PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luke Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and German Shephard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shephard has chosen K9 Justice as his entrance music. German Shephard will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Johnson
vs
Shephard

179 cm
37
184 lbs
35 - 10 - 0

180 cm
27
185 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Underworld Clothing /w 90% Laundry
BlackStar Athletics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 35 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luke Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, German Shephard!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Eddie Farnsworth and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson moves out of range of the leg kick from Shephard.
Shephard misses with a low kick.
Shephard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Johnson circles away quickly and effectively.
Johnson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shephard was well out of range. Poor timing from Johnson.
Johnson moves out of range of the body kick.
Shephard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Johnson was well out of range. Poor timing from Shephard.
Shephard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A big left from Shephard misses.
Shephard lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Shephard throws the kick towards the body but Johnson avoids it.
Johnson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Shephard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Shephard.
A good leg kick by Shephard.
Shephard blocks a low kick nicely.
Shephard lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Johnson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Shephard throws a sloppy head kick and Johnson moves out of range easily.
Shephard swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson throws a front kick that sends Shephard stumbling back into the cage.
We've been informed that Shephard 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.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Johnson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Shephard will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Johnson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A low kick from Shephard misses

and Johnson counters with a shoot takedown. Shephard fights it but they end up in guard.
Johnson throws a big elbow that misses.
Johnson throwing strikes but missing.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Shephard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Johnson is trying to control the position but Shephard postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shephard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Johnson seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Johnson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shephard's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shephard controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Shephard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Johnson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Johnson trying to control but Shephard is working from the bottom.
Shephard wants to sweep but no luck.
Johnson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shephard is keeping the position for now.
Johnson passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shephard moves into full guard.
Shephard controls Johnson momentarily but Johnson frees himself.
Shephard seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Johnson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shephard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson slips nicely into half guard.

Johnson is working for a kimura but Shephard is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Johnson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Shephard defends it well.
Johnson is thwarting Shephard's attempts to control the position.
Johnson wants to pass to mount but Shephard is defending the position.
Johnson is stalling here. Shephard is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Johnson seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Shephard has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Shephard has control of an arm but Johnson manages to advance to Shephard's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but German Shephard will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shephard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
Shephard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Shephard throws a leg kick but Johnson checks it.
Johnson tries to counter with a takedown but Shephard is quick to defend against it.
Johnson moves into range and connects with a jab.
Shephard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Shephard throws a lazy right hand but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shephard circles away.
Johnson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Johnson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
German Shephard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Johnson fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johnson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Shephard on his heels. He'll look to pass Shephard's guard now, I'm sure.
Shephard is trying to control the position but Johnson postures up.
Johnson stands and throws Shephard's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Shephard is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shephard is looking to reverse the position.
Shephard manages to get back to half guard.
Johnson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Johnson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shephard's head.
Shephard is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Shephard keeping hold of Johnson's head, controlling as best he can.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Shephard dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Johnson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shephard defending well though.
Johnson stalling.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shephard keeps working.
Shephard trying to control here.
Johnson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Shephard as Johnson shoots in.
Shephard goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Luke Johnson has been cut.
Shephard throws a leg kick but Johnson sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shephard tries to work over Johnson's front leg with a kick but Johnson checks it.
Johnson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
German Shephard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Johnson scores with a takedown into Shephard's guard.
Shephard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shephard keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Johnson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shephard working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to control but Shephard is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Johnson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shephard tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shephard to the ground. Shephard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shephard throws out a counter right but Johnson avoids it with no problem.
Shephard misses with an uppercut.
Shephard moves out of range as Johnson strikes.
Shephard fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Johnson is out of range.
Johnson thumps Shephard with a low kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson misses with a body shot.
Shephard tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Johnson misses with a takedown attempt - Shephard sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Johnson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Luke Johnson's cut.
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.

Johnson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Shephard counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Shephard feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Johnson's calf.
Johnson moves out of range of the body kick from Shephard.
Shephard looks to land a body kick but Johnson moved away.
Shephard fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Johnson is out of range.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown but Shephard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnson connects with a solid leg kick.
Johnson stuffs the takedown.
Johnson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shephard pinned against the cage. Shephard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shephard doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shephard throws a low kick, looking for Johnson's leg but Johnson calmly moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shephard wants to slow Johnson down by chopping away at his legs.
Shephard is looking to chop away at Johnson's legs.
Johnson darts in looking for a takedown but Shephard gets double underhooks and turns Johnson into the cage.
Shephard misses with a looping left.
Shephard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Johnson. That snapped Shephard's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shephard throws a leg kick but Johnson moved away.
Johnson doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Shephard to counter with a crisp jab.
Shephard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.
Shephard tried to score with a low kick but Johnson checks it.
Shephard swings away with a body shot that misses

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control.
Johnson in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Johnson trying to control the position but Shephard is working away.
Johnson cracks Shephard with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Shephard can't do much from the bottom here.
Shephard is looking to regain half guard here but Johnson keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shephard stops Johnson from passing to mount.

Johnson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Johnson is trying to get an arm triangle but Shephard is defending well.
Shephard tries to bench press Johnson off him but Johnson keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shephard is trying to control Johnson's posture but Johnson avoids it.
Johnson controls the position from side control.
Johnson advances nicely into full mount.
Shephard is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Shephard working to try and regain half guard.
Johnson with shots to the head and body - Shephard looks very uncomfortable down there.
Johnson raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shephard has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Johnson's lack of action.
Shephard has hold of Johnson's hands but Johnson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Shephard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura but Shephard is defending well.
Shephard is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shephard is not content to let Johnson control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Johnson clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Luke Johnson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Johnson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Johnson moves away from the strike by Shephard.
Shephard scores with a hook to the body. Johnson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Johnson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Shephard throws out a leg kick but Johnson moves out of range and Shephard only half commits.
Shephard throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Shephard misses with a kick to the body.
Johnson attempts a counter takedown but Shephard avoids it well and moves away.
Johnson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shephard manages to avoid it.
Shephard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A clash of legs there as Shephard blocks the low kick.
Shephard checks the leg kick nicely there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shephard misses with a low kick.
Johnson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Shephard misses with a kick to the body.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shephard tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shephard to the ground. Shephard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shephard throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Johnson counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Shephard!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shephard gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

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

Johnson maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Shephard could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Johnson has cracked it and Shephard is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Johnson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Luke Johnson!
A very excited looking Luke Johnson 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.