PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Otha Carson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shepard has chosen Deftones- Ferticeira as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Carson
vs
Shepard

198 cm
18
151 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

182 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Otha Carson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Shepard!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paul Aken and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepard misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shepard jabs Carson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Carson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Shepard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shepard scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Carson forces Shepard back against the cage and clinches.
Shepard missing with knees to the body.
Shepard jumps guard but Carson stands there with Shepard around his waist. Shepard gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Shepard is keeping busy.
Carson effectively controlling the action here.
Shepard lands a hook that snaps the head of Carson backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shepard lands a hook that snaps the head of Carson backwards.
Carson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Carson taking a breather.
Carson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Shepard tries for a takedown but Carson manages to get underhooks.
Carson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Otha Carson.

Carson closes the distance and pushes Shepard back into the cage.
Carson looking to slow down the pace here.
Carson wants to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Shepard.
Carson leaning against his opponent.
Carson tries to stall but Shepard uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Carson is looking to control Shepard's arms but Shepard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Carson has his back to the cage.
Maybe Carson would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Otha Carson.
Shepard throws out a leg kick but Carson moves out of range and Shepard only half commits.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shepard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Carson moves out of range of the body kick from Shepard.

Shepard has Carson up against the cage in a clinch.
Carson just leaning against Shepard, taking a breather.
A short uppercut from Shepard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carson can't find room to land a body shot as Shepard controls the action.
Carson trying to control the position but instead, Shepard has worked for underhooks and has pushed Carson into the cage.
Carson stalling against the cage.
Shepard just leaning against Carson, taking a breather.
Carson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Shepard can't break the clinch.
The referee calls for Carson to work.
Carson taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Otha Carson.

Shepard has taken the fight to the clinch.
Carson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Carson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Carson.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Carson for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Shepard can't break the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Carson effectively controlling the action here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Otha Carson.
Shepard closes the distance and clinches up with Carson, looking for a takedown. Shepard pushes Carson against the cage but Carson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Otha Carson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Shepard.
Shepard shoots in for a double leg but Carson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Shepard dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Carson swats away the attempt to clinch by Shepard.
Shepard dips to his left and cracks Carson with an uppercut!

Carson has closed the distance and engaged Shepard in a clinch.
Carson is pushing Shepard up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Shepard lands a nice shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee calls for Carson to work.
Carson looking to stall.
Carson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Shepard blocks a body shot from Carson.
The referee is keeping an eye on Carson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Carson is trying to maintain a safe position but Shepard gets an underhook and turns Carson into the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Otha Carson.
Shepard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Carson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
John Shepard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shepard throws a right hand that Carson ducks under and follows up with a left that Carson also avoids with ease.
Shepard misses with a series of wild punches.
Carson wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Shepard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A punch combination from Shepard misses.
As Shepard tries to get set, Carson tries to push him back and clinch up but Shepard manages to avoid the attempt.
Shepard is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Carson clinches.
Carson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Carson just leaning against Shepard, taking a breather.
Carson leaning his opponent against the cage.
Carson gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Carson avoids a wild elbow strike from Shepard.
Carson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shepard's efforts to push away.
Carson holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A short uppercut from Shepard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard is trying to break free.
Carson looking to slow down the pace here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Shepard as Carson tries to tie him up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Otha Carson.

Shepard clinches up with Carson and pushes him back against the cage.
Shepard has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Carson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Shepard can't find room to land a body shot as Carson controls the action.
Shepard being controlled against the cage.
Carson slowing the pace effectively.
Carson tries to stall but Shepard uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Carson is looking to control Shepard's arms but Shepard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Carson has his back to the cage.
Carson is trying to maintain a safe position but Shepard gets an underhook and turns Carson into the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Otha Carson.
Shepard tries a low kick but Carson avoids it.
Shepard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Carson.
Carson is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Shepard.
A combination from Carson does no damage.
Shepard looks to land a combination but Carson avoids it well.
A clash of legs there as Carson blocks the low kick.
Shepard misses with the combination.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shepard misses with a body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Carson misses the target.
Shepard fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Shepard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Shepard tries to clinch up.
Shepard misses with a few strikes there.
Shepard shoots for a takedown but Carson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shepard throws a head kick but Carson moves out of range.
Shepard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Carson counters with a straight right hand.
Shepard closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Shepard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Carson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Carson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Shepard is looking to reverse the position.
Shepard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.
Carson wants to control but Shepard is keeping him busy.
Carson is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Shepard is working to avoid the ground and pound but Carson connects with a decent elbow.
Shepard is trying to buck Carson off.
Carson slows the pace down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Carson trying to control the position but Shepard is working away.

Carson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Shepard is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Carson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carson wants to control but Shepard is keeping him busy.

Carson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Carson in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Shepard struggling a bit here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Shepard shoots in looking for a takedown but Carson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Shepard's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Carson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Shepard sprawls and moves away.
Otha Carson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Shepard.

Carson has Shepard up against the cage in a clinch.
Carson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Carson slows down the pace here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Otha Carson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Shepard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shepard has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Carson after a bit of a struggle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Otha Carson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shepard 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Shepard!
John Shepard took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'I get better with everyday in training, I get a little bit better at every aspect of the game. I can't wait to fight again'.