PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Den Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikola Chastokol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Den Shepard has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Shepard
vs
Chastokol

185 cm
21
248 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

185 cm
21
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Den Shepard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mikola Chastokol!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chastokol will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Chastokol swinging wildly here.
Chastokol checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Chastokol throws a right and a left that both miss.
Chastokol looks for a takedown but Shepard sprawls well.

Shepard gets caught flat footed, as Chastokol shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Shepard keeping moving, preventing Chastokol from controlling successfully.

Chastokol thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Chastokol slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Chastokol has gone for a leg lock! Shepard slips out almost immediately though and dives into Chastokol's guard.

Shepard stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Shepard stuffs the takedown.
Den Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikola Chastokol.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chastokol looks for a takedown but Shepard sprawls well.
Chastokol ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Chastokol closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shepard circles away.
Shepard throws the left hand but Chastokol avoids the punch easily.
Chastokol shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Shepard as he jumps to the side.
Chastokol looks gassed!
Chastokol fails with the takedown.
Shepard misses with a hook. Chastokol ducked under it nicely.
Shepard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Chastokol looks for a takedown but Shepard sprawls well.
Shepard connects with a right hand. Chastokol shakes it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chastokol misses with a takedown attempt - Shepard sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Chastokol closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Shepard looks to land a left hand but Chastokol moved out of range nicely.
Chastokol fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shepard lands with a good body shot.
Chastokol drops his hands momentarily and Shepard takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Chastokol keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shepard.
Shepard throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Chastokol counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Shepard!
Shepard regains half guard.
Chastokol prevents Shepard from standing back up.
Chastokol not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shepard trying to control but Chastokol postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard is trying to stand back up but Chastokol is controlling him
Chastokol not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shepard is trying to stand up here but Chastokol is controlling him well.
Chastokol is keen to just control but Shepard is a slippery customer.
Chastokol missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Chastokol 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.
Shepard is looking to control Chastokol's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shepard avoid being mounted?

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Chastokol moves in looking to clinch but Shepard pushes him off.
Mikola Chastokol seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chastokol looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shepard missing with a left hand there. Chastokol was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jab by Shepard.

Chastokol closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Chastokol lands in his opponent's guard.

Shepard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Chastokol is aware though and is defending well.
Shepard is looking to stand up but Chastokol isn't so interested in that idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Shepard working for a triangle but Chastokol defends it easily.

Chastokol drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Chastokol jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Den Shepard dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Chastokol shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shepard pinned against the cage. Shepard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Chastokol looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Shepard!
Chastokol won't let Shepard get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Shepard bucks Chastokol off and manages to get back to his feet!
Chastokol fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Shepard looks to throw the jab but Chastokol is out of range.
Chastokol misses with a combination
and Shepard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chastokol with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Shepard to counter with a crisp jab.
Den Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikola Chastokol.
Chastokol walks into a stiff left hand from Shepard.
Shepard throws an overhand right that lands on Chastokol's shoulder, as Chastokol tries to avoid the shot.
Shepard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Chastokol.
Chastokol throws a nice looking combination but Shepard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Chastokol changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Shepard looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Chastokol throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Shepard works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Chastokol is looking to take a break and control but Shepard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shepard has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Chastokol is working away from the top position though.
Shepard tries to kick Chastokol off but Chastokol keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chastokol is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Chastokol trying to pass the guard but Shepard defending well.
Shepard is trying to maintain the position but Chastokol is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chastokol not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chastokol is trying to control. Shepard wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Chastokol is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Shepard has managed to free his arm - good work.
Shepard works his way to full guard. Good work.

Shepard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Chastokol can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shepard wants to stand but Chastokol is controlling the position.
Chastokol throwing strikes from guard but Shepard blocks nicely.
Shepard has momentary wrist control but Chastokol slips an elbow through the middle.
Chastokol postures up in Shepard's guard and throws a big left but Shepard blocks it.

That's four 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.
Shepard keeping moving, preventing Chastokol from controlling successfully.
Shepard is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Chastokol is controlling him.
Shepard pulls Chastokol in close to prevent any damage.
Chastokol trying to control but Shepard is working from the bottom.
Shepard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Chastokol closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Shepard did well to prevent Chastokol getting side control.
Shepard tries to kick Chastokol off but Chastokol keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mikola Chastokol will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Chastokol scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Shepard trying to control here.
Mikola Chastokol has got the better of the ground game so far.
Shepard is looking to escape.
Shepard controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Chastokol not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shepard is looking to escape.
Shepard has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Chastokol is working away from the top position though.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Den Shepard just wasn't active enough.
Some wild striking there from Chastokol.
Chastokol doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shepard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chastokol changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shepard tries to avoid it but Chastokol manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shepard to the ground. Shepard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Chastokol shoots in and drives through. Shepard sprawls well.
Den Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikola Chastokol.
Shepard leaves Chastokol with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Chastokol shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Shepard as he jumps to the side.
Shepard misses with a hook. Chastokol ducked under it nicely.
Nice defenses there by Chastokol.

Chastokol bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shepard throws Chastokol to one side and escapes!
Chastokol fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Shepard tries to sprawl but Chastokol drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard wants to get back to his feet.
Chastokol trying to control from half guard but Shepard is working away.
Shepard keeping control of the position.
Chastokol missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Shepard is trying is best to control the position here.
Chastokol lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Chastokol trying to control from half guard but Shepard is working away.
Ground and pound from Chastokol.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chastokol is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Chastokol stops Shepard from getting back to his feet.
Shepard trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Nice strikes from Chastokol there.
Chastokol keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Chastokol missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Chastokol looks to land a strike but Shepard avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Shepard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Chastokol defends well.
Shepard keeping moving, preventing Chastokol from controlling successfully.
Chastokol might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Shepard kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Shepard managing to control the position.
Shepard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chastokol is one step ahead there.
Shepard is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Chastokol thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Shepard keeping moving, preventing Chastokol from controlling successfully.
Chastokol prevents Shepard from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikola Chastokol comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Chastokol has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikola Chastokol!