against the submission attempts here by Hazardi.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hazardi slips a straight right by Sheppard.
Jesse Sheppard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sheppard stuffs the takedown.
Sheppard throws a right hand that Hazardi ducks under and follows up with a left that Hazardi also avoids with ease.
Sheppard throws a sloppy head kick

and Hazardi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sheppard's guard.
Hazardi postures up in Sheppard's guard and throws a big left but Sheppard blocks it.
Hazardi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hazardi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hazardi throws a big right hand that misses.
Hazardi trying to control the position from guard on top but Sheppard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hazardi stopping the sweep attempt from Sheppard.
Sheppard is trying to keep Hazardi in close.
Azman Hazardi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sheppard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hazardi doesn't manage to clinch there - Sheppard circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azman Hazardi 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!

Hazardi fails with a takedown attempt.
Sheppard swinging wilding here.

Hazardi scores a takedown into full mount!
Hazardi avoids the attempt from Sheppard to control.
Hazardi controlling from the full mount.
Hazardi looking to land elbow strikes but Sheppard uses the position to regain half guard.
Hazardi works his foot free and advances to mount.
Sheppard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hazardi cracks Sheppard with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sheppard is in all sorts of trouble here.

Hazardi is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Sheppard has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Sheppard!
Hazardi wants to sweep but no luck.

Hazardi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sheppard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sheppard wanted to stand there but Hazardi had control of the position.
Hazardi is trying to control the position but Sheppard postures up.
Hazardi wants to hit a switch here but Sheppard passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Hazardi there!
Sheppard looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hazardi throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard trying to control but Hazardi is having none of it.
Hazardi tries to lock up and control but Sheppard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hazardi is looking to get to half guard.
Sheppard controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hazardi is trying to escape the mount.
Sheppard wants to control the pace but Hazardi is squirming around nicely.
Hazardi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sheppard takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hazardi is trying to escape the mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Azman Hazardi.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hazardi, 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 Andi Peters scores the fight for Azman Hazardi!
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight for Azman Hazardi!
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight for Azman Hazardi!

Azman Hazardi wins by unanimous decision!