PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hubert Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shepherd
vs
Johnson

181 cm
18
346 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

225 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ethan Shepherd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hubert Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson has Shepherd up against the cage in a clinch.

Johnson pulls guard effortlessly.
Shepherd postures up.
Shepherd wants to get up but he can't break Johnson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Johnson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shepherd could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hubert Johnson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Johnson moves into the clinch.
Johnson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Johnson lands a knee to the body.
Johnson trying to stall but Shepherd improves his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepherd tries to pull guard but Johnson won't allow it.

Johnson gets control of Shepherd's arms and successfully pulls guard. Johnson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Shepherd in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shepherd has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Johnson trying to keep a closed guard but Shepherd is proving a slippery customer.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Shepherd gets to his feet - Johnson follows without any prompting.
No joy there for Johnson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Johnson throws out a powerful jab.

It looks like Ethan Shepherd has been cut.
Johnson checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd throws a push kick but Johnson slaps the foot to one side.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Shepherd crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Johnson - the referee stops the clock and Shepherd gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Johnson. Shepherd manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Shepherd is breathing heavily.
Shepherd tries to clinch up.

Johnson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Shepherd tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Johnson is in Shepherd's guard.
Shepherd keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Johnson pushes down on Shepherd's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Johnson 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. Johnson eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Johnson is nestled in close to Shepherd, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

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.
Shepherd is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Johnson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Johnson's back!

Shepherd has the hooks in. Johnson is starting to panic. He's trying to push off one of the legs but he's left his neck open to attack. Shepherd passes his arm under Johnson's neck and tightens up a rear naked choke! This one is surely all over! Yes, Johnson taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ethan Shepherd!