PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Max Cavalera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and German Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cavalera
vs
Shepherd

160 cm
22
148 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Max Cavalera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, German Shepherd!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepherd throws a head kick that misses.
Shepherd tries to clinch but Cavalera is having none of it.

Cavalera has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cavalera wants to break free but Shepherd has control.
Shepherd lands an elbow that stopped Cavalera in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Max Cavalera has been cut.
Shepherd stalling in the clinch but Cavalera improves position.
Cavalera wants a takedown.
Shepherd lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Shepherd is trying to maintain a safe position but Cavalera gets an underhook and turns Shepherd into the cage.
Shepherd misses with a knee to the head.
Shepherd misses with a knee to the head.
A short right from Shepherd on the inside.
Shepherd looking to throw knees to the head but Cavalera is blocking nicely.
With the fighters up against the cage, Shepherd throws an elbow but misses.
Shepherd throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cavaleras head.
Stalling in the clinch from Shepherd.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepherd misses with a knee strike.
Cavalera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Cavalera tries for a takedown but Shepherd manages to get underhooks.
Shepherd with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Shepherd stalling in the clinch but Cavalera improves position.
Cavalera dodges an elbow strike from Shepherd.
Shepherd lands a right hand that snaps the head of Cavalera backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shepherd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepherd working aggressively here.
Cavalera is trying to drag Shepherd to the mat but Shepherd just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max Cavalera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shepherd tries to stall but Cavalera uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Shepherd comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Shepherd lands a body punch.
Cavalera has Shepherd pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Shepherd manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Shepherd tries to land knees in the clinch but Cavalera avoids the damage to the body.
Shepherd is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Cavalera's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cavalera.
Shepherd is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Shepherd throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cavalera blocks it with crossed arms.
Shepherd misses with a hook from the clinch.
Shepherd throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shepherd gets underhooks to prevent Cavalera's takedown attempt.
Cavalera lands a left hand.

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.
Shepherd is trying to maintain a safe position but Cavalera gets an underhook and turns Shepherd into the cage.
Cavalera tries to circle away but Shepherd has him pinned against the cage.
Cavalera tries to pull guard but Shepherd holds him up against the cage and eventually Cavalera drops back down to his feet.
Shepherd misses with some punches.
Cavalera fails to pull guard.
Shepherd misses with the head strike.

Cavalera escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Cavalera instigates a clinch.
Cavalera tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shepherd creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cavalera's defenses.
Cavalera is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shepherd pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cavalera tries a knee to the head but Shepherd blocks it.
Shepherd throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Shepherd creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cavalera's defenses.
Cavalera jumps guard but Shepherd stands there with Cavalera around his waist. Cavalera gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cavalera blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cavalera looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A short uppercut from Shepherd.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shepherd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cavalera drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cavalera misses with the head strike.
Shepherd stalling in the clinch but Cavalera improves position.
Shepherd pushes off an throws an elbow but Cavalera leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Cavalera drops down looking for an ankle pick but Shepherd pulls his leg out and moves away.
Shepherd tries to clinch but Cavalera moves away

and Cavalera counters with a takedown into side control.
Cavalera is breathing heavily.
The ground and pound from Cavalera seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Shepherd is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cavalera asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Cavalera tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cavalera wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shepherd, who protects the arm well.
Cavalera prevents Shepherd from escaping the position.
Cavalera remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Cavalera stands up and beckons Shepherd to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Cavalera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Max Cavalera's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cavalera looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shepherd is fending him off so far but Cavalera persists. Nope, Shepherd circles away and we're back to standing.

Cavalera shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Cavalera might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Shepherd keeping full guard, as Cavalera tries to pass.
Shepherd wants to stand and escape but Cavalera is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shepherd being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cavalera won't allow Shepherd to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shepherd scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Shepherd is breathing heavily.

Cavalera closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Shepherd to the mat! Shepherd manages to get full guard.
Cavalera slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Shepherd wants to stand and escape but Cavalera is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cavalera drops back, looking for a kneebar! Shepherd looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Shepherd looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Shepherd!
Shepherd tries to get to his feet but Cavalera is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Shepherd in his guard.
Cavalera is pulling down on Shepherd's head. It's preventing any offense from Shepherd, at least for the moment.
Shepherd wants to stand but Cavalera is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cavalera pushes Shepherd off and scrambles back to his feet.
Shepherd throws a right hand that Cavalera ducks under and follows up with a left that Cavalera also avoids with ease.
Shepherd looks to clinch

and Cavalera counters by moving into the clinch.
Cavalera is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Shepherd misses with a knee to the head.

Cavalera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shepherd tries to clinch but Cavalera moves away
and Cavalera counters with a nice kick to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Shepherd. No joy for Cavalera on that attempt.
Shepherd closes the distance looking to clinch

and Cavalera counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shepherd won't be happy with that.
The referee asks Cavalera politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Cavalera prefers to stall for the moment though.
Max Cavalera overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shepherd tries to escape but Cavalera is in control.
Cavalera just content to control the position.
Shepherd is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Cavalera dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Max Cavalera's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cavalera throws a series of punches but Shepherd moves out of range.
Shepherd throws a head kick but Cavalera moves out of range.
Shepherd tries to clinch up
and Cavalera counters with a series of strikes. Shepherd will be more careful next time no doubt.

Shepherd moves into the clinch.
Cavalera wants a takedown.
Shepherd trying to control the position but instead, Cavalera has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shepherd into the cage.
Shepherd lands a damaging elbow.
Shepherd looking to slow down the pace here.

Cavalera breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Cavalera is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shepherd's half guard.
Cavalera prevents Shepherd from standing back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shepherd manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Shepherd tries to clinch up

and Cavalera counters by moving into the clinch.

Cavalera has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Shepherd uses from the top position.
Shepherd wants to stand and escape but instead Cavalera has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Cavalera controlling from the top position.
Shepherd wants to get back to his feet but Cavalera is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cavalera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Shepherd wants to stand up but Cavalera is controlling him.
Cavalera content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cavalera wants to control from the top but Shepherd keeps moving.
Cavalera controlling from the top position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Max Cavalera just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Shepherd misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shepherd bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cavalera's head.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shepherd is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Shepherd creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cavalera's defenses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Cavalera takes an elbow to the temple.
Shepherd has a couple of punches blocked by Cavalera.
Cavalera fails to pull guard.

Cavalera escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shepherd wants to clinch

and Cavalera counters by clinching up.
Cavalera blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
German Shepherd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Max Cavalera is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A head punch on the inside from Shepherd fails to land.
Shepherd misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Cavalera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cavalera, 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Cavalera!