PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Shepherd has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shepherd
vs
Smith

183 cm
24
185 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Elite Golden Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Shepherd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Richard Smith!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No luck for Smith with that takedown attempt.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Shepherd swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Smith fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shepherd sprawls well initially but Smith persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Smith wants to pass to mount but Shepherd is defending the position.
Shepherd is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Shepherd is working hard here to advance position.

Shepherd looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smith winds up and cracks Shepherd with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Shepherd moves into full guard.
Shepherd wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shepherd looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smith throws a big right hand that misses.
Shepherd keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shepherd has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.

Shepherd working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.
Smith trying to control but Shepherd is working from the bottom.

Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Shepherd is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Shepherd.
Smith sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd looking for a sweep. Not yet Shepherd, not yet.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

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

Shepherd is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Smith passes into half guard.
Smith tries to stand but can't do so whilst Shepherd controls his leg.

Shepherd looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smith scores with a couple of nice shots.
Smith tries to pass the half guard into mount. Shepherd knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Shepherd is pressing down on Smith's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Smith looking to pass the guard.

Shepherd has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.

Shepherd looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
Smith trying to control but Shepherd is working from the bottom.

Shepherd is looking to sinch up a triangle. Smith throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Shepherd's body to avoid the submission. Shepherd has instead reached around Smith's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Shepherd arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). John Shepherd!