PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mongkut Sakchai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Mongkut Sakchai has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Mongkut Sakchai seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Sakchai
vs
Shepherd

165 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
21
136 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

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, Mongkut Sakchai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sam Shepherd!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Francis DeMontford and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sakchai.
Shepherd is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Sakchai with a body shot.
Shepherd moves out of range as Sakchai strikes.

Sakchai rushes Shepherd and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sakchai has Shepherd pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Shepherd manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Shepherd pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shepherd throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Shepherd misses with a head kick.
Sakchai closes the distance and clinches up with Shepherd, looking for a takedown. Sakchai pushes Shepherd against the cage but Shepherd circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mongkut Sakchai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakchai misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Shepherd now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Shepherd is looking to clinch.
Sakchai throws a right and a left that Shepherd avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakchai is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shepherd sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sakchai blocks a jab.
Sakchai tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shepherd swivels and escapes.
And Shepherd tries to counter it with a takedown but Sakchai pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Shepherd throws a right hand that Sakchai ducks under and follows up with a left that Sakchai also avoids with ease.
Sakchai looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Sakchai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shepherd paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sakchai tries for a takedown but Shepherd sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Sakchai moves into the clinch.
Sakchai is trying to pull guard but Shepherd has him pressed against the cage.
Shepherd leaning his opponent against the cage.
Shepherd goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakchai prevents a body shot from Shepherd.
Sakchai goes for a takedown in the clinch but Shepherd prevents it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sakchai as Shepherd tries to tie him up.

Sakchai pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sakchai is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sakchai not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sakchai tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakchai is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sakchai might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Shepherd throwing strikes but missing.
Shepherd trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakchai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Shepherd looks winded!

Sakchai is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Shepherd is aware though and is defending well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sam Shepherd is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jab from Shepherd.
Shepherd swings away with a body shot that misses
and Sakchai counters with a nice body kick.
Sakchai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shepherd paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakchai shoots in for a takedown but Shepherd shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Shepherd as Sakchai shoots in.

Sakchai has Shepherd up against the cage in a clinch.

Sakchai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shepherd tries to clinch but Sakchai is having none of it.
Shepherd swings for the body but Sakchai moves out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shepherd looks to score with a jab to the body but Sakchai is just out of range.
Sakchai tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shepherd defends well and Sakchai ends up having to push Shepherd into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Shepherd tries to land a front kick but Sakchai steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Shepherd dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sakchai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sakchai shoots in but no luck this time.
Shepherd flicks out a counter leg kick but Sakchai steps away.
Sakchai takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sakchai or perhaps it was just good defense by Shepherd, which made it look bad.
Shepherd steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Sakchai.
Sakchai fails with the takedown.
Shepherd looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mongkut Sakchai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sakchai rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shepherd moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mongkut Sakchai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shepherd scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sakchai doesn't seem bothered though.
Shepherd throws a sloppy head kick and Sakchai moves out of range easily.
Shepherd is breathing heavily.
Sakchai takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakchai misses with a takedown
and Shepherd counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sam Shepherd seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sakchai tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shepherd defends well and Sakchai ends up having to push Shepherd into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Shepherd let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Sakchai moves out of range as Shepherd throws a body kick.
Shepherd keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sakchai changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shepherd tries to avoid it but Sakchai manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shepherd to the ground. Shepherd escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sakchai closes the distance and clinches up with Shepherd, looking for a takedown. Sakchai pushes Shepherd against the cage but Shepherd circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sakchai tries to move into range but Shepherd moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sakchai throws a head kick but Shepherd moves out of range.
As Sakchai backs off Shepherd throws a huge counter combo but Sakchai manages to avoid it all.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakchai on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Shepherd misses with a low kick.
Sakchai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shepherd.
Shepherd jabs at Sakchai's body.
Nice sprawl there from Shepherd as Sakchai shoots in.

Sakchai clinches up against the cage.
Sakchai is trying to pull guard but Shepherd turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Shepherd is trying to break the clinch but Sakchai has him pressed against the cage.
Shepherd using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Sakchai tries to stall but Shepherd uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakchai is trying to break the clinch but Shepherd has him pressed against the cage.
Come on Shepherd - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Shepherd trying to land knees to the body.
Shepherd working hard to break the clinch.
Shepherd is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Shepherd wants to get back to striking at distance but Sakchai won't allow it.
Shepherd swings wildly with an uppercut but Sakchai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shepherd stalling in the clinch but Sakchai improves position.

Shepherd breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sakchai fails with the takedown.

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 displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sakchai.
Shepherd changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Sakchai tries to clinch but Shepherd is having none of it.
Sakchai throws a leg kick that misses.
Shepherd swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Shepherd takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sakchai walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Sakchai wants to clinch up but Shepherd keeps it at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sakchai instigates a clinch.

Shepherd breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Shepherd showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sakchai swats away the attempt to clinch by Shepherd.
Sakchai tries to clinch up but Shepherd circles away and keeps his distance.
Sakchai shoots in for a double leg but Shepherd sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shepherd steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Sakchai.
Shepherd circles away from the clinch attempt.

Sakchai closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Shepherd wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepherd blocks a body shot from Sakchai.

Sakchai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sakchai with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Shepherd takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Sakchai moves into the clinch.
Shepherd has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Sakchai seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Shepherd can turn it around.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakchai just leaning against Shepherd, taking a breather.
A frustrated look appears on Shepherd's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Shepherd breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sakchai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Shepherd counters with a straight right hand.
Sakchai takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sakchai looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mongkut Sakchai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shepherd circles away from the clinch attempt
and Shepherd counters with a left and a right that stings Sakchai.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sakchai is defended easily by Shepherd.
Shepherd is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sakchai rather than just go for the knockout.
Sakchai misses with an attempted mid kick.
Shepherd was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Shepherd looks to land a body kick but Sakchai moved away.
Sakchai throws a body shot but no joy.
Sakchai takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sakchai fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sakchai.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sakchai is defended easily by Shepherd.
Shepherd is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Sakchai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shepherd circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sakchai sets himself, and Shepherd steps forward looking for the clinch! Sakchai avoids it this time.
Mongkut Sakchai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shepherd tries to clinch but Sakchai is having none of it.
Sakchai shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shepherd but Shepherd pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shepherd is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakchai is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sakchai lands with a nice body kick.
Sakchai fails with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Shepherd.
Sakchai throws a counter high kick but Shepherd was just alert enough to avoid it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sakchai pushes Shepherd up against the cage in a clinch.
Mongkut Sakchai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sam Shepherd is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Shepherd comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shepherd winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Shepherd!
An out of breath Sam Shepherd thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.