PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Needadis Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Michalski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Michalski has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Needadis Shepard's chin.

Shepard
vs
Michalski

186 cm
27
220 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

195 cm
24
208 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 9 - 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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexander Michalski!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepard throws a sloppy head kick and Michalski moves out of range easily.
Shepard takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Michalski tests Shepard's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Michalski shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Michalski was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Shepard is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Michalski throws some wild stikes that Shepard manages to avoid easily.
Michalski throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Shepard because Michalski loaded up on that one.
Shepard wants to try and get back to his feet.
Michalski landing punches.
You get the feeling that Shepard really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Michalski 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shepard wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Michalski.
Michalski looking to control but Shepard is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Michalski lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Shepard hang on?
Shepard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Michalski on the ground.

Michalski looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Michalski is landing with some decent strikes but Shepard is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michalski looking to finish with strikes here!
Shepard manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Shepard, under a barage of strikes from Michalski.
Michalski throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Michalski with the ground and pound but Shepard uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Michalski has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Michalski wants to control from the top but Shepard keeps moving.
Michalski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Michalski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shepard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michalski trying to control the position from guard on top but Shepard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Michalski shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Michalski showed some decent athleticism there.
Michalski not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Michalski thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shepard's head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Michalski lands with a punch from half guard.
Michalski throwing shots but Shepard is blocking nicely.

Michalski wants to work for an arm triangle but Shepard is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Shepard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Michalski.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Michalski wants to control but Shepard is keeping him busy.
Michalski is pressing down on Shepard's thigh, looking to free his foot. Shepard is holding on for now.
Shepard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Michalski scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Shepard blocking the ground and pound attempt from Michalski.
Michalski lands strikes from half guard.
Michalski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Michalski dominated that round.
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.

Michalski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Shepard lands with a kick to the ribs.
Michalski uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Shepard has time to react.
Michalski's corner calls for a 1-2. Michalski obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Alexander Michalski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Michalski tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shepard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Michalski somewhat.
Michalski jabs at Shepard's body.
Michalski checks a leg kick nicely.
Shepard takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Shepard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Michalski moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Shepard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Michalski.
Shepard throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Shepard avoids the body shot from Michalski.
Michalski sizes up Shepard with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A lazy left from Michalski finds it's target.
Michalski fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michalski looks for a takedown but Shepard sprawls well.
Needadis Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Michalski.
Michalski throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shepard staying out of range there.
Shepard misses with a body kick.
Michalski avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Michalski bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Shepard's head.
Shepard plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Shepard tries to land a leg kick but Michalski saw it coming and moves away.
Michalski dips to his left and cracks Shepard with an uppercut!
Michalski throws a right and a left that both miss.
Michalski avoids the head kick by Shepard.
Michalski has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Michalski lands with a kick to the temple. Shepard shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Michalski shoots in for a double leg but Shepard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shepard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alexander Michalski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Michalski scores with a jab to the jaw.
Michalski displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Shepard takes the fight into the clinch.
Michalski is working for takedown but Shepard is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michalski blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shepard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Michalski avoids it.
Shepard unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Michalski is breathing heavily.
Shepard is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Michalski is defending well for now.
Shepard scores with a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shepard with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Michalski is leaning against Shepard and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Michalski tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Michalski stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Shepard scores with a knee to the head.
Michalski has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shepard is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Shepard is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Shepard with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Michalski has Shepard pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Michalski pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Shepard tumbling to the mat - Michalski dives into Shepard's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shepard is looking to stand up but Michalski isn't so interested in that idea.
Michalski scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michalski stops Shepard from standing up.

Michalski drops back, looking for a kneebar! Shepard looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Shepard looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Shepard!
Michalski is looking for a sweep.
Shepard tries to stand but Michalski is controlling his head.
Michalski manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

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.
Michalski regains full guard. Nicely done.
Shepard won't allow Michalski to sweep him here.
Michalski lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Shepard!
Shepard holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Michalski tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Michalski punching from mount but Shepard doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Shepard wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Michalski.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Needadis Shepard will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Michalski loads up on a big right hand but Shepard slips the punch.
Michalski keeps the fight on the outside.
Michalski throws a sloppy head kick and Shepard moves out of range easily.
Shepard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Michalski counters with a single leg into guard. Shepard didn't expect that.
Michalski trying to control but Shepard is working from the bottom.
Michalski trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Shepard manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Shepard preventing the sweep.

Michalski has his feet on Shepard's thighs here. He's pushed Shepard off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Shepard screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alexander Michalski!