PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Sheppard (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.

Smith
vs
Sheppard

160 cm
25
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Shawn Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Adam Sheppard!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Ackerman and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sheppard misses with a series of wild punches.

Sheppard shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Sheppard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Smith moves into full guard.
Sheppard wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sheppard throws a strike but Smith rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sheppard is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smith is controlling him.

Smith stands up from Sheppard's guard - Smith perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheppard shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Sheppard's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Sheppard gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Sheppard is retaining full guard.
Sheppard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.
Smith with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sheppard swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sheppard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Smith moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sheppard.
A frustrated look appears on Sheppard's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Smith has Sheppard pressed against the cage, preventing Sheppard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Smith ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Smith no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sheppard wants to get up but he can't break Smith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sheppard looks gassed!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sheppard throws and elbow that misses. Smith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sheppard's guard. Nice move by Smith!

Smith drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sheppard looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sheppard looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sheppard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard is trying to ground and pound but Smith uses the momentary lack of control by Sheppard to regain half guard.
Smith works his way to full guard. Good work.

Sheppard gets to his feet. Smith looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Smith shoots and misses

and Sheppard counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sheppard manages to get himself to full guard.
Sheppard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sheppard keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sheppard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Adam Sheppard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smith loads up on a big right hand but Sheppard slips the punch.
Sheppard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Sheppard keeps moving.
Sheppard is trying to keep Smith in close.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sheppard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith wants to control from the top but Sheppard keeps moving.
Sheppard is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith postures up in Sheppard's guard and throws a big left but Sheppard blocks it.
Smith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sheppard with a poor takedown

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sheppard's guard.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Sheppard has wrist control.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sheppard, up you get!

Sheppard darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Sheppard decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Shawn Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Smith moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to pull guard but Sheppard holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.
Sheppard is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Shawn Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Sheppard.
Sheppard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Smith has Sheppard pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Smith pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Sheppard tumbling to the mat - Smith dives into Sheppard's guard.
Smith stops Sheppard from standing up.
Smith wants to control from the top but Sheppard keeps moving.

Smith decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sheppard drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sheppard tries to move to full mount but Smith actually manages to regain half guard.
Sheppard tries to stand and escape but Smith actually recovers to full guard.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sheppard tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Smith has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Smith dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sheppard with a poor takedown

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Smith trying to control but Sheppard is working from the bottom.
Shawn Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smith postures up in Sheppard's guard and throws a big left but Sheppard blocks it.
Smith is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Sheppard blocks nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws and elbow that misses. Sheppard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by Sheppard!
Sheppard wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sheppard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith moves away from the strike by Sheppard.
Sheppard tries to clinch up.
Smith moves out of range of the body kick.
Sheppard fails to land with a series of punches.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sheppard keeps working.
Smith misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Smith fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Smith is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Smith throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Smith throws an elbow but Sheppard slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Smith wants to control but Sheppard is keeping him busy.
Smith creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sheppard sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Smith working the ground and pound but Sheppard is defending the strikes.
Sheppard is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.

Smith has an Americana. Sheppard didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Smith is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Smith hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Shawn Smith!