PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Miranda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitry Shepelev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Miranda
vs
Shepelev

205 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matt Miranda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dmitry Shepelev!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Kenichi Hosakawa and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miranda throws a series of punches but Shepelev moves out of range.
Shepelev shapes to counter with a head kick.
Miranda misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shepelev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shepelev finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shepelev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Miranda moves into the clinch.
Miranda really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Miranda breaks the clinch.
Miranda tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepelev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Miranda avoids it really well and circles away.
Matt Miranda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitry Shepelev.
Shepelev is looking to clinch but Miranda is avoiding it.
Shepelev tries to clinch up but Miranda circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Miranda blocks a head kick by Shepelev.

Shepelev clinches.

Miranda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown attempt by Shepelev or perhaps it was just good defense by Miranda, which made it look bad.
Miranda ducks under a wild hook from Shepelev.
Shepelev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Miranda swivels and escapes.
Shepelev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Miranda is fending him off so far but Shepelev persists. Nope, Miranda circles away and we're back to standing.
As Shepelev tries to get set, Miranda tries to push him back and clinch up but Shepelev manages to avoid the attempt.
Miranda throws a sloppy head kick and Shepelev moves out of range easily.
Shepelev appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Miranda moves into the clinch.

Miranda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Miranda tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matt Miranda is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepelev looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Miranda misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And Shepelev tries to counter it with a takedown but Miranda pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Shepelev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Miranda tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Shepelev manages to circle out of the way.
Miranda stuffs the takedown attempt from Shepelev. Shepelev gets slowly back to his feet.
Shepelev is looking to clinch.
Shepelev fails in his attempt to clinch.

Miranda forces Shepelev back against the cage and clinches.
Shepelev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Miranda to keep the fight standing.

Miranda breaks from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shepelev misses with a double jab

and Miranda holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Miranda misses with a body punch.

Miranda manages to pull guard.
Miranda trying to strike off his back.
Shepelev lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Miranda kicks Shepelev off and gets to his feet.
Miranda tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Despite the aggression on Shepelev's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Miranda keeps the fight on the outside.
Dmitry Shepelev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Miranda clinches up against the cage.
Shepelev misses with an elbow strike.

Miranda breaks from the clinch.

Shepelev shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Miranda napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
You can see the frustration on Miranda's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Miranda is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Shepelev asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Miranda wants to control but Shepelev postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Miranda is breathing heavily.
Miranda trying his best to control but Shepelev has mounted him.
Shepelev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Miranda is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Shepelev scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Miranda?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shepelev shoots in for a takedown but Miranda shows good takedown defense.
Miranda throws a head kick that half lands.
Miranda throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shepelev fails with the takedown.
Dmitry Shepelev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shepelev tries to clinch but Miranda is having none of it.
Miranda has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Shepelev shoots for a takedown but Miranda saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Matt Miranda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitry Shepelev.
Miranda pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miranda misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Miranda connects with a high kick.
Matt Miranda is winning the standup battle so far.
Shepelev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Miranda is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Shepelev.
Shepelev tries to clinch but Miranda moves out of range.
Miranda tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Shepelev manages to circle out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepelev has a takedown stuffed.
Shepelev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Shepelev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Miranda counters by clinching up.
Shepelev is breathing heavily.

Miranda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Miranda darts in and clinches Shepelev up against the cage.

Miranda manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Miranda. No joy for Shepelev on that attempt.
Miranda throws a hook but Shepelev blocks it.

Shepelev moves into range and clinches up with Miranda.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Miranda breaks the clinch.
Shepelev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Miranda displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shepelev.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shepelev.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Shepelev shoots in looking for a takedown. Miranda tries to sprawl out of it but Shepelev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Miranda manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Shepelev tries to clinch but Miranda is having none of it.
Shepelev misses the jab.
Miranda tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Shepelev manages to circle out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda stuffs the takedown.
Miranda fails to land with a series of punches.
Miranda is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shepelev can do to turn this around?
Miranda ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shepelev moves away.

Miranda clinches up against the cage.

Miranda tightens his grip and picks Shepelev up, before dumping him to the ground. Shepelev manages to land in guard.
Miranda showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Shepelev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Miranda defends well.
Miranda seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miranda preventing the sweep.
Miranda will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Miranda controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Miranda trying to move into half guard but instead Shepelev has managed to sweep!

Miranda is looking for a triangle but Shepelev pushes his legs off easily.
Shepelev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Miranda throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Shepelev content to stall in guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shepelev trying to control the position from guard on top but Miranda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Miranda dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Shepelev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Miranda is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Shepelev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Miranda swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Shepelev avoids the head kick by Miranda.
Shepelev changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Shepelev avoids a kick to the body.
Miranda doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Miranda leaves Shepelev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Miranda seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepelev fails with an attempt to clinch.
Miranda tries a head kick but it misses.
Shepelev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shepelev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepelev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Miranda as he jumps to the side.
Matt Miranda has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitry Shepelev.
Shepelev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Miranda tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shepelev looks for the body kick but Miranda saw that one coming.
Shepelev throws a leg kick

and Miranda counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Miranda.
Shepelev misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Miranda.

Miranda manages to break the clinch.

Miranda moves into range and clinches up with Shepelev.

Miranda breaks the clinch.
Shepelev with a poor takedown

and Miranda moves into the clinch.

Miranda breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Shepelev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Miranda.
Shepelev misses with a takedown attempt - Miranda sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shepelev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shepelev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Miranda misses with an attempted mid kick.
Shepelev with a poor takedown

and Miranda holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Miranda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shepelev avoids the head kick by Miranda.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miranda throws a push kick but Shepelev slaps the foot to one side.
A looping hook to the body misses from Miranda. Shepelev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shepelev wants to counter the offense by Miranda and move into the clinch position.
Shepelev fails with the takedown
letting Miranda counter with a right hand.
Miranda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shepelev ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Miranda displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shepelev.
Miranda looks to throw the jab but Shepelev is out of range.
Miranda tests Shepelev's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepelev tries to clinch up but Miranda circles away and keeps his distance.
Miranda lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Miranda misses with a two punch combination.
Shepelev looks to land a body kick but Miranda moved away.
Miranda throws a series of punches but Shepelev moves out of range.
Miranda misses with a head kick.
Shepelev darts in looking for a takedown but Miranda gets double underhooks and turns Shepelev into the cage.
Miranda is looking to counter the offense by Shepelev and move into the clinch.
Shepelev with a poor takedown
and Miranda counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Shepelev moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shepelev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Miranda defends it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Miranda showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Miranda, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Miranda!