PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Gerow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Shephard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gerow has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Gerow
vs
Shephard

200 cm
19
230 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jack Gerow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jason Shephard!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gerow fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gerow is breathing heavily.
Shephard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gerow swivels and escapes.
Shephard doesn't manage to clinch there - Gerow circles away.

Shephard looking to score a takedown here. Gerow is defending well but Shephard drives through and ends up in Gerow's guard.
Gerow keeping moving, preventing Shephard from controlling successfully.
Shephard should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Gerow tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shephard throws a big elbow that misses.
Shephard wants to control from the top but Gerow keeps moving.

Jason Shephard has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gerow circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shephard tries to close the distance and clinch but Gerow swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shephard closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gerow circles away.
Shephard scores with a leg kick.
Gerow keeps the fight on the outside.
Shephard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gerow as he avoids it easily.
Jack Gerow has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Shephard.
Gerow avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shephard is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gerow sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Shephard changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gerow looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Shephard in side control, throwing shots but Gerow defends.
Shephard trying to control the action but Gerow is working from the bottom.
Shephard wants to stand but Gerow is controlling his arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerow is not content to let Shephard control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jason Shephard hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Shephard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gerow is fending him off so far but Shephard persists. Nope, Gerow circles away and we're back to standing.
Shephard dives in and grabs Gerow's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gerow pushes down on Shephard's head and hops out.
Gerow will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shephard dives in and grabs Gerow's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gerow pushes down on Shephard's head and hops out.

Shephard closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gerow did well to prevent Shephard getting side control.

Shephard is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gerow is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Shephard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Shephard's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gerow missing with strikes from the back.
Gerow doesn't have the hooks in and Shephard manages to turn into his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gerow is on top in guard.
Shephard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gerow will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shephard is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gerow is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gerow throws a big right hand that misses.

Shephard is working an open guard so Gerow takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Shephard dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jack Gerow's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gerow tries for a takedown but Shephard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Shephard shoots in for a double leg but Gerow sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shephard lands a high kick!
Shephard is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gerow sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Shephard fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gerow avoids it really well and circles away.
Jack Gerow has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Shephard.
Gerow fails with a takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gerow looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gerow displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shephard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shephard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gerow as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerow is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shephard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gerow avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gerow shoots for a double leg takedown but Shephard sprawls well. He's pushed Gerow's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gerow shoots in looking for a takedown. Shephard tries to sprawl out of it but Gerow keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shephard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gerow keeps the fight on the outside.
Shephard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gerow.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gerow is defended easily by Shephard.
Shephard throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gerow's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shephard looks for a takedown but Gerow sprawls well.
Shephard feints and then cracks Gerow's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gerow down.
Gerow stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gerow wants it to stay on the feet.
Gerow tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shephard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gerow somewhat.
Shephard scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Shephard will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jason Shephard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gerow shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shephard defends it nicely.
Gerow is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shephard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerow is looking to clinch.

Shephard shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Shephard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gerow wants to get back to full guard.
Shephard tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shephard is looking to take a break and control but Gerow is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Jason Shephard has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Shephard is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gerow's half guard.
Gerow is looking for a sweep. Shephard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gerow moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Shephard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jack Gerow's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Shephard misses with an uppercut
and Gerow counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shephard lands a high kick!
Shephard misses with a body kick.
Shephard shoots in but Gerow avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A head kick misses from Shephard.
Shephard tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Shephard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shephard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gerow fails with the takedown.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gerow enables Shephard to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gerow manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shephard won't allow Gerow to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shephard tries to free his leg and advance position but Gerow is retaining full guard.
Gerow has momentary wrist control but Shephard slips an elbow through the middle.
Shephard wants to control from the top but Gerow keeps moving.
Gerow trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Shephard stopping the sweep attempt from Gerow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shephard is looking to stand up but Gerow won't let him.

Jason Shephard has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gerow tries to close the distance and clinch but Shephard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gerow shoots in but Shephard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jack Gerow is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shephard throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Gerow moves into the clinch.
Shephard is working for takedown but Gerow is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jack Gerow has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jason Shephard.

Gerow pulls guard.
Shephard wants to control from the top but Gerow keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerow tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Shephard decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gerow, up you get!
Shephard fails with the takedown.
Gerow fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gerow tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shephard was well out of range. Poor timing from Gerow.
Gerow tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shephard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gerow shoots in looking for a takedown but Shephard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gerow's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gerow tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shephard swivels and escapes.
Shephard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Shephard shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Shephard showed some decent athleticism there.
Gerow wants to get back to full guard.
Gerow is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shephard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gerow does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jack Gerow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jason Shephard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shephard prevents Gerow from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Shephard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shephard winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Shephard!