PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sam Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Zurdur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shepherd
vs
Zurdur

182 cm
21
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sam Shepherd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tommy Zurdur!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepherd throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zurdur.

Zurdur gets a double leg takedown into Shepherd's guard.
Zurdur controlling from the top position.
Shepherd looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zurdur is one step ahead there.
Zurdur pushing down on Shepherd's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepherd trying to control here.
Zurdur thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zurdur seems to be working for a kimura but Shepherd defends the submission attempt.
Zurdur sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shepherd defending well though.
Zurdur lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Zurdur trying to control from half guard but Shepherd is working away.

Zurdur is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two 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.
Shepherd is not content to let Zurdur control the position.
Shepherd looks like he's trying to stand up.

Zurdur seems to be working for a kimura but Shepherd defends the submission attempt.

Zurdur looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zurdur is keen to just control but Shepherd is a slippery customer.
Zurdur not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shepherd is refusing to be controlled, as Zurdur sits in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Shepherd throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Zurdur drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Shepherd defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shepherd moves in looking to clinch but Zurdur pushes him off.
It seemed like Zurdur was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Shepherd is looking to clinch.
As Shepherd backs off Zurdur throws a huge counter combo but Shepherd manages to avoid it all.
Both fighters circling a little - Shepherd finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Zurdur throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Zurdur pushes Shepherd up against the cage in a clinch.
Shepherd lands a left hand.
Zurdur keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shepherd's efforts to push away.
Shepherd just leaning against Zurdur, taking a breather.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zurdur presses Shepherd against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Shepherd working hard to break the clinch.
Zurdur tries to pull guard but Shepherd forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Zurdur dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Zurdur looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shepherd cracks a nice hook into Zurdur's ribs.
Shepherd fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shepherd wants to clinch.
And Zurdur tries to counter it with a takedown but Shepherd pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Zurdur instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zurdur breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sam Shepherd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shepherd pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zurdur showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shepherd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepherd throws a predictable looking body shot
and Zurdur counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Zurdur drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Shepherd throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Zurdur looks to land a combination but Shepherd avoids it well.

Zurdur closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Shepherd pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shepherd misses the jab.
Zurdur lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shepherd circles away quickly and effectively.
A shot to the liver by Shepherd. Beautiful body shot.
Zurdur blocks a head kick by Shepherd.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zurdur avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zurdur will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Shepherd throws a head kick that misses

and Zurdur counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Shepherd!
Tommy Zurdur has got the better of the ground game so far.

Zurdur is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shepherd knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shepherd is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Zurdur has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Zurdur looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Shepherd is avoiding damage well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zurdur remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Let's hope that Zurdur has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Check out the look on Zurdur's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Zurdur misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
A lull in the action here.
Shepherd is trying to buck Zurdur off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zurdur works to advance to full mount. Shepherd defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Zurdur trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Zurdur is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Shepherd can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Zurdur trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Zurdur showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zurdur throws a right and a left that Shepherd avoids nicely.

Zurdur has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zurdur avoiding damage as Shepherd throws knees to the body.
Zurdur has Shepherd pressed against the cage.
Shepherd tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zurdur leaning against his opponent.
Shepherd leaning his opponent against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zurdur lands with a left to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepherd tries to circle away but Zurdur has him pinned against the cage.
Shepherd can't break the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Zurdur tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shepherd looking to slow down the pace here.
Shepherd is trying to break the clinch but Zurdur is controlling him.
Zurdur tries to score a body lock takedown but Shepherd shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Shepherd is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Zurdur is keeping busy.
Zurdur is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shepherd to keep the fight standing.
Sam Shepherd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Zurdur.

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.
Zurdur is pushing Shepherd up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Shepherd is trying to force a seperation but Zurdur has the dominant position.
Zurdur managing to block the knees to the body from Shepherd.

Zurdur pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Zurdur has Shepherd pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zurdur tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shepherd just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shepherd misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Zurdur.
Zurdur keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shepherd's efforts to push away.

Zurdur pulls guard effortlessly.
Zurdur working a defensive guard here.
Zurdur wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Zurdur preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Shepherd is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shepherd wants to control from the top but Zurdur keeps moving.
Zurdur is trying to control the position but Shepherd postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Zurdur wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Shepherd cracks Zurdur with a good jab.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shepherd tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zurdur paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sam Shepherd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tommy Zurdur is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shepherd throws a sloppy body shot
and Zurdur counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Zurdur comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zurdur has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Zurdur!