PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between David Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rufus Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Anderson might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Prince. Shepherd has chosen Alter Bridge - Addicted to pain as his entrance music. Rufus Shepherd will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Anderson
vs
Shepherd

176 cm
25
160 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
161 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, David Anderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rufus Shepherd!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Anderson drives through and clinches with Shepherd against the cage.
Shepherd scores with a shot to the side of Anderson's head.
A nice left hand lands by Shepherd.

Anderson jumps guard and drags Shepherd to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Anderson keeping full guard, as Shepherd tries to pass.
Shepherd is stalling in the full guard.
Anderson trying to control the position.
Shepherd tries to free his leg and advance position but Anderson is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepherd throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Anderson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shepherd trying to control but Anderson is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rufus Shepherd was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Anderson dives in for a single leg takedown but Shepherd sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Anderson misses with a knee to the head.
Anderson looking to throw knees to the head but Shepherd is blocking nicely.
Anderson missing with knees to the body.
Anderson trying to land knees to the body.
Shepherd tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Shepherd jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Anderson walks away with a smile on his face. Shepherd gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Shepherd moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd misses with a punch to the body.
Shepherd connects with a nasty looking knee right to Anderson's face.
Shepherd avoiding damage as Anderson throws knees to the body.
Anderson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shepherd.
Anderson missing with knees to the body.
Shepherd avoiding damage as Anderson throws knees to the body.
Anderson pushes Shepherd back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Anderson fails to land.

Shepherd pulls guard effortlessly.
Shepherd tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shepherd has his hands on Anderson's head, controlling the position.
Anderson is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Iron Fist Training that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Anderson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Shepherd is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Anderson, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is adopting a defensive guard.
Anderson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shepherd.
Shepherd looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Anderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shepherd trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shepherd throwing strikes from guard but Anderson blocks nicely.

Anderson pushes Shepherd off and scrambles back to his feet.
Anderson slips a jab from Shepherd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rufus Shepherd will probably get the nod.
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.

Anderson clinches up with Shepherd and pushes him back against the cage.
Shepherd is trying to maintain a safe position but Anderson gets an underhook and turns Shepherd into the cage.
Shepherd is trying to pull guard but Anderson has him pressed against the cage.
Anderson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shepherd is defending well for now.
Anderson crunches a lovely knee into Shepherd's ribcage.
Anderson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Shepherd avoids it.
Anderson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shepherd swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Shepherd has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Anderson regains guard immediately.
Anderson pulls Shepherd in to control the position.
Shepherd wants to control from the top but Anderson keeps moving.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shepherd throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Shepherd looking to pass the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Anderson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Anderson moves into the clinch.

Anderson jumps guard and drags Shepherd to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shepherd is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Anderson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Anderson has escaped and now he's on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anderson wants to control from the top but Shepherd keeps moving.
Anderson being controlled here momentarily.
Rufus Shepherd has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shepherd keeping moving, preventing Anderson from controlling successfully.
Anderson passes Shepherd's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Anderson wants to work for an arm triangle but Shepherd is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Shepherd is defending against the submission attempts here by Anderson.

Anderson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Anderson seems to be working for a kimura but Shepherd defends the submission attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shepherd wants to control but Anderson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Anderson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Shepherd looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Anderson is fending him off so far but Shepherd persists. Nope, Anderson circles away and we're back to standing.
Rufus Shepherd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anderson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shepherd fails with a takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shepherd has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Anderson seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Shepherd can turn it around.
Shepherd tries to pull guard but Anderson won't allow it.
David Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rufus Shepherd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Anderson tries to pull guard but Shepherd won't allow it.
Anderson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Anderson missing with knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Anderson.

Shepherd escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shepherd has a takedown stuffed.
Shepherd takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shepherd moves out of range of the body kick.

Anderson forces Shepherd back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Shepherd as Anderson tries to tie him up.
Anderson lands a good knee to the midsection. Shepherd won't want to take too many of those.
Anderson missing with knees to the body.

Anderson manages to pull guard.

Shepherd has gone for a leg lock! Anderson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shepherd's 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!
Anderson stands and throws Shepherd's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Shepherd defending against the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anderson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Anderson is trying to get an arm triangle but Shepherd is defending well.
Shepherd manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is keen to just control but Shepherd is a slippery customer.
Anderson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Shepherd wants to control but Anderson is keeping busy.

Anderson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shepherd is just riding it out for now. Anderson eventually gives up the hold.

Anderson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Shepherd defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Anderson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Anderson 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Anderson!
In his post fight interview, David Anderson started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
Rufus Shepherd spoke after the fight, saying 'Unfortunately i lost but i will train a lot to win next fight for myself and you- my fans'.