PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jake Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esteban Pelaez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jake Shepard has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Shepard
vs
Pelaez

210 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

167 cm
25
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 2 - 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, Esteban Pelaez!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shepard closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pelaez did well to prevent Shepard getting side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pelaez preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Pelaez wants to control but Shepard is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Pelaez 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!
What can Shepard do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pelaez is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Shepard manages to stand up with Pelaez still on his back. Eventually Pelaez drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pelaez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Shepard regains full guard. Nicely done.

Pelaez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shepard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pelaez has managed to get both his arms back between Shepard's legs - danger averted.
Pelaez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pelaez pushes down on Shepard's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Pelaez decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Pelaez misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pelaez is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Shepard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Pelaez drives through with a takedown into Shepard's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Pelaez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Shepard looking for a guillotine here but Pelaez defends easily.

Shepard had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pelaez defends it easily.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pelaez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Shepard is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pelaez is controlling him.
Pelaez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shepard is keeping the position for now.
Pelaez controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Shepard working for a triangle but Pelaez defends it easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Pelaez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Shepard sprawls well initially but Pelaez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Shepard pushes Pelaez off but Pelaez dives into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shepard is looking for a sweep.
Pelaez staying calm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pelaez throws a head kick but Shepard moves out of range.
Shepard attempts a counter takedown but Pelaez avoids it well and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shepard.

Pelaez moves into the clinch successfully.
Pelaez is trying to break the clinch but Shepard is controlling him.
Shepard tries for a takedown but Pelaez manages to get underhooks.
Pelaez is trying to push Shepard away but Shepard has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pelaez working hard to break the clinch.
Pelaez manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Pelaez wants to get back to striking at distance but Shepard won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shepard pulls guard successfully.

Shepard looking for a guillotine here but Pelaez defends easily.
Shepard trying to control the position.
Pelaez throws a big right hand that misses.
Pelaez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shepard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Pelaez throws a big elbow that misses.
Pelaez advances to half guard.
Pelaez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Pelaez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pelaez controlling the action here.
Shepard wants to get back to full guard.

Shepard actively working from the bottom here.
Pelaez controlling the pace.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pelaez moves nicely into side control.

Pelaez goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Shepard has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Pelaez but great work by Shepard.
Shepard working away.
Pelaez holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Pelaez is looking for a sweep.
Pelaez sneaks back into half guard.
Pelaez trying to control but Shepard postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pelaez tries to roll over but Shepard keeps him under control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pelaez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shepard's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shepard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Shepard trying to stand up but can't free himself from Pelaez's guard.
Shepard won't allow Pelaez to sweep him here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esteban Pelaez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Shepard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Pelaez counters with a series of strikes. Shepard will be more careful next time no doubt.

Pelaez shoots in and bounces Shepard off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Pelaez looking to pass the guard.
Pelaez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pelaez stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Pelaez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pelaez decides to pull guard.
Pelaez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shepard.
Pelaez looking to control.
Shepard stops Pelaez from standing up.
Shepard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Shepard is looking to stand up but Pelaez won't let him.
Shepard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Esteban Pelaez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pelaez doesn't manage to clinch there - Shepard circles away.

Pelaez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Shepard's half guard.

Pelaez stands up out of the half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Pelaez moves into the clinch.
Pelaez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pelaez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shepard wants a takedown but no success here.
Pelaez is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Shepard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pelaez decides to pull guard.
Shepard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pelaez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pelaez looking to control.

Pelaez throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Shepard escapes and throws Pelaez's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Pelaez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Pelaez kicks Shepard off and gets back to his feet.

Pelaez forces Shepard back against the cage and clinches.

Pelaez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pelaez wants to sweep but no luck.
Pelaez trying to keep a closed guard but Shepard is proving a slippery customer.
Shepard postures up in Pelaez's guard and throws a big left but Pelaez blocks it.
Pelaez controlling Shepard's posture.
Pelaez tries to strike from the bottom.
Jake Shepard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Esteban Pelaez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pelaez is pulling down on Shepard's head. It's preventing any offense from Shepard, at least for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esteban Pelaez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pelaez 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esteban Pelaez!