PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Tilthammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tilthammer is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The rolling stones - Under my thumb. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Shepherd
vs
Tilthammer

183 cm
25
185 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

183 cm
29
200 lbs
18 - 6 - 3

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

[WAaO]MADE IN GERMANY

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Shepherd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 3, fighting out of Helsinki, Henry Tilthammer!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepherd stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tilthammer.
Shepherd doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tilthammer counters with a nice low kick that buckles Shepherd's knee momentarily.
Shepherd misses with a takedown attempt
and Tilthammer counters with a thumping low kick.
Shepherd takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Shepherd with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tilthammer counters with an inside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Shepherd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tilthammer is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepherd on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Tilthammer wants to clinch.
Tilthammer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tilthammer misses with a leg kick

and Shepherd counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shepherd is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tilthammer sees it coming and defends easily.

Shepherd is trying to work for a kimura but Tilthammer is defending well.
Shepherd thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Shepherd is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tilthammer doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shepherd.
Shepherd sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tilthammer defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Shepherd is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Tilthammer gets back to full guard.
Shepherd stops Tilthammer from standing up.
Shepherd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shepherd throws a big right hand that misses.
Shepherd tries to free his leg and advance position but Tilthammer is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shepherd throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tilthammer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shepherd throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tilthammer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tilthammer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shepherd is looking to work some ground and pound but Tilthammer has wrist control.
Tilthammer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shepherd thows a big elbow that misses.
Shepherd is looking to work some ground and pound but Tilthammer has wrist control.
Shepherd with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tilthammer wants to stand and escape but Shepherd is having none of it.
Shepherd postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that John Shepherd will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tilthammer connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Shepherd misses with a takedown attempt
and Tilthammer counters with a slapping leg kick.
Tilthammer with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Shepherd circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepherd with a poor takedown
and Shepherd takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Tilthammer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shepherd paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tilthammer tries to close the distance and clinch but Shepherd swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shepherd takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Shepherd doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tilthammer counters with a thumping low kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Shepherd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shepherd swats away the attempt to clinch by Tilthammer.
Henry Tilthammer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two 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.

Shepherd changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tilthammer looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Tilthammer wants to control but Shepherd postures up.

Shepherd goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Tilthammer has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Shepherd but great work by Tilthammer.
Shepherd tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tilthammer wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Shepherd sneaks back into half guard.
Tilthammer prevents Shepherd from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd is working hard here to advance position.

Tilthammer gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Shepherd with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tilthammer counters with a thumping low kick.
Tilthammer connects with a leg kick. Shepherd looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Tilthammer connects with a leg kick. Shepherd looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Tilthammer feints and then cracks Shepherd's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Shepherd down.
Shepherd shoots and misses
and Tilthammer counters with a right hand to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tilthammer, right into the meat.
Tilthammer scoring well with a low kick there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Tilthammer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A chopping leg kick lands by Tilthammer.
Tilthammer wants to slow Shepherd down by chopping away at his legs.
Shepherd takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Tilthammer throws a leg kick

and Shepherd counters with a single leg into guard. Tilthammer didn't expect that.
Tilthammer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shepherd.
Shepherd trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shepherd tries to free his leg and advance position but Tilthammer is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepherd thows a big elbow that misses.
Shepherd thows a big elbow that misses.
Tilthammer is trying to control the position but Shepherd postures up.
Shepherd is looking to advance position but Tilthammer has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Tilthammer really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shepherd. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tilthammer prevents Shepherd from getting the reversal.
Shepherd regains half guard.
Shepherd wants to control but Tilthammer is keeping busy.
Tilthammer performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd is looking to improve his position.
Shepherd is pressing down on Tilthammer's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Shepherd throws his legs up looking for a submission but Tilthammer uses it to pass to side control.
Shepherd tries to bench press Tilthammer off him but Tilthammer keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd regains half guard.

Shepherd actively working from the bottom here.
Shepherd has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Shepherd gets back to full guard.
Shepherd keeping moving, preventing Tilthammer from controlling successfully.
Tilthammer controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tilthammer preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Shepherd working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tilthammer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tilthammer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shepherd looking for a sweep. Not yet Shepherd, not yet.

Shepherd has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Tilthammer should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Shepherd has tightened it up now! Tilthammer should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). John Shepherd!