PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luka Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnson comes to the cage accompanied by Real American. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Johnson
vs
Shepard

185 cm
21
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Valhalla Q160 Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ricky Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Luka Shepard!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Saam Ante and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Shepard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Johnson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Shepard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
You can see the frustration on Shepard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Johnson is putting a hurting on Shepard here, landing some big shots from side control.

Johnson decides to stand back up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch combination from Johnson misses.
Shepard tries to clinch up.
Shepard fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ricky Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shepard has Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Johnson wants to take the fight to the mat but Shepard manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Shepard misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard scores with a shot to the side of Johnson's head.

Johnson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Shepard moves into the clinch.
Johnson is working for takedown but Shepard is calmly controlling the position for now.
Shepard misses with a punch on the inside.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Johnson has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johnson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shepard, pushing him back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Shepard scores with a nice short uppercut.
Shepard works on Johnson's body with a couple of short punches.
A body shot lands from Shepard.
Johnson is breathing heavily.

Shepard breaks from the clinch.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Shepard as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt

and Shepard holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shepard cracks Johnson with a nice body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Shepard creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shepard.
Johnson prevents Shepard from breaking the clinch.
Shepard lands with a short shot to the head.
Shepard scores with a shot to the side of Johnson's head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Shepard creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Johnson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shepard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Shepard lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shepard lands a right hand that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Shepard is looking to break free of the clinch but Johnson has double underhooks.
Shepard lands with a short shot to the head.
Johnson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard controlling the action here for a moment.
Johnson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shepard is trying to break free.
Shepard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Shepard lands a nice uppercut.
Shepard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Shepard lands a body punch.
Shepard wants to break free but Johnson has control.
Shepard throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shepard lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Shepard stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Shepard throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Johnsons head.
Shepard slows down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard lands an uppercut.
Shepard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Shepard lands with a short shot to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Shepard - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shepard is trying to push Johnson away but Johnson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shepard to keep the fight standing.
Shepard throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Johnsons head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shepard working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Shepard.
Shepard wants to break free but Johnson has control.
A hook to the body from Shepard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luka Shepard dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shepard tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.

Shepard takes the fight into the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shepard.
Shepard misses with a punch to the body.
Shepard lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shepard scores with a shot to the side of Johnson's head.
Johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Shepard lands with a short shot to the head.

Shepard breaks the clinch.
Shepard doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.

Shepard closes the distance and clinches.
Shepard lands a hook that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Still in the clinch, Shepard scores with a nice short uppercut.
Shepard wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard lands with a short shot to the head.
Shepard lands with a light punch inside.

Johnson is rocked!
Shepard scores with a nice hook to the head.
Oh Johnson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Johnson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shepard gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Shepard working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Shepard unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Johnson! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Shepard is unloading with more strikes now! Johnson drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Luka Shepard!