PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Beast Mode (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Beast Mode is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Shepard
vs
Mode

189 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
22
152 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paul Shepard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Beast Mode!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Mode.

Mode throws a left that rocks Shepard and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Mode dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Shepard regain composure!

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

Mode is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shepard knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shepard struggling a bit here.
Shepard is trying to improve his position.
Shepard is trying to control Mode's posture but Mode avoids it.
Shepard is not content to let Mode control the position.
Mode looks gassed!
Shepard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mode wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Shepard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mode trying to control the action but Shepard is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shepard takes a jab right on the kisser.
Shepard chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Mode shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shepard but Shepard pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Shepard clinches up with Mode and pushes him back against the cage.

Shepard manages to pull guard.
Shepard lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mode!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard dominating with strikes here.
Shepard sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Shepard has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Mode's face.
Shepard controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shepard'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.

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.
Shepard seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mode for as long as he can get away with.
Shepard landing strikes, looking to finish!
Shepard controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Paul Shepard will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mode slaps away a takedown attempt from Shepard, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Shepard scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
A lull in the action here.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Paul Shepard just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Shepard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mode tries to escape but Shepard is in control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shepard is chipping away with strikes.

Shepard wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mode, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Mode's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Shepard decides to stand back up. Shepard steps back and let's Mode get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mode loads up on a big right hand but Shepard slips the punch.

Shepard rushes Mode and presses him up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Mode's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Shepard stalling in the clinch.

Shepard gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Shepard controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mode is trying to get back to full guard.
Mode is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Shepard decides to stand and escape the position.

Shepard feints and as Mode raises his hands in defense, Shepard changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Shepard stands and steps away. Mode gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Mode.
Mode fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mode darts in trying to clinch

and Shepard counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mode won't be happy with that.
Shepard just content to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Shepard dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Mode changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Shepard looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Shepard is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Mode off and has taken his back!
Shepard cracks Mode with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Mode from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Shepard controls the position.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Shepard. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

Shepard has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Shepard softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Shepard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mode trying to control the hands but Shepard breaks the grip.

Shepard looking for the choke from the back.
Mode holding both Shepard 's hands and preventing any damage.

Shepard looking to break Mode's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Mode remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Shepard will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Mode. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

Mode defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Shepard wants to control but Mode manages to buck him off and is now in Shepard's guard! Nice work there by Mode!

Mode gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mode throws a series of punches but Shepard avoids them all with ease.

Shepard closes the distance and clinches.
Mode tries to circle away but Shepard has him pinned against the cage.
Mode is trying to break free.
Shepard lands with a left to the head.

Shepard gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Shepard moves into full mount! Mode won't be happy about that!
Shepard avoids the attempt from Mode to control.
Shepard controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Shepard sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Shepard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shepard, 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:26
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:26
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Shepard!