PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jack Shephard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Carrow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack Shephard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shephard
vs
Carrow

178 cm
24
164 lbs
7 - 3 - 2

175 cm
25
163 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 2, fighting out of New York, Jack Shephard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, James Carrow!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Alyssa Summers and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shephard walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Shephard tries a low kick but Carrow avoids it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shephard. Carrow does a little dance to reset his feet.
Carrow throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Carrow fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shephard manages to avoid it.
Shephard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Carrow sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Shephard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Carrow takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Carrow lands with a hook. Shephard tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Shephard slips a straight right by Carrow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Carrow closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Shephard did well to prevent Carrow getting side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Carrow thows a huge punch but Shephard dodges it nicely.
Carrow not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Carrow has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shephard is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Carrow is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shephard taking some punishment here, with Carrow in his half guard.
Carrow working over Shephard with some ground and pound. Shephard looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Carrow wants to free his trapped foot but Shephard is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Carrow is looking for a kimura but Shephard is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Carrow to get the leverage.
Carrow takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Carrow misses with a head shot. Shephard uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Carrow's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Carrow has gone for a leg lock! Shephard slips out almost immediately though and dives into Carrow's guard.
Carrow wants to sweep but no luck.
Shephard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shephard's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Carrow keeping moving, preventing Shephard from controlling successfully.

Carrow looking for a guillotine here but Shephard defends easily.
Carrow throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Shephard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Carrow escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shephard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Shephard wants to control from the top but Carrow keeps moving.

Carrow working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shephard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shephard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shephard is looking to work some ground and pound but Carrow has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shephard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Carrow keeping moving, preventing Shephard from controlling successfully.
Carrow looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shephard trying to control but Carrow is working from the bottom.
Carrow keeping full guard, as Shephard tries to pass.

Shephard is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Carrow is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Carrow has escaped and now he's on top!
Carrow pushing down on Shephard's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Carrow is keen to just control but Shephard is a slippery customer.
Carrow trying to mount his opponent but Shephard defends it.

Carrow seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carrow is looking to advance position but Shephard won't allow it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Shephard wants to control but Carrow is keeping busy.
Carrow tries to pass the half guard into mount. Shephard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Carrow passes to side control.
Shephard struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Carrow is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shephard has escaped the position, nice work there.

Carrow working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Carrow 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.

Shephard scores with a three punch combo!
Carrow throws a leg kick but Shephard sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Carrow takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Shephard throws a jab but it's blocked by Carrow.
Shephard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Carrow just misses with a punch to the body.
Shephard looks to score with a jab to the body but Carrow is just out of range.
Shephard tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carrow scores a takedown into full mount!
Carrow lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Carrow is landing with some decent strikes but Shephard is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Carrow landing strikes from the mount and Shephard is in trouble!

It looks like Jack Shephard has been cut.
Shephard regains half guard.

Carrow is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Shephard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Carrow.
Carrow wants to take a breather but Shephard is having none of it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shephard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Carrow takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carrow not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shephard taking some punishment here, with Carrow in his half guard.

Carrow is working for a submission of some sort.
Shephard wants to control but Carrow is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Carrow lands a nice short elbow.
Carrow prevents Shephard from improving his position.
Carrow looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Carrow is trying to work for a kimura but Shephard is defending well.
Shephard trying to control from the bottom.

Carrow seems to be working for a kimura but Shephard defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Carrow is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Shephard has managed to free his arm - good work.
Carrow looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Shephard is looking to control Carrow's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shephard avoid being mounted?

Carrow is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shephard is just riding it out for now. Carrow eventually gives up the hold.
Carrow sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shephard defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Carrow works his way into side control.
Carrow creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Shephard sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Shephard manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Carrow scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Carrow throwing shots but Shephard is blocking nicely.

Carrow is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Shephard sees it coming and defends easily.
Carrow sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shephard defending well though.
Shephard tries to get to full guard but Carrow has control of the leg.
Shephard taking some punishment here, with Carrow in his half guard.
Shephard is looking to improve his position.
Carrow passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Shephard!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Carrow putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Carrow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jack Shephard's cut.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Carrow misses with an uppercut.
Carrow blocks a jab.
Shephard misses with an uppercut. Carrow saw that one coming.
Shephard throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Carrow stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Shephard tries to bum rush Carrow with a series of wild strikes but Carrow uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Carrow moves into range and connects with a jab.
Carrow misses with an uppercut. Shephard saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shephard defending well as Carrow loads up on a big left hand.
Carrow avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Carrow blocks a jab.
Carrow checks a low kick from Shephard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carrow slips under a jab.
Shephard loads up on a big right hand but Carrow slips the punch.

Shephard clinches with his opponent.
Carrow is trying to stall.

Carrow breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shephard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Carrow fails with a takedown attempt.
Carrow catches Shephard with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Shephard scores with a jab to the head.
Shephard misses with a two punch combination.
Shephard walks into a left hand.
Shephard fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shephard is looking to clinch but Carrow is avoiding it.
Shephard throws out a loose jab but Carrow uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shephard misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Carrow counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shephard won't be happy with that.
Shephard taking punishment in the form of punches.
Shephard is not content to let Carrow control the position.
James Carrow is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shephard is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carrow scores with a couple of short elbows.
Carrow is looking to take a break and control but Shephard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Carrow is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Shephard is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Shephard is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Carrow off and has taken his back!
Carrow is keeping busy.
James Carrow has got the better of the ground game so far.
Carrow breaks Shephard's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Shephard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Carrow.
Carrow wants to control from the top but Shephard keeps moving.
Carrow keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shephard's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Carrow thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Carrow wants to control from the top but Shephard keeps moving.
Carrow working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Carrow accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jack Shephard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shephard keeping moving, preventing Carrow from controlling successfully.
Carrow throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shephard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Carrow forces his way into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Carrow looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Shephard with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Carrow seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Shephard is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). James Carrow!