PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marvin Perez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Perez
vs
Shepard

168 cm
24
140 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

180 cm
26
135 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry
Zombie Nutrition - LOD

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marvin Perez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Shepard!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Perez jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Shepard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Perez throws a one two combo.
Shepard scores with a body shot.
Perez throws a looping overhand right but Shepard ducks down to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Shepard.
Perez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Perez misses with a lunging right hand
and Shepard counters with an inside leg kick.
Perez has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Perez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shepard.
Perez feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Shepards jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Shepard thows a body shot but no joy.
Perez misses with a body shot
and Shepard counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Shepard ducks under a wild hook from Perez.
Perez throws a jab when Shepard was well out of range.
A cross from Perez lands.
Shepard scores with a nice right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shepard slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard lands a slapping body shot.
Shepard uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Perez.
Perez misses with a double jab.
Shepard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Perez lands a jab.
Shepard throws a sloppy head kick and Perez moves out of range easily.
The fighters circling - Perez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
An inside leg kick from Perez misses.
Shepard walks into a left hand.
Perez misses with a looping right.
Shepard misses with a straight left.
Perez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Shepard throws a hook but Perez avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Shepard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Good work by Perez as he checks the leg kick.
Perez is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Shepard tries a low kick but Perez avoids it.
Perez throws a hook but Shepard blocks it.
Shepard wants to slow Perez down by chopping away at his legs.
Shepard closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shepard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Perez missing with a left hand there. Shepard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Shepard.
Shepard slaps away a takedown attempt from Perez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Shepard scores with a punch to the head.
A jab from Perez misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perez throws a jab when Shepard was well out of range.
A big left from Shepard misses.
Perez has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Shepard.
Perez closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Perez swings for the body but Shepard moves out of range.
Shepard throws a push kick but Perez slaps the foot to one side.
John Shepard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shepard ducks under a wild hook from Perez.

Perez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Perez working Shepard over with strikes.
Shepard wants to get back to full guard.
Perez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard is not content to let Perez control the position.
Shepard on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Perez trying to control the action but Shepard is working from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shepard is controlling Perez's trapped leg to prevent Perez from advancing to side control.
Shepard trying to control here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepard tries to kick Perez off but Perez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marvin Perez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Perez catches Shepard with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Perez throws a hook but Shepard avoids it easily.
Shepard is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Shepard checks the leg kick nicely there.
Perez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Shepard throws a leg kick but Perez moved away.
Perez ducks under a wild hook from Shepard.
A swing and a miss from Perez.
Perez takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Perez ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Perez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The strikes coming from Perez are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Perez scores with punches from side control.
The ground and pound from Perez seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard is looking for a sweep.
Perez working the body and head with strikes.
Perez is looking to take a break and control but Shepard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Perez looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Shepard is avoiding damage well.
Shepard gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Shepard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Perez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perez wants to pass to mount but Shepard is defending the position.
Perez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shepard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Perez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Perez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Perez working over Shepard with some ground and pound. Shepard looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Shepard pushes Perez off looking to stand but Perez dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perez working the head and body with strikes.
Perez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Shepard wants to get back to full guard.
Shepard trying to control from the bottom.
Perez throwing shots but Shepard is blocking nicely.
Perez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shepard wants to control but Perez is keeping busy.
Shepard is trying to stand up here but Perez is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Perez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Perez working over Shepard with some ground and pound. Shepard looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Perez stops Shepard from getting back to his feet.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Perez lands a nice short elbow.
Shepard trying to control but Perez postures up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shepard won't allow Perez to pass to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepard is trying to control but can't.
Perez slips a nice elbow through Shepard's hands, connecting with Shepard's forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marvin Perez dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Perez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shepard was well out of range. Poor timing from Perez.
Shepard throws a looping overhand right but Perez ducks down to avoid it.
Nice shot by Perez.
Perez misses with a hook.
Shepard throws a hook but Perez avoids it easily.
Shepard throws an overhand right that lands on Perez's shoulder, as Perez tries to avoid the shot.
Shepard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Perez.
Shepard with a jab.
Shepard checks the leg kick.
Perez pivots, looking for a leg kick but Shepard is out of range and Perez settles back down.
The fighters circle momentarily. Perez darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Shepard lands a glancing blow to the side of Perez's head.
Shepard looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Shepard throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Perez checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab by Shepard.
Perez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shepard moves away.
Shepard defending well as Perez loads up on a big left hand.
Shepard throws a body punch but Perez moves out of range.
Perez takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Shepard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Perez.
Perez throws an off balance right hand
and Shepard counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Nice straight punches there by Perez. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Perez.
Shepard checks a low kick from Perez.
Shepard misses with a hook. Perez ducked under it nicely.
Perez throws a jab when Shepard was well out of range.
A big right from Perez misses.
Shepard bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Marvin Perez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Perez throws a predictable looking body shot
and Shepard counters with a series of strikes. Perez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Perez scores with a crisp jab that stopped Shepard in his tracks.
Shepard leaves Perez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shepard lands with a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shepard throws a leg kick but Perez moved away.
Perez connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Shepard momentarily.
Shepard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Perez fails with the takedown.
Shepard feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Perezs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Shepard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Perez was well out of range. Poor timing from Shepard.
Shepard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Perez.
Marvin Perez is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Shepard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shepard moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Perez throws an off balance right hand
and Shepard finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Perez takes a swing at Shepard's ribcage but misses.
Shepard misses the jab.
Shepard stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A slapping leg kick lands for Perez.
Shepard moves out of range as Perez strikes.
Shepard's corner calls for a 1-2. Shepard obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Perez throws a series of punches but Shepard avoids them all with ease.
Perez throws an overhand right that lands on Shepard's shoulder, as Shepard tries to avoid the shot.

Perez gets the takedown into side control.
John Shepard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard is trying to buck Perez off.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Perez working away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shepard tries to buck Perez off but Perez is having none of it.
Perez wants to control for a moment but Shepard uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Perez is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marvin Perez.
Well Perez 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marvin Perez!
A very excited looking Marvin Perez rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.