PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tad Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tad Shepherd is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Shepherd
vs
Sanders

191 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

225 cm
21
145 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tad Shepherd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bobby Sanders!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Lou da Vinci and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanders moves into the clinch.
Sanders lands an elbow that stopped Shepherd in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Tad Shepherd has been cut.
Shepherd avoids a wild elbow strike from Sanders.
Sanders jumps guard but Shepherd stands there with Sanders around his waist. Sanders gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sanders tries for a takedown but Shepherd manages to get underhooks.
Sanders is working for takedown but Shepherd is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tad Shepherd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Sanders.
Sanders is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shepherd pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sanders tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shepherd just stands there and leans against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sanders gets control of Shepherd's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sanders will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sanders is looking to stand up but Shepherd isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shepherd accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Shepherd scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Shepherd working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shepherd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sanders wants to stand and escape but Shepherd is having none of it.
Sanders is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shepherd closes the distance and clinches up with Sanders, looking for a takedown. Shepherd pushes Sanders against the cage but Sanders circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Sanders 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. Sanders is in Shepherd's guard.
Shepherd working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sanders.
Sanders controls from within his opponent's guard.
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.
Sanders throws a big elbow that misses.
Shepherd really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanders distracts Shepherd with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Shepherd tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shepherd is controlling Sanders's posture.
Shepherd bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sanders's guard.

Shepherd with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sanders managing to control the position.
Shepherd might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders wants to get back to his feet but Shepherd is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shepherd accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Shepherd lands a nice shot that snaps Sanders's head back.
Nice takedown defense from Shepherd. No joy for Sanders on that attempt.
It looked like Shepherd was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

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.
Sanders shoots in for a takedown but Shepherd shows good takedown defense.
Shepherd tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sanders let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Sanders shoots in looking for a takedown. Shepherd tries to sprawl out of it but Sanders keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shepherd manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Shepherd fails with the takedown.
Sanders changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shepherd tries to avoid it but Sanders manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shepherd to the ground. Shepherd escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shepherd is looking for a counter combo.
Sanders looks winded!
Sanders tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shepherd sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sanders somewhat.
Shepherd went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shepherd shoots for a double leg takedown but Sanders sprawls well. He's pushed Shepherd's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bobby Sanders will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tad Shepherd's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shepherd shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sanders defends it nicely.
Sanders has his takedown stuffed
and Shepherd counters with a one-two to the body.

Shepherd shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sanders manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sanders wants to stand up but Shepherd is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanders wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sanders can do anything to dispel that myth.

Sanders kicks Shepherd off and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanders gets a clinch.

Sanders breaks from the clinch.
Sanders fails with a takedown attempt.
Sanders fails with a takedown attempt.
Tad Shepherd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Sanders.
Sanders is breathing heavily.
Sanders tries for a takedown but Shepherd circles away easily
and Shepherd counters with a one-two to the body.

Sanders moves into the clinch.
Sanders tries to circle away but Shepherd has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanders jumps into guard, dragging Shepherd to the mat.
Sanders working a defensive guard but Shepherd passes into half guard.
Sanders wants to control but Shepherd is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bobby Sanders has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanders wants to get back to his feet.
Shepherd prevents Sanders from improving his position.
Shepherd throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sanders trying to control here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd darts in looking for a takedown but Sanders gets double underhooks and turns Shepherd into the cage.
Sanders blocks a head kick by Shepherd.
Shepherd stalks Sanders and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sanders's face. Sanders staggers backwards, shaken.
Sanders misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sanders pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
As Sanders looks to move away, Shepherd throws a big counter combo bu Sanders just gets out of the way.
Sanders misses with a takedown
and Shepherd counters with a straight right hand.
Sanders shoots in looking for a takedown but Shepherd manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sanders's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sanders stuffs the takedown.
Shepherd throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Sanders gets tackled into the cage by Shepherd. Shepherd maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sanders's efforts to push away.
Shepherd working aggressively here.
Sanders can't get the takedown.
Shepherd is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sanders to keep the fight standing.

Sanders lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shepherd is looking for a sweep. Sanders is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shepherd is trying to control but can't.
Sanders sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shepherd defending well though.
Shepherd gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tad Shepherd dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tad Shepherd'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. This is the final round!

Shepherd scores with a one two! Sanders had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Shepherd decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sanders is positioning himself well to prevent Shepherd advancing to mount.
Sanders is looking to escape.
Shepherd missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanders trying to get back to full guard but Shepherd takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Sanders wants to hold on but Shepherd pushes him away.
Shepherd is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sanders can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders trying desperately to get to his feet.
Sanders is working to get back to half guard.
Shepherd fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sanders squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Shepherd sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd wants to take his opponent's back but Sanders doesn't allow it.
Sanders's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Shepherd looking to finish Sanders with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sanders!
Sanders can't escape the position.
Sanders trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd with a couple of short strikes.
Sanders is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sanders wants to try and get back to his feet.
Sanders wants to control but Shepherd is having none of it.
Sanders wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Shepherd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Sanders tries to lock up and control but Shepherd gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sanders is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Sanders wants to hold on but Shepherd pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sanders holds of for dear life.
Sanders working to try and regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tad Shepherd showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shepherd has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tad Shepherd!