PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between German Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hank Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Shepard
vs
Cole

170 cm
28
150 lbs
14 - 4 - 1

175 cm
23
157 lbs
11 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 14 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, German Shepard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Hank Cole!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepard misses with a takedown
and Cole counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cole looks to land a right hand but Shepard moved out of range.
Cole defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shepard.

Cole pushes Shepard up against the cage in a clinch.
Cole will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Shepard up against the cage.
Shepard drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for German Shepard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cole pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shepard throws a body punch but Cole moves out of range.
Cole swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cole throws a lazy right hand but Shepard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard misses with a takedown attempt - Cole sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cole moves into range and connects with a jab.
Shepard defending well as Cole loads up on a big left hand.
Nice sprawl there from Cole as Shepard shoots in.
Shepard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cole pinned against the cage. Cole gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shepard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cole counters with a nice uppercut.
Shepard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cole is fending him off so far but Shepard persists. Nope, Cole circles away and we're back to standing.
Cole works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Shepard's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Cole connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Shepard scrambles back to his feet.
Cole leaves Shepard with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cole uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Shepard.
German Shepard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shepard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Shepard shoots in looking for a takedown. Cole tries to sprawl out of it but Shepard keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cole manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cole throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cole throws an overhand right that lands on Shepard's shoulder, as Shepard tries to avoid the shot.
Shepard shoots in for a double leg but Cole sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shepard looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cole tests Shepard's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Shepard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shepard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cole scores with a nice strike.
Cole misses the jab.
Shepard moves forwards but Cole connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Shepard looks to score with a jab to the body but Cole is just out of range.
Cole thows a body shot but no joy.
Shepard shoots in for a takedown but Cole shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cole might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard fails with the takedown
and Cole counters with a left and a right that stings Shepard.
Shepard is breathing heavily.
Shepard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cole.
Shepard takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Cole gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Cole breaks from the clinch.

Shepard tries to keep at a distance but Cole has taken the fight into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shepard.
Cole displaying some good clinch control by pressing Shepard up against the cage.
Cole lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Shepard backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cole breaks from the clinch.

Cole clinches up with Shepard and pushes him back against the cage.
Shepard tries for a takedown but Cole manages to get underhooks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shepard looking for a takedown.
Shepard takes a shot to the head.
Cole throws a head punch that misses.
Shepard blocks a body shot from Cole.
Cole working aggressively here.
Cole softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepard can't get the takedown.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Shepard. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Shepard tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shepard blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Cole dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shepard shoots for a double leg takedown but Cole sprawls well. He's pushed Shepard's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shepard is defended easily by Cole.
Shepard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cole as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for German Shepard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cole lands a right hook to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Cole as Shepard shoots in.
Cole waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shepard.
Cole misses with a hook. Shepard ducked under it nicely.
Cole swings for the body but Shepard moves out of range.
Shepard moves away from the strike by Cole.
Hank Cole seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cole just misses with a punch to the body.
Cole connects with a single shot there.
Cole misses with a looping left.
Shepard takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Shepard looks for a takedown but Cole sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Cole clinches up with Shepard and pushes him back against the cage.
Cole stalls.

Cole escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shepard shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice takedown defense from Cole. No joy for Shepard on that attempt.
Shepard tries a low kick but Cole avoids it.

Cole gets caught flat footed, as Shepard shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Shepard has gone for a leg lock! Cole slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shepard's guard.
Cole trying to control but Shepard is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cole stays in close to Shepard's body and controls the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Cole got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shepard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cole has managed to get both his arms back between Shepard's legs - danger averted.
Cole tries to stand but Shepard is controlling from the bottom.
Cole wants to control from the top but Shepard keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Hank Cole.
Cole looks to land a right hand but Shepard moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard with a poor takedown
and Cole counters with a straight right hand.
Shepard misses with a takedown attempt - Cole sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shepard shoots in but Cole avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Cole throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shepard misses with a takedown attempt
and Cole counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Shepard thinking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Shepard darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Shepard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Shepard is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Cole is refusing to be controlled, as Shepard sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard stalling.
Cole blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shepard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Shepard is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cole is just riding it out for now. Shepard eventually gives up the hold.
Shepard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hank Cole will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Shepard dives in and grabs Cole's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cole pushes down on Shepard's head and hops out.
Shepard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cole moves away.
Cole throws a big shot that misses.
Shepard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cole swivels and escapes.
Shepard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cole tries to avoid it but Shepard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cole to the ground. Cole escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for German Shepard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Shepard manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Cole on his heels. He'll look to pass Cole's guard now, I'm sure.
Shepard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Shepard trying to control the position from guard on top but Cole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cole can do anything to dispel that myth.
Shepard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shepard won't allow Cole to get back to his feet.
Cole keeping moving, preventing Shepard from controlling successfully.
Shepard 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cole avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shepard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Shepard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shepard trying to control the position from guard on top but Cole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shepard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cole working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shepard.
Cole trying to keep a closed guard but Shepard is proving a slippery customer.
Shepard passes Cole's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Shepard thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Cole's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard trying to control the action but Cole is working from the bottom.
Cole is trying to stand back up but Shepard is controlling him
Cole takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Shepard is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Shepard tries to pass to full mount but Cole defends it.
Shepard is trying to control. Cole wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Shepard is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cole really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shepard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shepard is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard stalling.
Shepard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hank Cole is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Shepard is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Cole is just riding it out for now. Shepard eventually gives up the hold.

Shepard in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Cole tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Shepard!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). German Shepard!