PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Commander Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Smith told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Shepard
vs
Smith

175 cm
21
158 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

167 cm
21
141 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Commander Shepard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Smith!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, William Gold and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepard cracks a nice hook into Smith's ribs.

Shepard gets tackled into the cage by Smith. Smith maintains the clinch.
Smith tries a knee to the head but Shepard blocks it.
I was talking to Shepard's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Smith throws an elbow but it misses.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shepard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shepard can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
Smith crunches a lovely knee into Shepard's ribcage.
Smith unloads a knee to the mid-section. Shepard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Shepard blocks with his arms.
Smith connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Commander Shepard has been cut.
Smith tries to stall but Shepard uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Smith connects with a knee to the head.
Shepard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Shepard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smith misses with a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shepard misses with a low kick.
Smith takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Shepard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shepard throws a leg kick which misses Smith's front leg but catches the back leg as Smith tries to avoid it.
We've been informed that Smith has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shepard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Smith pushes Shepard up against the cage in a clinch.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Shepard blocks with his arms.
Shepard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smith avoids it.
Shepard scores with a hook to the body.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Shepard blocks with his arms.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Shepard blocks with his arms.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Shepard blocks with his arms.
Smith throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Shepard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Smith landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard missing with knees to the body.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shepard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smith prevents a body shot from Shepard.
Smith with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Smith lands a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Shepard tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Shepard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Shepard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith tries to clinch up but Shepard circles away and keeps his distance.
Shepard keeps Smith at a distance using the push kick.
Smith avoids the body shot from Shepard.
Smith closes the distance but Shepard moves to the side
and Shepard counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Smith thinking.
Shepard throws a leg kick but Smith sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Smith!
Smith tries to clinch up.
Shepard takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Smith thuds his shin into the meat of Shepard's side.
Shepard fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Smith checks it well.
Matt Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith throws a head kick that half lands.
Smith tries to clinch
and Smith takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Smith clinches up with Shepard and pushes him back against the cage.
Smith misses with a knee strike.
Smith avoiding damage as Shepard throws knees to the body.
Smith looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Smith blocks a body shot from Shepard.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Shepard avoids the damage to the body.
Shepard struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Shepard scores with a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shepard can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shepard tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shepard is defending well for now.
Shepard lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Smith throws an elbow that misses.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shepard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smith is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Smith lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Shepard.
Shepard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smith avoids it.
Shepard is trying to break free.
Shepard struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Commander Shepard's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith avoids the body shot from Shepard.
Shepard sets himself, and Smith steps forward looking for the clinch! Shepard avoids it this time.
Shepard keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shepard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shepard scores with a push kick.
Smith tries to clinch up but Shepard circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith misses with an attempted mid kick.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shepard looks for the body kick but Smith saw that one coming.

Smith clinches with his opponent.
Shepard misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith lands an elbow inside.
Smith utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Shepard blocks an elbow strike.
Shepard tries a body shot but Smith blocks it.
Shepard dodges an elbow strike from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Smith with a knee to the head.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Shepard is blocking nicely.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Shepard is blocking nicely.
Shepard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smith avoids it.
Smith pushes off an throws an elbow but Shepard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Shepard.
Matt Smith seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Shepard managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Shepard tries a knee to the head but Smith blocks it.
Shepard with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Knees to the body from Shepard.
Shepard lands a body punch in the clinch.
Shepard looking to throw knees to the head but Smith is blocking nicely.
Shepard works on Smith's body with a couple of short punches.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Shepard is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to control Shepard's arms but Shepard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Smith has his back to the cage.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shepard is defending well for now.
Shepard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Shepard landing knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shepard pushes Smith back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Shepard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Shepard is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Shepard lands a good knee to the midsection. Smith won't want to take too many of those.
Shepard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shepard tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Shepard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shepard tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Smith blocks a body shot from Shepard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Shepard with a knee to the head.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Shepard avoids the damage to the body.
Shepard lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Smith.
Smith throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shepard tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith lands a nice elbow.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Smith blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Smith.
Smith misses with a knee strike.
Nice elbow from Smith.
Shepard takes an elbow to the temple.
Shepard goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shepard lands a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shepard has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Shepard is blocking nicely.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Shepard is defending well for now.
Shepard is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smith is defending well for now.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shepard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shepard is looking to break free of the clinch but Smith has double underhooks.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Shepard is blocking nicely.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shepard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Smith throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shepard blocks an elbow strike.
Shepard tries to throw a body punch but Smith avoids it by throwing Shepard back against the cage.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Shepard is blocking nicely.
Smith avoiding damage as Shepard throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matt Smith will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Commander Shepard's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Good standup being displayed there by Shepard as he connects with a hook.
Shepard changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shepard does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Shepard lands a leg kick that knocks Smith off balance momentarily.
Commander Shepard is winning the standup battle so far.
Shepard is looking to score with low kicks.
Smith tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Shepard counters with a right hand to the body.

Smith moves into the clinch successfully.
Smith throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shepard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith scores with a knee to the head.
Shepard tries to break the clinch but Smith is controlling the position.
Shepard scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Shepard on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shepard misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard lands a nice knee to the body.
Smith tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shepard can't find room to land a body shot as Smith controls the action.
Shepard throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shepard blocks the elbow strike.
Shepard misses with a punch to the body.
Smith throws an elbow that misses.
Shepard working hard to break the clinch.
Smith misses with a knee strike.
Shepard blocks the elbow strike.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Shepard obliges.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith missing with knees to the body.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shepard has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Shepard breaks from the clinch.
Commander Shepard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to clinch but Shepard slips to the side
and Shepard counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Smith tries to clinch
and Shepard counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Shepard misses with an attempted mid kick.
Smith takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shepard comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Smith tries to clinch but Shepard is having none of it.
Shepard quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Smith on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Smith closes the distance looking to clinch
and Shepard counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Shepard scores with a punch to the head.
Smith darts in trying to clinch
and Shepard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Shepard is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shepard appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
That kick from Smith tenderised Shepard's leg. Shepard is trying to keep his angry face on.
Smith tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Shepard counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Smith moves into the clinch.
Smith throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shepard managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Smith unloads a knee to the mid-section. Shepard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Shepard blocks with his arms.
Matt Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
Shepard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shepard has a couple of punches blocked by Smith.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shepard presses Smith against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Smith landing knees to the body.
Smith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shepard trying to land knees to the body.
Shepard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith trying to control the position but instead, Shepard has worked for underhooks and has pushed Smith into the cage.
Smith blocks a body shot from Shepard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Commander Shepard showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Matt Smith!
A very excited looking Matt Smith made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.