PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin McArthur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying McArthur's choice of entrance music: Breathing. Kevin McArthur will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Shepard
vs
McArthur

180 cm
22
135 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

200 cm
22
144 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Shepard!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kevin McArthur!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McArthur steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shepard.
McArthur bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
McArthur scores with a jab to the head.
McArthur swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Shepard.
McArthur tries to clinch there but Shepard circles away.
McArthur uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shepard.
McArthur scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Shepard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McArthur.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Shepard, right into the meat.
Shepard misses with a straight right.
Shepard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McArthur.
McArthur checks a leg kick.
McArthur throws a lazy uppercut
and Shepard counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McArthur throws a right hand that misses
letting Shepard counter with a right hand.
Shepard misses with an uppercut
enabling McArthur to counter with a crisp jab.
Shepard connects with a looping right hand.
Shepard swings away with a leg kick that misses.
McArthur tries to clinch but Shepard is having none of it.
Shepard scores with a head kick. McArthur tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
McArthur is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Shepard misses with a body punch
and McArthur counters with a one-two to the body.

McArthur closes the distance and clinches.

McArthur breaks from the clinch.
McArthur moves in looking to clinch but Shepard pushes him off.
Shepard throws a head kick but McArthur moves out of range.
Shepard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Donk. Shepard catches McArthur right on the button with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McArthur misses with a looping right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shepard scores with a jab to the body.
Shepard scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. McArthur doesn't seem bothered though.
Shepard throws a big shot that misses.
Shepard lands with a straight right. McArthur didn't see that one coming.
McArthur takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Decent striking displayed by McArthur there.
McArthur misses with a hook. Shepard ducked under it nicely.
McArthur doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Shepard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McArthur.
McArthur takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McArthur throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Shepard counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps McArthur thinking.
Shepard throws a sloppy body shot

and McArthur counters by clinching up.
McArthur misses with a hook to the ribs.

Shepard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shepard scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. McArthur doesn't seem bothered though.
Shepard missing with a left hand there. McArthur was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shepard takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Shepard needs to keep his hands up - McArthur had a free shot at his head there.
McArthur missing with a left hand there. Shepard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shepard on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Shepard plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Shepard just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard takes a swing at McArthur's ribcage but misses.
Nice defenses there by Shepard.
Shepard goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Shepard takes one on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McArthur avoids the body shot from Shepard.
Some wild striking there from McArthur.
Shepard throws a hook but McArthur avoids it easily.
McArthur 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.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McArthur connects with a right hand. Shepard shakes it off.
McArthur misses with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kevin McArthur will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McArthur catches Shepard with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A head kick misses from Shepard.
McArthur throws an off balance right hand
and Shepard counters with a nice leg kick.
Shepard lands a nice leg kick that just misses McArthur's sensitive parts.
McArthur avoids the head kick by Shepard.
McArthur takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Shepard swings and misses with a shot to the body
and McArthur counters with a stiff right hand.

Shepard is rocked!
Shepard scores with a kick to the body.
Shepard keeps the fight on the outside.
Shepard rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and McArthur counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Oh Shepard is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Shepard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McArthur was well out of range. Poor timing from Shepard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McArthur misses with a looping right.
McArthur takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Shepard seems to have got his legs back now.
Shepard throws a wild body kick that McArthur sees coming a mile off.
Shepard misses with a hook.
The fighters circling - Shepard throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Shepard on the wrong end of a nice jab.
That kick from Shepard tenderised McArthur's leg. McArthur is trying to keep his angry face on.
Shepard is looking to wear down McArthur with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Shepard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Good exchange - Shepard coming out on top.
Shepard throws a head kick that misses.
Shepard circles away from the clinch attempt.
John Shepard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McArthur tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Shepard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McArthur misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shepard throws a sloppy head kick and McArthur moves out of range easily.
Shepard looks to throw the jab but McArthur is out of range.
Shepard misses with a lunging right hand
and McArthur counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shepard looks to land a left hand but McArthur moved out of range nicely.
McArthur tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shepard swats him away and circles back towards the center.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shepard blocks a body shot from McArthur.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shepard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shepard attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
John Shepard is winning the standup battle so far.
A shot to the body from Shepard misses
and McArthur connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

McArthur clinches up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, McArthur creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
McArthur tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shepard's elbow.
McArthur lands a body punch.
McArthur wants to get back to striking at distance but Shepard won't allow it.
Shepard tries to circle away but McArthur has him pinned against the cage.
McArthur lands a right hand.
Shepard wants to break the clinch but can't.

McArthur breaks the clinch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Shepard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard lands with a good body shot.

McArthur has managed to clinch.
McArthur is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Shepard breaks the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A looping hook to the body misses from Shepard. McArthur does a little dance to reset his feet.
McArthur has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A decent looking cross lands there for McArthur.
Shepard throws a head kick that misses.
Good standup being displayed there by McArthur as he connects with a hook.
Shepard ducks under a wild hook from McArthur.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepard with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Shepard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shepard misses with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kevin McArthur will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Shepard throws a hook but McArthur avoids it easily.
Shepard works the jab nicely.
Shepard moves forwards but McArthur connects with a nice, crisp jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Shepard.
A telegraphed right hand from McArthur misses the target.
Shepard throws a sloppy head kick and McArthur moves out of range easily.
McArthur connects with a jab.
McArthur bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McArthur tries to clinch but Shepard moves out of range.
Shepard looks to land a body kick but McArthur moved away.
Shepard moves out of range as McArthur strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard throws a head kick but McArthur moves out of range.
Shepard misses with a body shot.
Shepard connects with a high kick.
Shepard blocks a jab.
Shepard moves away from the strike by McArthur.
Nice uppercut there from Shepard.
McArthur tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shepard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shepard drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A combination from Shepard does no damage.
Some wild striking there from McArthur.
Nice uppercut lands for McArthur. That snapped Shepard's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McArthur wants to clinch up but Shepard keeps it at a distance.
Shepard throws a jab but it's blocked by McArthur.
Shepard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Shepard tries to keep at a distance but McArthur has taken the fight into the clinch.

Shepard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Shepard misses the target.
McArthur thuds his right hand into Shepard's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
McArthur tries to clinch but Shepard is having none of it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McArthur cracks Shepard with a good jab.
Shepard looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard throws a head kick that half lands.
McArthur misses with a looping right.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McArthur tries to clinch up but Shepard circles away and keeps his distance.
McArthur throws a shot from downtown. Shepard moves away and avoids it.
Shepard slips under a jab.
Shepard throws a body punch but McArthur moves out of range.
A jab from Shepard misses.
McArthur bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Shepard's head.
Shepard staying out of range there.
Shepard lands a head kick!
McArthur missing with a left hand there. Shepard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and McArthur connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A head kick misses from Shepard.
Shepard misses with a low kick.
Shepard throws a quick inside leg kick.
McArthur keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shepard.
Shepard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McArthur uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Shepard looks up at the clock. Bad move! McArthur lands a right hand from hell, dropping Shepard. McArthur pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kevin McArthur!
Kevin McArthur is the new bantamweight champion!
Kevin McArthur decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.