PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yaya Yugo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yaya Yugo is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Yugo
vs
Shepard

190 cm
25
215 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
188 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yaya Yugo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Shepard!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Jorge Garcia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yugo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shepard avoids it really well and circles away.

Shepard darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Yugo actively working from the bottom here.
Shepard looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Shepard thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yugo's head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Yugo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Yugo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Yugo gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard won't allow Yugo to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shepard advances to half guard.
Shepard scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Shepard works his way into side control.
Yugo tries to bench press Shepard off him but Shepard keeps the position.
Shepard cracks Yugo with a big elbow.
Shepard lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Yugo down.
Shepard landing strikes.
Shepard lands a decent elbow from side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shepard working the body and head with strikes.
Yugo takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Shepard scores with punches from side control.
Shepard trying to control the position but Yugo is working away.
Yugo takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Shepard tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Yugo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shepard is looking for a kimura but Yugo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shepard to get the leverage.
Shepard looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Shepard sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Yugo defending well though.
Shepard working over Yugo with some ground and pound. Yugo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Yugo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Yugo is breathing heavily.
Shepard seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Yugo wants to control but Shepard is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Shepard throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Yugo is trying to maintain the position but Shepard is very close to passing his half guard.

Shepard is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Yugo taking some punishment here, with Shepard in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard misses with a head shot. Yugo uses the momentum to regain guard.
Shepard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Yugo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Shepard is in close to Yugo's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Yugo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Shepard is working Yugo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Shepard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shepard landing with the ground and pound.
Shepard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yugo working a defensive guard here.
Shepard landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Yugo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Shepard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Shepard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yugo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shepard's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shepard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shepard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shepard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Shepard drops back looking for a leg! Yugo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Yugo manages to kick Shepard off! Shepard jumps back into Yugo's guard.
Yugo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shepard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Shepard dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Yugo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shepard but Shepard pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shepard fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Yugo drives through with a takedown into guard.
Yugo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shepard wants to sweep but no luck.
Yugo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shepard looking for a sweep. Not yet Shepard, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Yugo actively working from the bottom here.

Yugo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Yugo actively working from the bottom here.
Shepard is trying to control. Yugo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Yugo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shepard scores with a couple of nice shots.
Shepard thows a huge punch but Yugo dodges it nicely.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Shepard. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Yugo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Yugo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Shepard winds up and cracks Yugo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Yugo looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Shepard slips a nice elbow through Yugo's hands, connecting with Yugo's forehead.
Shepard lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shepard is looking to advance position but Yugo won't allow it.
Yugo taking some punishment here, with Shepard in his half guard.
Shepard working Yugo over with strikes.
Shepard looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Yugo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Shepard seems to be looking for submissions.
Yugo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Shepard thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Yugo's head.
Shepard is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yugo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Yugo.
Yugo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Yugo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Shepard landing with the ground and pound.
Shepard preventing the sweep.
Shepard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Shepard scoring with punches to the head and body.

Yugo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Shepard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Shepard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shepard stands and throws Yugo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Shepard in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Shepard creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yugo takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
John Shepard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Shepard scoring with punches from side control.
Shepard lands a decent elbow from side control.
Shepard in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Yugo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Shepard working the head and body with strikes.
Shepard scores with a couple of short elbows.
Yugo is looking for a sweep.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yugo takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Yugo takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Shepard lands a few punches from side control.
Shepard grinds an elbow into Yugo's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Shepard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Yugo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Yugo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Shepard was covering up waiting for the punch and Yugo finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Shepard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yugo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Shepard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yugo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Yugo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shepard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Yugo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Yugo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Yugo trying to control the position from guard on top but Shepard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard is trying to control the position but Yugo postures up.
Yugo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shepard wants to sweep here but Yugo controlling him for the moment.
Yugo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Shepard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yugo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Yugo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Yugo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shepard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shepard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shepard 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.

Shepard is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yugo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Yugo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shepard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yugo has managed to get both his arms back between Shepard's legs - danger averted.

Yugo drops back looking for a leg! Shepard is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shepard manages to kick Yugo off! Yugo jumps back into Shepard's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Yugo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Yugo pushing down on Shepard's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ground and pound from Yugo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yugo working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Yugo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shepard can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yugo working over Shepard with some ground and pound. Shepard looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Shepard looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Shepard pushes Yugo off looking to stand but Yugo dives back in and keeps control.

Yugo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Shepard defends it well.
Shepard has a hand on Yugo's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Yugo takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Yugo lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Yugo thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Shepard can't escape the position.
Yugo is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Shepard is in all sorts of trouble here.
Yugo lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Shepard hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yugo avoids the attempt from Shepard to control.
Yugo landing strikes, looking to finish!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yugo looking to finish Shepard with some ground and pound. This is bad for Shepard!
Yugo is landing with some decent strikes but Shepard is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Yugo throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Shepard because Yugo loaded up on that one.
Yugo 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.
Shepard is desperately trying to improve his position but Yugo has a good base and remains in mount.
Yugo lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Yaya Yugo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepard bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Shepard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yaya Yugo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shepard 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Shepard!
During a confident post fight interview, John Shepard thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.