PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jake Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Belial Nine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shepard
vs
Nine

210 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

188 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jake Shepard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Belial Nine!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nine looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Shepard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Shepard wants to get back to full guard.
Nine is looking to advance position but Shepard won't allow it.
Nine prevents Shepard from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nine throwing shots but Shepard is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nine is trying to control the action in half guard but Shepard is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Shepard is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard wants to control but Nine is keeping busy.
Nine seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shepard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Shepard tries to roll over but Nine keeps him under control.

Shepard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Nine with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Nine gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nine is looking to take a break and control but Shepard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shepard on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Shepard is trying to stand.
Nine looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nine is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shepard is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nine pulls his head out easily.

Shepard looking for submissions off his back.
Shepard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nine looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nine keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Nine landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nine perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Nine thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Nine is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Shepard defends it well.
Shepard regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Nine.
Nine tries to free his leg and advance position but Shepard is retaining full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Shepard is looking for a triangle but Nine pushes his legs off easily.

Shepard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nine gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Belial Nine dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nine moves into the clinch.
Nine keeps control of Shepard as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Nine jumps guard.
Shepard is fighting to break Nine's control of his arms but Nine is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Shepard won't allow Nine to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nine is adopting a defensive guard.
Nine really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shepard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shepard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shepard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shepard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nine is looking to sweep but instead, Shepard has passed into half guard.
Nine is trying to maintain the position but Shepard is very close to passing his half guard.
Nine is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Shepard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Shepard's back!
Nine doesn't have the hooks in and Shepard manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nine wants to control but Shepard passes easily into half guard.
Shepard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nine desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Shepard is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nine defends it well.
Shepard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Shepard is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nine trying to control but Shepard postures up.

Shepard 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.

Nine is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shepard pulls his head out easily.

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.

Nine is defending against the submission attempts here by Shepard.
Nine moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shepard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jake Shepard will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nine with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Shepard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nine swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Nine shoots in and bounces Shepard off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Shepard has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Nine off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nine looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shepard throws a big counter combination but Nine scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nine gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Nine turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Nine manages to end up in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Nine is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Shepard is trying to stand up.
Nine unloads with some shots from mount but Shepard bucks and avoids them well.
Nine takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Shepard is trying to stand but he's just given Nine his back.
Shepard covering up well and avoiding damage.

Nine has got his arm under Shepard's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Shepard has spun round into Nine's guard beautifully! Well done that man!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nine is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Nine is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nine has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Shepard preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nine is striking off his back. Shepard thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

Shepard is working for a submission of some sort.

Nine is defending against the submission attempts here by Shepard.

Shepard is looking for a kimura here.

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.

Nine is defending against the submission attempts here by Shepard.
Nine wants to control but Shepard is keeping busy and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jake Shepard.
I think Shepard 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jake Shepard!