PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Arnolf Karstark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Sheppards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Karstark
vs
Sheppards

187 cm
26
163 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

181 cm
20
160 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Vikai Gear

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Arnolf Karstark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Carl Sheppards!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, David Hoff and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sheppards throws a hook but Karstark blocks it.
Sheppards cracks Karstark with a good jab.
Sheppards with a jab.
Sheppards swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Karstark keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sheppards.
Sheppards throws an overhand right that lands on Karstark's shoulder, as Karstark tries to avoid the shot.
Sheppards's corner calls for a 1-2. Sheppards obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Karstark slips under a jab.
Karstark misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good shot there by Sheppards.
Sheppards lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Sheppards lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Sheppards fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karstark avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheppards tries to clinch but Karstark is having none of it.
Karstark was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Karstark throws a big shot that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sheppards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sheppards throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Karstark throws a big counter combination but Sheppards scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Karstark misses with a double jab
and Sheppards counters with a one-two to the body.
Sheppards bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Karstark's head backwards.
Sheppards has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Sheppards throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A shot to the liver by Sheppards. Beautiful body shot.
Sheppards gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karstark throws a jab but it's blocked by Sheppards.
Sheppards throws out a powerful jab.
Sloppy strikes from Sheppards. Those never looked like landing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sheppards tries to clinch but Karstark moves out of range.
Sheppards cracks a nice hook into Karstark's ribs.
Sheppards misses the shot to the body.
Karstark went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Karstark is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Sheppards misses with a series of wild punches.
Sheppards tests Karstark's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sheppards jabbing away but nothing is landing.
It looked like Karstark wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Sheppards might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Sheppards misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheppards doesn't manage to clinch there - Karstark circles away.
Sheppards is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Karstark had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Sheppards swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sheppards. Karstark does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sheppards tests Karstark's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sheppards misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Karstark.
Sheppards tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Karstark keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Karstark walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Sheppards fails to land with a series of punches.
Karstark is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Sheppards swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Karstark.
Sheppards steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Karstark.
Sheppards has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Karstark finds it's way round the side to connect with Sheppards's head.

It looks like Carl Sheppards has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheppards throws a right hand that misses
and Karstark counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Karstark takes one on the chin but seems OK.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sheppards fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Karstark manages to avoid it.
Sheppards moves out of range of the strikes.
Sheppards catches Karstark with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Karstark moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A big left from Karstark misses.
Nice defenses there by Sheppards.
As Karstark backs off Sheppards throws a huge counter combo but Karstark manages to avoid it all.
Sheppards misses with a straight right.
Karstark throws a big counter combination but Sheppards scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Sheppards tries to clinch up.
Sloppy strikes from Sheppards. Those never looked like landing.
Sheppards digs a good body shot into Karstark's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Sheppards dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Carl Sheppards's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice defenses there by Karstark.
Sheppards ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Karstark moves away.
Karstark throws an off balance right hand
and Sheppards counters with a stiff right hand.
The fighters circling - Karstark throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Carl Sheppards seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karstark dodges the punch combination from Sheppards.
An attempted straight right counter from Karstark misses the target.

Sheppards clinches.
Sheppards has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sheppards is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Karstark to keep the fight standing.
Sheppards tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Karstark smiles and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sheppards wants to clinch.

Sheppards gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karstark tries to stall but Sheppards uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Karstark has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Sheppards regains guard immediately.
Sheppards lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sheppards wants to control from the top but Karstark keeps moving.
Sheppards wants to pass the guard but Karstark is keeping the position.
Karstark knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sheppards on the ground.

Sheppards thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sheppards drops back looking for a leg! Karstark is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Karstark manages to kick Sheppards off! Sheppards jumps back into Karstark's guard.
Karstark looking to control.
Karstark managing to control the position.
Karstark tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sheppards works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karstark wants to get back to full guard.
Sheppards is looking to take a break and control but Karstark is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Karstark is trying is best to control the position here.

Karstark is defending against the submission attempts here by Sheppards.
Sheppards not doing much here.
Sheppards is looking to stall here but Karstark recovers full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sheppards pushes down on Karstark's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sheppards is trying to control. Karstark wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sheppards thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Karstark's head.
Sheppards seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Karstark does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sheppards takes a swing at Karstark's ribcage but misses.
Sheppards moves to clinch but Karstark breaks away
and Karstark counters with a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Sheppards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Carl Sheppards's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Karstark scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Karstark throws an overhand right that lands on Sheppards's shoulder, as Sheppards tries to avoid the shot.
Karstark waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sheppards.
Karstark lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sheppards connects with a nice looking jab.
Sheppards misses with a combination
and Karstark connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Karstark misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Sheppards moves into the clinch.
Sheppards is trying to pull guard but Karstark has him pressed against the cage.
Sheppards jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Karstark walks away with a smile on his face. Sheppards gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Karstark throws a right and a left that Sheppards avoids nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sheppards uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karstark slips a jab and a cross from Sheppards.
Sheppards throws a nice looking combination but Karstark bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sheppards tries to clinch but Karstark moves out of range.
Karstark scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sheppards in his tracks.
Sheppards misses with a wild combination.
Sheppards dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sheppards fails in his attempt to clinch.
Karstark misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sheppards tries to close the distance and clinch but Karstark swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sheppards thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheppards throws a sloppy body shot
and Karstark counters with a series of strikes. Sheppards will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sheppards lands with a cross.
Sheppards tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
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!
Karstark takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Karstark lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sheppards circles away quickly and effectively.
Sheppards scores with a jab. Karstark acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sheppards doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sheppards avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some wild striking there from Sheppards.
Karstark swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheppards wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sheppards tries to clinch but Karstark is having none of it.
Sheppards tries to clinch up but Karstark circles away and keeps his distance.
Karstark really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sheppards digs a good hook to Karstark's body.
Sheppards fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sheppards works over Karstark's head and body with a nice combination.
Sheppards misses with a body shot.
Sheppards ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Karstark misses with a series of wild punches.
Sheppards connects with a good right hand that stumbles Karstark. Karstark circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Carl Sheppards 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.
Sheppards lands with a nice body punch.
Sheppards tries to clinch up.
Sheppards throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As Sheppards looks to move away, Karstark throws a big counter combo bu Sheppards just gets out of the way.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sheppards scores with a shot to the body.
Sheppards throws a nice looking combination but Karstark bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Karstark seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Karstark is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Karstark takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sheppards throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Karstark circles away from the clinch attempt
and Karstark counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Arnolf Karstark has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sheppards throws a right hand that Karstark ducks under and follows up with a left that Karstark also avoids with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Carl Sheppards.
Well Sheppards has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carl Sheppards!