PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Shepeard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haidz Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shepeard
vs
Smith

190 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Stephen Shepeard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Haidz Smith!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Winston Howard and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepeard moves out of range of the body kick from Smith.
Smith fails with the takedown.
Smith on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Shepeard is looking to clinch.
Shepeard shoots in looking for a takedown but Smith manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Shepeard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shepeard tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Shepeard wants to clinch but Smith slips to the side
and Smith counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Shepeard looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Smith is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Smith trying to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepeard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Smith holds on and takes a little breather.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Haidz Smith hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Shepeard decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith has his hands clasped together around Shepeard's back. He's all about the action.
Smith wants to control but Shepeard is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Smith manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Shepeard content to stall in guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Shepeard closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Smith quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shepeard is trying to control. Smith wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Smith tries to roll over but Shepeard keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Shepeard seems content to control.
Smith is doing well to control the position and prevent Shepeard from advancing to side control.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shepeard is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Stephen Shepeard.
Shepeard tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shepeard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Shepeard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smith swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smith looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Smith looks gassed!

Shepeard scores a takedown into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shepeard working the ground and pound effectively.

Shepeard working for a guillotine from mount but Smith is in no mood to give up.
Smith is desperately trying to improve his position but Shepeard has a good base and remains in mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepeard controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Shepeard 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.

Shepeard keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Shepeard shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Shepeard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Smith manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

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

Smith is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shepeard is aware though and is defending well.

Shepeard gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepeard tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Shepeard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Shepeard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Shepeard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Shepeard darts in and clinches Smith up against the cage.
Shepeard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Shepeard fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Shepeard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A frustrated look appears on Shepeard's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Smith's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shepeard tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shepeard somewhat.
Smith leaves Shepeard with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepeard closes the distance and clinches up with Smith, looking for a takedown. Shepeard pushes Smith against the cage but Smith circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Smith misses with the combination.
Shepeard is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith needs to keep his hands up - Shepeard had a free shot at his head there.
Shepeard doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Shepeard closes the distance looking to clinch

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smith.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Shepeard walks away with a smile on his face. Smith gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Smith looks for a takedown but Shepeard sprawls well.
Shepeard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shepeard shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shepeard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shepeard keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shepeard shoots in but Smith avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepeard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smith tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown but Shepeard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smith's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Stephen Shepeard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Shepeard drives through and clinches with Smith against the cage.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Shepeard.

Smith manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shepeard is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shepeard is controlling him.
Shepeard won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Stephen Shepeard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Shepeard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Shepeard is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Smith's half guard.
Shepeard trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Smith wants to control but Shepeard is keeping busy.
Shepeard wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Stephen Shepeard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shepeard thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Smith to regain full guard.
Shepeard throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smith keeping full guard, as Shepeard tries to pass.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shepeard trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Stephen Shepeard has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Shepeard throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Shepeard sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shepeard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smith tries to avoid it but Shepeard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smith to the ground. Smith escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shepeard's waist but Shepeard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shepeard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shepeard pinned against the cage. Shepeard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stephen Shepeard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Haidz Smith.
Smith is looking to clinch but Shepeard is avoiding it.
Shepeard wants to clinch.
Shepeard will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Shepeard shoots in and gets a takedown into Smith's guard.
Shepeard has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Smith is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Shepeard wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smith is on top in guard.
Shepeard trying to control the position.
Smith wants to stand but Shepeard has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Shepeard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shepeard looking to control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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

Shepeard decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Shepeard wants to stand up but Smith is controlling the position.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Haidz Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stephen Shepeard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shepeard is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Smith!

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Shepeard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shepeard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Shepeard!