PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Skip McElroy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samson Sheapard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

McElroy
vs
Sheapard

204 cm
22
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Skip McElroy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Samson Sheapard!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McElroy drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sheapard wants to sweep but no luck.

McElroy stands up and waves to Sheapard to follow him.
McElroy stuffs the takedown.

Excellent takedown into side control there by McElroy.
Sheapard is looking for a sweep.

McElroy is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sheapard is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
McElroy working the body and head with strikes.
Sheapard tries to buck McElroy off but McElroy is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McElroy advances to mount.
Sheapard tries to hold on but McElroy postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sheapard is looking to get to half guard.
McElroy avoids the attempt from Sheapard to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sheapard keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
McElroy thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

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.
Sheapard is in a horrible position here. McElroy smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
McElroy landing shots from mount.
Sheapard looks gassed!
Sheapard tries to hold on but McElroy postures up.
McElroy looking to control but Sheapard is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
McElroy lands a heavy elbow.
McElroy with a couple of short strikes.
Sheapard tries to hold on but McElroy pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McElroy has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sheapard's face.
McElroy landing shots from mount.
Sheapard is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
McElroy lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sheapard hang on?

McElroy with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Sheapard is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

McElroy stands up from mount. Strange move.
Sheapard shoots for a double leg takedown but McElroy sprawls well. He's pushed Sheapard's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

McElroy changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sheapard looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheapard is trying to improve his position.

McElroy is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sheapard knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sheapard holds on to McElroy's head and controls the position momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McElroy controls the position from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Skip McElroy dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sheapard shoots in for a double leg but McElroy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sheapard wants to clinch up but McElroy keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sheapard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McElroy wants to clinch.
Nice defenses there by Sheapard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sheapard looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
McElroy fails to land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McElroy misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Skip McElroy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McElroy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McElroy wants it to stay on the feet.
McElroy is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from McElroy as Sheapard shoots in.
Skip McElroy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samson Sheapard.
McElroy throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sheapard stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
McElroy connects with the punch.
McElroy pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McElroy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

McElroy feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
McElroy trying to control but Sheapard is working from the bottom.
McElroy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sheapard is keeping the position for now.
McElroy stops Sheapard from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McElroy slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
McElroy throws a strike aimed at the side of Sheapard's head but Sheapard avoids it well.
McElroy landing a few strikes.
Sheapard regains half guard.
McElroy not doing much here.
McElroy looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Skip McElroy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McElroy trying to control the action but Sheapard is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheapard won't allow McElroy to pass to mount.
McElroy stops Sheapard from getting back to his feet.
McElroy tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sheapard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

McElroy wants to work for an arm triangle but Sheapard is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

McElroy stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
McElroy throws a right hand that Sheapard ducks under and follows up with a left that Sheapard also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sheapard lands a high kick!
Skip McElroy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sheapard closes this distance looking for a takedown but McElroy circles away.
McElroy misses with the combination.
McElroy lands a right hook to the body.
McElroy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sheapard shoots in but no luck this time.
McElroy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McElroy throws a sloppy head kick
and Sheapard counters with a head kick. That will keep McElroy thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
McElroy tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sheapard counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
No joy there for McElroy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Sheapard forces McElroy back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Skip McElroy dominated that second round.
That's time! McElroy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sheapard misses with a takedown attempt - McElroy sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sheapard has a takedown stuffed.
A lazy left from McElroy finds it's target.
No luck for McElroy with that takedown attempt.
McElroy scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

McElroy rushes Sheapard and presses him up against the cage.
McElroy is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McElroy wants to break the clinch but can't.

McElroy jumps guard and drags Sheapard to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Sheapard wants to control from the top but McElroy keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McElroy is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McElroy gets to his feet - Sheapard follows without any prompting.
Sheapard is looking to clinch.
A head kick by McElroy misses

and Sheapard counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sheapard.

Sheapard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sheapard tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and McElroy counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
McElroy has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sheapard is working for takedown but McElroy is calmly controlling the position for now.
Skip McElroy has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samson Sheapard.
Sheapard has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. McElroy avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheapard has McElroy pressed against the cage, preventing McElroy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sheapard has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. McElroy is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sheapard fails to pull guard.
McElroy is trying to break the clinch but Sheapard has him pressed against the cage.
McElroy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sheapard tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
McElroy wants to break the clinch but can't.

Sheapard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McElroy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sheapard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
McElroy throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sheapard avoids a punch combination nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sheapard is defended easily by McElroy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McElroy throws a head kick but Sheapard moves out of range.
Sheapard misses with an uppercut.
Sheapard fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Sheapard. No joy for McElroy on that attempt.
Sheapard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McElroy sprawls well. McElroy wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sheapard gets slowly back to his feet.
McElroy has a takedown stuffed.
Sheapard fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McElroy looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
McElroy will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sheapard shoots in but McElroy avoids the takedown attempt easily.
McElroy takes one on the button.
McElroy lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
McElroy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sheapard lands with a slapping head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sheapard.
McElroy is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sheapard can do to turn this around?
McElroy displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Samson Sheapard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Skip McElroy is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sheapard walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Skip McElroy showed his dominance in that final round.
Well McElroy 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Skip McElroy!