PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between vladimir putin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shepard is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Remedy. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

putin
vs
Shepard

192 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
194 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Pride Of New York
Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, vladimir putin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rick Shepard!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Steve Montenegro and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
putin doesn't manage to clinch there - Shepard circles away.

putin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Shepard controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
putin wants to stand up but Shepard is controlling him.
Shepard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Shepard wants to pass the guard but putin is keeping the position.
Shepard trying to control the position from guard on top but putin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shepard won't allow putin to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
putin wants to stand and escape but Shepard is having none of it.
Shepard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
putin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

putin scores a takedown into full mount!
putin throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
putin wants to control the pace but Shepard is squirming around nicely.
Shepard wants to hold on but putin pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard tries to reverse the position but putin maintains control.
putin dominating with strikes here.
Shepard is trying to escape the mount.
putin controlling the pace for now.
putin avoids the attempt from Shepard to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
putin trying to control but Shepard is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shepard wants to control but putin is having none of it.
putin fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
putin throws some wild stikes that Shepard manages to avoid easily.
putin content just to control the position here.
Shepard is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Shepard is squirming around, avoiding putin's attempts to control the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
putin avoids the attempt from Shepard to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

vladimir putin 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.

putin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - putin lands in his opponent's guard.
putin trying to control but Shepard is working from the bottom.
putin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Shepard's guard.
putin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
putin wants to control from the top but Shepard keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
putin scoring with some ground and pound.
putin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
putin trying to control the position from guard on top but Shepard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee stands the fighters back up. vladimir putin just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Shepard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has putin pinned against the cage. putin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A decent looking cross lands there for putin.
Shepard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Shepard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and putin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Shepard is breathing heavily.
putin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
putin forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
putin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
putin trying to pass the guard but Shepard defending well.
putin is working hard here to advance position.
Still in half guard, putin seems content to control.

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.
putin scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Shepard controlling the position well.
putin thows a huge punch but Shepard dodges it nicely.
Shepard is trying to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from putin.
putin drops an elbow to the side of Shepard's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

vladimir putin dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Shepard circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shepard shoots and misses

and putin moves into the clinch.
putin missing with knees to the body.
Shepard is trying to maintain a safe position but putin gets an underhook and turns Shepard into the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, putin just misses with a elbow thrown towards Shepard's brow.
putin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shepard pulls him back up using the underhooks.

putin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
putin is looking to clinch but Shepard is avoiding it.

putin drives through and clinches with Shepard against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepard tries to pull guard but putin won't allow it.
putin is pressed up against the cage. Shepard has hold of a leg and is looking to drag putin down to the mat. putin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
vladimir putin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Shepard.
Shepard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Shepard darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
putin wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard trying to control from putin's half guard. putin has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
putin is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
putin's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
putin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
putin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Shepard controls the pace.
Shepard looking to pass the guard.
putin wants to stand up but Shepard is controlling him.
Shepard looking to sit in guard and control but putin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
putin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rick Shepard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
vladimir putin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
vladimir putin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
putin thows a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
vladimir putin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well putin 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... vladimir putin!