PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nick Holmgren (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Shepperson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Holmgren
vs
Shepperson

205 cm
24
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
19
250 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nick Holmgren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eric Shepperson!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepperson drops his hands momentarily and Holmgren takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

It looks like Eric Shepperson has been cut.
Holmgren tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Shepperson counters with a stiff right hand.
Shepperson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Holmgren lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Holmgren wants to clinch

and Shepperson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Shepperson wants to stand up but Holmgren is controlling the position.
Shepperson wants to control but Holmgren is keeping him busy.
Shepperson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Shepperson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Shepperson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Holmgren is doing well to control the position and prevent Shepperson from advancing to side control.
Shepperson tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Holmgren.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmgren is looking to control Shepperson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Holmgren avoid being mounted?
Shepperson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Holmgren defending well though.
Shepperson trying to mount his opponent but Holmgren defends it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Holmgren kicks Shepperson off and gets back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Holmgren looks to land a combination. Shepperson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Shepperson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Holmgren sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Holmgren closes the distance but Shepperson moves to the side

and Shepperson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Holmgren!
Shepperson looks gassed!
Holmgren is trying desperately to improve position.
Holmgren wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Shepperson.
Shepperson looking to finish with strikes here!
Shepperson with a couple of short strikes.
Shepperson throwing strikes but Holmgren bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holmgren trying to keep a closed guard but Shepperson is proving a slippery customer.
Holmgren wants to stand and escape but Shepperson is having none of it.
Shepperson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shepperson is looking to work some ground and pound but Holmgren has wrist control.
Shepperson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shepperson controls from within his opponent's guard.

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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Shepperson trying to control the position from guard on top but Holmgren is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shepperson looking to sit in guard and control but Holmgren gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Shepperson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepperson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Holmgren manages to get himself to full guard.
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 Nick Holmgren will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Eric Shepperson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shepperson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Shepperson clinches up against the cage.
Shepperson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Holmgren's efforts to push away.
Holmgren stops a takedown attempt from Shepperson.
Holmgren tries to break the clinch but Shepperson is controlling the position.
Holmgren is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Holmgren working hard to break the clinch.
Holmgren can't break the clinch.
Shepperson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Holmgren pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Shepperson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Holmgren slaps away a takedown attempt from Shepperson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nick Holmgren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Shepperson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Holmgren throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Shepperson on the side of the head.
Holmgren throws a right hand that Shepperson ducks under and follows up with a left that Shepperson also avoids with ease.
Holmgren throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Holmgren connects with the punch.
Shepperson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That has opened up Eric Shepperson's cut even more.
Shepperson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holmgren keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Holmgren feints a jab promting Shepperson to slip. Holmgren then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Shepperson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Holmgren lands a nice shot that snaps Shepperson's head back.
Holmgren sizes up Shepperson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Holmgren scores with a jab to the jaw.
Holmgren connects with a jab.
Shepperson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Holmgren swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Holmgren connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Holmgren digs a good hook to Shepperson's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Holmgren throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Shepperson on the side of the head.
Holmgren throws a low kick but Shepperson avoids it.
Eric Shepperson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shepperson shoots in looking for a takedown but Holmgren manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Shepperson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Holmgren moves in looking to clinch but Shepperson pushes him off.
Shepperson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holmgren scores with a jab to the jaw.

The cut above Eric Shepperson's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Holmgren is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Holmgren scores with a sloppy right hand. Shepperson should have avoided that one.
Shepperson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Holmgren.
Holmgren connects with a looping right hand.
Holmgren lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Holmgren is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Holmgren moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Holmgren fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nick Holmgren seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Holmgren tries to close the distance and clinch but Shepperson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Holmgren throws a good cross that connects.
Holmgren cracks Shepperson with an open hand slap.
Holmgren is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Holmgren lands with a nice combination. Shepperson backs away looking to recover.
Holmgren tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Shepperson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Shepperson works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Shepperson.
Shepperson wants to pass the guard but Holmgren is defending well.
Shepperson is trying to control. Holmgren wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Shepperson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Holmgren knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shepperson on the ground.
Shepperson throwing shots but Holmgren is blocking nicely.
Still in half guard, Shepperson seems content to control.
Holmgren pushes Shepperson off looking to stand but Shepperson dives back in and keeps control.
Shepperson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Holmgren keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shepperson works his foot free and advances to mount.
Shepperson is landing with some decent strikes but Holmgren is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Shepperson lands a nice shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepperson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Holmgren's face.
Shepperson landing shots from mount.
BOOM! Shepperson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Holmgren dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Eric Shepperson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Holmgren wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Shepperson takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Shepperson rushes Holmgren and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Holmgren is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Shepperson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Holmgren wants to break free but Shepperson has control.
Holmgren stops a takedown attempt from Shepperson.
Shepperson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Holmgren pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Holmgren wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Shepperson has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Holmgren's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Shepperson can't get the takedown.
Nick Holmgren has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Shepperson.
Holmgren tries to pull guard but Shepperson holds him up against the cage and eventually Holmgren drops back down to his feet.
Shepperson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Holmgren gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A frustrated look appears on Holmgren's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Holmgren prevents a body shot from Shepperson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A frustrated look appears on Holmgren's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Holmgren is trying to break the clinch but Shepperson has him pressed against the cage.
Holmgren is looking to break free of the clinch but Shepperson has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepperson has Holmgren pressed against the cage, preventing Holmgren from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Holmgren has had enough of the clinch but Shepperson keeps him there for the moment.
Holmgren working hard to break the clinch.

Shepperson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Holmgren is trying to keep an underhook but Shepperson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Holmgren looks like he's trying to stand up.
Holmgren is trying to get back to full guard.
Shepperson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Holmgren's head.
Holmgren tries to roll over but Shepperson keeps him under control.
Shepperson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Holmgren's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepperson drops an elbow to the side of Holmgren's head.
Holmgren is looking to escape.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Shepperson in particular looking to stall.
Shepperson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Shepperson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Holmgren keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Shepperson stops Holmgren from getting back to his feet.
Shepperson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Shepperson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shepperson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Shepperson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Holmgren does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shepperson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Holmgren on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Holmgren tries to get out of the position.
Holmgren tries to get to full guard but Shepperson has control of the leg.
Shepperson is trying to control. Holmgren wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Shepperson lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shepperson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nick Holmgren is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Holmgren is staying active underneath Shepperson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holmgren blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shepperson.
Shepperson controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Shepperson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Holmgren has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 29:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!