PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cedrick Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gheorghe Lazar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shepherd
vs
Lazar

178 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cedrick Shepherd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gheorghe Lazar!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepherd doesn't manage to clinch there - Lazar circles away.
Shepherd is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lazar is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Gheorghe Lazar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lazar dives in and grabs Shepherd's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shepherd pushes down on Lazar's head and hops out.
Shepherd stuffs the takedown.

Lazar looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Lazar trying to control but Shepherd is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lazar throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lazar's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shepherd looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lazar lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shepherd will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Lazar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lazar landing with the ground and pound.
Shepherd is trying to control the position but Lazar postures up.
Lazar with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lazar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lazar postures up.

Shepherd is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lazar is aware though and is defending well.
Shepherd tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lazar throws an elbow that misses. Shepherd uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lazar's guard. Nice move by Shepherd!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Lazar is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lazar looks winded!

Shepherd is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lazar wants to sweep here but Shepherd controlling him for the moment.
Shepherd slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Lazar.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Lazar shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shepherd as he avoids it easily.
Cedrick Shepherd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gheorghe Lazar.
Shepherd tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A combination from Shepherd does no damage.

Shepherd closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Lazar's guard.
Shepherd with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lazar throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Shepherd is standing up over Lazar. Lazar looks to escape but Shepherd dives into side control.
The strikes coming from Shepherd are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Lazar is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd scoring with punches from side control.
Shepherd is looking to take a break and control but Lazar is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Shepherd is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Lazar is trying to escape and Shepherd transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Lazar is forced to tap! Nice work there by Shepherd! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Cedrick Shepherd!