PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Adam Sheppard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ritchie Ravenhill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ritchie Ravenhill will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sheppard
vs
Ravenhill

179 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

172 cm
25
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Hell's Kitchen Clothing

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Adam Sheppard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ritchie Ravenhill!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ravenhill throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Ravenhill changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sheppard looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ravenhill trying to control the position but Sheppard is working away.
Sheppard holding on.
Sheppard is looking for a sweep.

Ravenhill tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sheppard looks to move to half guard but instead Ravenhill has passed into mount! Damn!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheppard is looking to get to half guard.
Ravenhill cracks Sheppard with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ravenhill landing shots from mount.
Sheppard avoids a series of strikes thrown by Ravenhill.
Sheppard is squirming around, avoiding Ravenhill's attempts to control the action.
Ravenhill thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Ravenhill looking to land elbow strikes but Sheppard uses the position to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ravenhill performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Ravenhill wants to control but Sheppard is keeping him busy.
Ravenhill passes the guard and advances to mount!
Sheppard tries to hold on but Ravenhill postures up.
A nice elbow there by Ravenhill.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Ravenhill goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Sheppard is on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ravenhill seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ravenhill looking for a sweep. Not yet Ravenhill, not yet.
Sheppard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sheppard wants to control from the top but Ravenhill keeps moving.
Sheppard is pushing down on Ravenhill's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ravenhill is fighting to maintain full guard but Sheppard has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sheppard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Sheppard is looking for a kimura here.
Ravenhill has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sheppard is breathing heavily.
Ravenhill tries to kick Sheppard off but Sheppard keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ritchie Ravenhill dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ravenhill lands a jab-cross combination.
Sheppard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ravenhill tries to close the distance and clinch but Sheppard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ravenhill scores with a jab to the head.
Sheppard throws a head kick but Ravenhill moves out of range.
Sheppard shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ravenhill is looking to clinch.

Ravenhill darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sheppard is looking to improve his position.
Sheppard moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ravenhill trying to control the position from guard on top but Sheppard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Ravenhill fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sheppard sprawls well initially but Ravenhill persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ravenhill is breathing heavily.
Ravenhill sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sheppard defending well though.
Ravenhill throwing shots but Sheppard is blocking nicely.
Sheppard is looking to get back to is feet but Ravenhill passes into side control.
Ravenhill landing a few strikes.
Sheppard gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ravenhill scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Ravenhill is working for a kimura but Sheppard is defending it quite comfortably.
Sheppard trying to control here.

Ravenhill wants to work for an arm triangle but Sheppard is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ravenhill wants to stand up but Sheppard has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Sheppard is looking to improve his position.

Ravenhill seems to be working for a kimura but Sheppard defends the submission attempt.
Ravenhill is trying to control. Sheppard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ravenhill might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sheppard kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sheppard trying to control but Ravenhill postures up.
Ravenhill is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sheppard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sheppard regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Ravenhill.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ritchie Ravenhill showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ravenhill slaps away a takedown attempt from Sheppard, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sheppard.
Sheppard with a poor takedown
and Ravenhill counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ravenhill scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Ravenhill lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ravenhill is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ravenhill gets a clinch.
Sheppard is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Adam Sheppard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ravenhill has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Sheppard is trying to keep an underhook but Ravenhill manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Ravenhill is nestled in close to Sheppard, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ravenhill tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Sheppard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ravenhill is trying to control. Sheppard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheppard is trying to control but Ravenhill passes into side control!

Ravenhill decides to stand back up.

Ravenhill shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ravenhill showed some decent athleticism there.
Ravenhill not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Ravenhill is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sheppard sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ravenhill stalling away here and it's allowed Sheppard to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Ravenhill trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sheppard's guard.
Ravenhill stopping the sweep attempt from Sheppard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ravenhill sizes up Sheppard with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Ravenhill dives in and grabs Sheppard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sheppard pushes down on Ravenhill's head and hops out.
Adam Sheppard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sheppard looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Adam Sheppard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ritchie Ravenhill seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ravenhill scores with a jab. Sheppard acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ravenhill with a hook.

Sheppard gets caught flat footed, as Ravenhill shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sheppard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ravenhill's guard.
Sheppard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ravenhill preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sheppard's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sheppard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ravenhill works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sheppard trying to control the position from guard on top but Ravenhill is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Adam Sheppard has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ravenhill scores with a punch to the head.
Ravenhill tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ritchie Ravenhill is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Ravenhill gets in close and instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ritchie Ravenhill comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ravenhill has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ritchie Ravenhill!