PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Needadis Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miksu Rupunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rupunen is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shepard
vs
Rupunen

186 cm
27
220 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
205 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Australian Xtreme - 159 Energy!

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Needadis Shepard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miksu Rupunen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Shepard. No joy for Rupunen on that attempt.
Shepard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rupunen.

Shepard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Shepard is pressed up against the cage. Rupunen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shepard down to the mat. Shepard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rupunen catches Shepard with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Shepard throws and low kick but Rupunen moves out of range easily.
Shepard fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rupunen.

Shepard drives through and clinches with Rupunen against the cage.
Shepard connects with a knee to the head.
Shepard is stalling here.

Rupunen has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Shepard is trying to keep an underhook but Rupunen manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Rupunen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rupunen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Rupunen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rupunen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupunen is trying to control the action in half guard but Shepard is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rupunen is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Shepard reverses the position - he's now on top in Rupunen's guard.

Rupunen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shepard defends well.

Rupunen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Shepard defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shepard would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rupunen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rupunen pulls Shepard in close to prevent any damage.
Rupunen looking for a sweep. Not yet Rupunen, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shepard decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rupunen, up you get!
Shepard scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Shepard forces Rupunen back against the cage and clinches.
Shepard lands a nice knee to the body.
Rupunen looks gassed!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Shepard tries a knee to the head but Rupunen blocks it.
Shepard keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rupunen's efforts to push away.
Shepard lands a good knee to the midsection. Rupunen won't want to take too many of those.
Shepard tries a knee to the head but Rupunen blocks it.
Rupunen can't get the takedown.
Needadis Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miksu Rupunen.

Rupunen is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Shepard can't fight it off and eventually Rupunen manages to take the fight to the floor. Shepard looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rupunen 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!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rupunen tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Shepard presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

Shepard is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Rupunen swinging wildly here.
Rupunen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rupunen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shepard pinned against the cage. Shepard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Needadis Shepard dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shepard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rupunen. That did some damage!
Rupunen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Shepard as he jumps to the side.

Shepard drives through and clinches with Rupunen against the cage.
Shepard landing knees to the body.
Rupunen tries for a takedown but Shepard manages to get underhooks.
Rupunen takes a knee to the side of the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shepard lands a knee to the head.
Shepard utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Shepard throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shepard is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Shepard looking to throw knees to the head but Rupunen is blocking nicely.
Shepard landing knees to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rupunen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shepard gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Needadis Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miksu Rupunen.
Shepard looking to throw knees to the head but Rupunen is blocking nicely.

Rupunen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Needadis Shepard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rupunen looks to score with a jab to the body but Shepard is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard scoring well with a low kick there.
Rupunen shoots in for a takedown but Shepard shows good takedown defense.
Shepard scores with a leg kick.
Shepard doesn't manage to clinch there - Rupunen circles away.
Rupunen throws a right hand that Shepard ducks under and follows up with a left that Shepard also avoids with ease.
Shepard chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rupunen takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Shepard wants to clinch.
Rupunen misses with a double jab.

Rupunen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rupunen is pressing down on Shepard's thigh, looking to free his foot. Shepard is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rupunen trying to control the action but Shepard is working from the bottom.
Rupunen stops Shepard from getting back to his feet.
Rupunen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rupunen with the ground and pound but Shepard uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Shepard wants to stand and escape but Rupunen is having none of it.
Rupunen throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rupunen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rupunen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shepard.
Rupunen wants to clinch
and Shepard counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Shepard lets loose with a powerful body kick. Rupunen will feel that in the morning.
Miksu Rupunen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rupunen misses with a double jab.
Rupunen shoots in but Shepard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shepard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shepard plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rupunen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shepard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rupunen somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Shepard looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Shepard thows a body kick. Rupunen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Shepard throws a nice head kick!
Shepard throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rupunen's head.
Rupunen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shepard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rupunen somewhat.
A chopping leg kick lands by Shepard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Shepard has taken the fight to the clinch.
Shepard looking to slow down the pace here.
Needadis Shepard has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Shepard effectively controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Needadis Shepard dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Shepard forces Rupunen back against the cage and clinches.
Rupunen wants a takedown but no success here.
Rupunen has Shepard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Shepard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Shepard lands a nice knee to the body.
Rupunen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shepard gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Needadis Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miksu Rupunen.
Shepard unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rupunen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees to the body from Shepard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shepard stalling the fight.
Shepard misses with a knee to the head.
Shepard tries to land a knee to the head but Rupunen blocks with his arms.
Shepard with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rupunen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Shepard prevents it.
Shepard landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Shepard tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rupunen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Shepard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Shepard trying to land knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rupunen looking for a takedown.
Shepard scores with a knee to the head.
Shepard is pressed up against the cage. Rupunen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shepard down to the mat. Shepard avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Shepard moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rupunen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shepard's waist but Shepard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rupunen off to one side.

Shepard closes the distance and pushes Rupunen back into the cage.
Rupunen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Shepard looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rupunen goes for a takedown attempt but Shepard pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Shepard wants to clinch up but Rupunen keeps it at a distance.
Needadis Shepard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shepard. That's going to slow Rupunen down.
Shepard scores with a leg kick.
Rupunen shoots for a double leg takedown but Shepard sprawls well. He's pushed Rupunen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shepard throws a head kick that Rupunen semi-blocks.
Shepard throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A chopping leg kick lands by Shepard.
Shepard fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rupunen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rupunen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Rupunen scores a takedown into full mount!
Shepard wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Shepard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rupunen can do to turn this around?

Rupunen jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Shepard is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Shepard and Rupunen has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Rupunen taking a break here but Shepard is having none of it and regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rupunen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Rupunen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Shepard won't allow Rupunen to pass to mount.

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.

Rupunen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Rupunen is working for a submission of some sort.
Miksu Rupunen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shepard is trying to stand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Needadis 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

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