PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tad Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mateusz Jakiela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mateusz Jakiela will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Shepherd
vs
Jakiela

191 cm
18
140 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

173 cm
19
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mateusz Jakiela!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Jonathan Paton and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shepherd closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Jakiela did well to prevent Shepherd getting side control.
Jakiela wants to get back to his feet.

Jakiela looking for submissions off his back.
Jakiela wants to control but Shepherd is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Shepherd gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Jakiela tries a head kick but it misses.
It looked like Shepherd was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Shepherd throws a sloppy head kick and Jakiela moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shepherd has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jakiela tries to pull guard but Shepherd won't allow it.

Jakiela breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shepherd fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jakiela, pushing him back against the cage.

Jakiela escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Jakiela gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Jakiela is looking to take this one to the mat.
Shepherd is stalling here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shepherd.
Shepherd lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Jakiela stalling in the clinch but Shepherd improves position.
Jakiela is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jakiela works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Jakiela is looking to take this one to the mat.
Tad Shepherd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mateusz Jakiela.
The referee calls for Shepherd to work.

Shepherd has Jakiela pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Shepherd pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Jakiela tumbling to the mat - Shepherd dives into Jakiela's guard.
Jakiela controls Shepherd momentarily but Shepherd frees himself.
Jakiela wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Shepherd is now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jakiela tries to kick Shepherd off in order to stand up. Shepherd Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Jakiela is looking to reverse the position.
Shepherd will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jakiela wants to control but Shepherd postures up.
Jakiela is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Shepherd is staying active.
Shepherd trying to control the action but Jakiela is working from the bottom.
Jakiela is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Shepherd working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Shepherd clinches up against the cage.
Shepherd connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jakiela's face.
Jakiela goes for a takedown attempt but Shepherd pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jakiela looks winded!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Shepherd fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jakiela, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tad Shepherd dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jakiela will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Shepherd went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Shepherd closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Jakiela really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shepherd. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Jakiela tries to buck Shepherd off but Shepherd is having none of it.
Jakiela wants to control but Shepherd postures up.
Tad Shepherd overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jakiela tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Shepherd presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepherd avoids the attempt from Jakiela to control.
Jakiela is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepherd connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Jakiela is trying to escape the mount.
Jakiela is still trying to improve position.
Shepherd landing strikes from the mount.
Jakiela can't escape the position.
Jakiela is in a horrible position here. Shepherd smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
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.
Shepherd pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jakiela wants to control but Shepherd is having none of it.
Jakiela in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Jakiela is looking to get to half guard.
Shepherd is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jakiela can do to turn this around?
Jakiela is breathing heavily.
Jakiela taking shots to the head.
Jakiela is trying to stand.
Shepherd avoids the attempt from Jakiela to control.
Shepherd dominating with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd is trying to take his opponent's back.
Shepherd fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Jakiela can't escape the position.
Shepherd takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Jakiela is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Shepherd is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Jakiela with him. Jakiela is trying to defend but Shepherd has an arm under the chin now! Jakiela grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tad Shepherd!