PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darnell Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henrik Jansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jansson has chosen can't be touched as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Shepard
vs
Jansson

202 cm
23
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
24
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Darnell Shepard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Henrik Jansson!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Eddie Farnsworth and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepard tries for a takedown but Jansson circles away easily

and Jansson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Shepard's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Shepard keeping moving, preventing Jansson from controlling successfully.
Shepard on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shepard tries to get out of the position.
Shepard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jansson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shepard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shepard can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Jansson controls the pace.
Shepard pulls Jansson in close to his closed guard and prevents Jansson from doing any damage or advancing position.

Henrik Jansson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Jansson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
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!
Jansson being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shepard trying to control but Jansson is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Darnell Shepard has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Jansson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shepard tries to avoid it but Jansson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shepard to the ground. Shepard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shepard tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Jansson shoots for a double leg takedown but Shepard sprawls well. He's pushed Jansson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jansson fails with a takedown attempt.
Darnell Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henrik Jansson.

Shepard drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jansson looks winded!
Shepard trying to control the position from guard on top but Jansson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shepard won't allow Jansson to get back to his feet.

Darnell Shepard has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Shepard moves into the clinch successfully.

Shepard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jansson avoids the head kick by Shepard.

Shepard drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jansson wants to stand but Shepard is controlling the position.
Shepard trying to control but Jansson is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Darnell Shepard.
Jansson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shepard defends well and Jansson ends up having to push Shepard into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Jansson wants a takedown.

Shepard ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Shepard no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

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.
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 avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shepard controls Jansson momentarily but Jansson frees himself.
Shepard wants to sweep here but Jansson controlling him for the moment.
Shepard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jansson's guard.
Jansson keeping moving, preventing Shepard from controlling successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Darnell Shepard.
Shepard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Shepard gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darnell Shepard dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Shepard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Jansson pinned against the cage. Jansson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jansson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Henrik Jansson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jansson shoots and misses

and Shepard counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shepard.
Shepard slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Darnell Shepard wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Jansson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Shepard counters with a two punch combo.
Darnell Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henrik Jansson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Jansson shoots in and gets a takedown into Shepard's guard.
Shepard pulls Jansson in to control the position.
Shepard looking to control.
Darnell Shepard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Shepard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jansson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shepard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard pulls Jansson in to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Darnell Shepard has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Shepard closes the distance and clinches up with Jansson, looking for a takedown. Shepard pushes Jansson against the cage but Jansson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shepard tries to clinch there but Jansson circles away.

Jansson shoots in and gets a takedown into Shepard's guard.
Shepard keeping moving, preventing Jansson from controlling successfully.
Jansson postures up.
Shepard wants to stand but Jansson is controlling the position.
Jansson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jansson stops Shepard from standing up.
Jansson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Shepard is looking to sweep but instead, Jansson has passed into half guard.
Jansson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Jansson not doing much here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jansson is looking to advance position but Shepard won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard tries to get to full guard but Jansson has control of the leg.
Jansson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Shepard bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Shepard trying to control but Jansson is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Darnell Shepard wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Jansson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shepard sprawls well. Shepard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jansson gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shepard fails with the takedown.
Jansson darts in looking for a takedown but Shepard gets double underhooks and turns Jansson into the cage.
Jansson has Shepard pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Shepard manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Shepard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jansson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

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

Shepard has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Jansson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shepard shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Shepard is looking to take a break and control but Jansson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Jansson is looking to escape.

We're going to have a standup here because Darnell Shepard wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Jansson darts in looking for a takedown but Shepard gets double underhooks and turns Jansson into the cage.
Jansson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shepard successfully pulls guard.
Jansson wants to control from the top but Shepard keeps moving.
Shepard keeping full guard, as Jansson tries to pass.

Jansson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Shepard dives on top into guard.
Shepard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shepard breaks from the clinch.

Shepard looking to score a takedown here. Jansson is defending well but Shepard drives through and ends up in Jansson's guard.
Shepard trying to control the position from guard on top but Jansson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Darnell Shepard just wasn't active enough.

Jansson tries to sprawl but Shepard drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jansson tries to kick Shepard off but Shepard keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Jansson is defending against the submission attempts here by Shepard.
Shepard trying to mount his opponent but Jansson defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard controlling the action here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Darnell Shepard.
Jansson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Shepard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Darnell Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henrik Jansson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Shepard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Shepard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Shepard is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Darnell Shepard.
Shepard closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Shepard is looking to clinch.
Shepard swats away the attempt to clinch by Jansson.
Nice sprawl there from Shepard as Jansson shoots in.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shepard tries a head kick but it misses.
Henrik Jansson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Darnell Shepard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shepard is looking to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darnell Shepard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shepard 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darnell Shepard!