PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Needadis Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Jenkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Needadis Shepard has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Shepard
vs
Jenkins

186 cm
26
220 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

150 cm
24
208 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Needadis Shepard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Richard Jenkins!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jenkins takes a kick to the side of the head.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Shepard, right into the meat.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Jenkins checks a leg kick.
Jenkins just misses with a punch to the body.
Richard Jenkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A chopping leg kick lands by Shepard.
Nice body punch from Shepard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jenkins misses with a wild combination.
Shepard feints and then cracks Jenkins's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Jenkins down.
Shepard connects with a high kick.
Jenkins throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jenkins looks gassed!
Shepard buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Shepard scores with a kick to the body.
Shepard bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Shepard takes the fight into the clinch.
Shepard landing knees to the body.
Shepard landing knees to the head.

It looks like Richard Jenkins has been cut.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shepard obliges.
Shepard working Jenkins over with knees to the body.
Shepard lands a damaging elbow.
Shepard landing knees to the head.
Shepard landing knees to the head.
Shepard connects with a knee to the head.
Shepard with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard scores with a knee to the head.
Jenkins wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shepard has him pressed against the cage.
Shepard leaning against his opponent.
Jenkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shepard.
Jenkins tries to break free but Shepard pushes him back against the cage.
Shepard connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jenkins's face.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shepard obliges.
Jenkins throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Jenkins is trying to force a seperation but Shepard has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Jenkins's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A knee to the head by Shepard.
Shepard missing with knees to the body.
Jenkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shepard.
Jenkins wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Jenkins takes a knee right on the jaw!
Shepard lands a knee to the body.
Jenkins is trying to break the clinch but Shepard has him pressed against the cage.
Shepard connects with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Jenkins's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Shepard creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Jenkins's defenses.

Jenkins pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shepard takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Shepard thumps Jenkins with a low kick.
Jenkins steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Shepard. That one must have hurt.
Shepard throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Shepard throws a nice outside leg kick.
Jenkins chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shepard can pounce on him.
Shepard scores with a spinning back kick!
Shepard throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Jenkins takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Shepard thuds a left hand into Jenkins's body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Shepard.
Shepard throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Shepard throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Jenkins's head.
Shepard lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Jenkins's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Shepard is looking to slow Jenkins down with leg kicks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shepard is looking to slow Jenkins down with leg kicks.
Jenkins misses the jab.
Shepard thumps Jenkins with a low kick.
Shepard lands a jab to Jenkins's midsection.
Shepard lands with a slapping head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Jenkins. That did some damage!
Shepard lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Shepard feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Jenkins's calf.
Shepard lands a nice leg kick that just misses Jenkins's sensitive parts.

Shepard instigates a clinch.
Jenkins is trying to break free.
Shepard lands a knee to the head.
Jenkins takes a knee to the side of the body.
Shepard lands a nice knee to the body.
Shepard lands an elbow inside.
Shepard manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Shepard with a knee to the head.
Shepard missing with knees to the body.
Shepard misses with a knee strike.
Shepard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Jenkins breaks from the clinch.
Shepard throws a leg kick which misses Jenkins's front leg but catches the back leg as Jenkins tries to avoid it.

Jenkins tries to keep at a distance but Shepard has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shepard with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard trying to control the position but instead, Jenkins has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shepard into the cage.
Jenkins wants to break free but Shepard has control.
Jenkins tries to land knees in the clinch but Shepard avoids the damage to the body.
Shepard utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Jenkins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jenkins tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A chopping leg kick lands by Jenkins.
Jenkins chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shepard can pounce on him.
Jenkins throws a lazy head kick
and Shepard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jenkins walks into a straight right hand from Shepard.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Shepard.
Shepard fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Jenkins.
Jenkins has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Shepard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shepard buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shepard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Jenkins. That did some damage!
A slapping leg kick lands for Shepard.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shepard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Needadis Shepard dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Richard Jenkins's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Jenkins steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Shepard. That one must have hurt.
Jenkins throws a lazy head kick
and Shepard counters with a leg kick.
Shepard throws a nice outside leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shepard.
Shepard scores with a leg kick.
Shepard lands with a kick to the temple. Jenkins shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Shepard throws a nice inside leg kick.
Jenkins takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Jenkins tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Shepard throws a nice outside leg kick.
Needadis Shepard is winning the standup battle so far.
Jenkins misses with a leg kick
and Shepard counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Jenkins is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jenkins chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shepard can pounce on him.
Shepard chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Shepard throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Jenkins.
Jenkins doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Shepard plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Jenkins in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shepard lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Shepard lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Jenkins takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Shepard lands a nice leg kick that just misses Jenkins's sensitive parts.
Shepard lands a nice leg kick that just misses Jenkins's sensitive parts.
Shepard lands with a thumping leg kick.
Shepard punishes Jenkins's body with a nice straight punch.
Shepard throws a leg kick which misses Jenkins's front leg but catches the back leg as Jenkins tries to avoid it.
Shepard lands a head kick!
Shepard with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Shepard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jenkins can do to turn this around?
Shepard throws a head kick that Jenkins semi-blocks.
A good leg kick by Shepard.
Shepard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Shepard throws a head kick that half lands.
A solid leg kick lands there for Shepard.

Shepard clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Shepard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Jenkins tries to circle away but Shepard has him pinned against the cage.
Jenkins takes a knee right on the jaw!
Shepard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jenkins avoids it.
Jenkins takes an elbow to the forehead.
Jenkins working hard to break the clinch.
Shepard connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jenkins's face.
Jenkins using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Shepard dodges an elbow strike from Jenkins.
Shepard prevents Jenkins from breaking the clinch.
Shepard lands a knee to the head.
Jenkins wants to break the clinch but can't.
Shepard prevents Jenkins from breaking the clinch.
Jenkins trying to land knees to the body.

Jenkins manages to break the clinch.
Shepard lands with a thumping leg kick.
Richard Jenkins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shepard bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Shepard.
Shepard connects with a solid leg kick.
Shepard connects with a high kick.
Shepard throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Jenkins misses
and Shepard counters with a nice leg kick.
Good leg kick by Shepard there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Shepard throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Jenkins's head.
A head kick by Jenkins misses
and Shepard counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shepard. That's going to slow Jenkins down.
A good leg kick by Shepard.
Shepard lands a high kick!
Jenkins throws a hook but Shepard blocks it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shepard.

Shepard moves into the clinch successfully.
Jenkins has had enough of the clinch but Shepard keeps him there for the moment.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shepard obliges.
Shepard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Jenkins tries to land knees in the clinch but Shepard avoids the damage to the body.
Jenkins tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Shepard landing knees to the head.
Shepard lands a good knee to the midsection. Jenkins won't want to take too many of those.
Shepard tries a knee to the head but Jenkins blocks it.
Needadis Shepard has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Knees in the clinch landing for Shepard.
Shepard is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Jenkins lands a nice elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Jenkins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jenkins falls off balance throwing a combination
and Shepard counters with a body kick.
Shepard throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shepard is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Jenkins throws an elbow that misses.
Jenkins throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Shepard landing knees to the head.
Shepard tries to land knees in the clinch but Jenkins avoids the damage to the body.
Jenkins tries to break free but Shepard pushes him back against the cage.
Jenkins has had enough of the clinch but Shepard keeps him there for the moment.
Jenkins wants to break free but Shepard has control.
Shepard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Shepard scores with a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepard with a knee to the head.
Jenkins wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Shepard throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shepard tries to land knees in the clinch but Jenkins avoids the damage to the body.
Shepard lands an elbow inside that Jenkins shrugs off.

Jenkins breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shepard lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Needadis Shepard dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Richard Jenkins's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Jenkins throws a nice inside leg kick.
Shepard chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A head kick by Jenkins misses

and Shepard counters by clinching up.
Jenkins is looking to break free of the clinch but Shepard has double underhooks.
Shepard landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Shepard prevents Jenkins from breaking the clinch.
Shepard using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Shepard scores with a knee to the head.
Shepard connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jenkins's face.
Shepard lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Jenkins missing with knees to the body.
Jenkins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shepard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A knee to the head by Shepard.
Shepard looking to throw knees to the head but Jenkins is blocking nicely.
Jenkins working hard to break the clinch.
Jenkins creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Jenkins has had enough of the clinch but Shepard keeps him there for the moment.
Shepard lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Shepard lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Jenkins working hard to break the clinch.
Jenkins tries to circle away but Shepard has him pinned against the cage.
Jenkins throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shepard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shepard lands an elbow that stopped Jenkins in his tracks for a moment.
Jenkins takes a knee right on the jaw!
Jenkins lands a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shepard lands a nice knee to the body.
Shepard landing knees to the head.
Jenkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shepard avoids it.
Jenkins wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shepard has him pressed against the cage.
Jenkins is trying to break the clinch but Shepard has him pressed against the cage.
Shepard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Shepard comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Shepard has Jenkins pressed against the cage, preventing Jenkins from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Shepard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shepard working Jenkins over with knees to the body.
Jenkins tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shepard is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Jenkins trying to land knees to the body.
Jenkins with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Shepard utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Shepard landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Shepard dodges an elbow strike from Jenkins.
Shepard lands an elbow inside that Jenkins shrugs off.
Knees in the clinch landing for Shepard.
Jenkins has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Shepard.
Jenkins tries to land a knee to the head but Shepard blocks with his arms.
A knee to the head by Shepard.
A frustrated look appears on Jenkins's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shepard obliges.
Shepard misses with a knee to the head.
Jenkins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shepard.
Jenkins takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Jenkins wants to get back to striking at distance but Shepard won't allow it.
Jenkins wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Jenkins wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shepard has him pressed against the cage.
Shepard lands a knee to the head.
Shepard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shepard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Shepard using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jenkins has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shepard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jenkins avoids it.
Jenkins wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Shepard with a knee to the head.
Jenkins takes a knee right on the jaw!
Shepard tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shepard managing to block the knees to the body from Jenkins.
Nice elbow from Shepard.
Shepard comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Jenkins is trying to force a seperation but Shepard has the dominant position.
Shepard looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Jenkins is trying to force a seperation but Shepard has the dominant position.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shepard obliges.
Shepard lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Shepard tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Shepard has Jenkins pressed against the cage, preventing Jenkins from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Shepard lands a damaging elbow.
Jenkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shepard avoids it.
Shepard lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Shepard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jenkins avoids it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Jenkins just misses with a elbow thrown towards Shepard's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard avoids the elbow strike from Jenkins, against the cage.
Shepard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Jenkins misses with a knee strike.
Shepard connects with a knee to the head.
Jenkins scores a nice knee to the body.
Jenkins pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Jenkins misses with an elbow strike.
Jenkins takes a knee to the side of the body.
Shepard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Jenkins's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shepard scores with a leg kick.

Shepard instigates a clinch.
A knee to the head by Shepard.
Shepard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Shepard.
Shepard scores a nice knee to the body.
Shepard looking to throw knees to the head but Jenkins is blocking nicely.

Jenkins manages to break the clinch.
Shepard slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Jenkins on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shepard. Shepard obviously looking to wear him down.
An inside leg kick lands from Shepard.

Shepard clinches up with Jenkins and pushes him back against the cage.
Jenkins on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Jenkins.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jenkins has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shepard avoiding damage as Jenkins throws knees to the body.
Shepard landing knees to the body.
Shepard avoiding damage as Jenkins throws knees to the body.
Shepard prevents Jenkins from breaking the clinch.
Shepard connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jenkins's face.
Shepard tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Jenkins just misses with a elbow thrown towards Shepard's brow.
Shepard using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Shepard tries a knee to the head but Jenkins blocks it.
A knee to the head by Shepard.
Shepard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jenkins takes a knee right on the jaw!
Richard Jenkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shepard lands an elbow that stopped Jenkins in his tracks for a moment.
Jenkins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shepard avoids it.
Jenkins with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shepard gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Jenkins wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shepard has him pressed against the cage.
Shepard scores a nice knee to the body.
Jenkins is trying to break free.
Shepard landing knees to the head.
Shepard connects with a knee to the head.
Shepard misses with a knee to the head.
Jenkins is trying to break the clinch but Shepard has him pressed against the cage.
Shepard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jenkins wants to break the clinch but can't.
Shepard connects with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Needadis Shepard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shepard 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:25
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:25
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:25

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