PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bernie Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uriel Ferdinand (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Shepard
vs
Ferdinand

211 cm
18
278 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

195 cm
20
280 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bernie Shepard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Uriel Ferdinand!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, David Schapiro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ferdinand tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shepard paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Uriel Ferdinand seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ferdinand looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Shepard throws a head kick but Ferdinand moves out of range.

Ferdinand shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Shepard pulls Ferdinand in to control the position.
Ferdinand stopping the sweep attempt from Shepard.

Ferdinand drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Shepard dives on top into guard.

Ferdinand preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shepard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Shepard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Shepard landing with the ground and pound.
Shepard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepard chips away with some ground and pound.
Shepard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Shepard lands a couple of digs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shepard slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Shepard connects with a couple of short punches.
Shepard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Shepard throws a big elbow that misses.
Shepard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ferdinand preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ferdinand should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Shepard chips away with some ground and pound.
Shepard is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Shepard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Shepard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shepard slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Shepard lands a couple of digs.
Ferdinand has momentary wrist control but Shepard slips an elbow through the middle.
Shepard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shepard keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ferdinand's head.
Shepard is stalling in the full guard.
Shepard throwing strikes from guard but Ferdinand blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ferdinand's head.
Shepard is looking to work some ground and pound but Ferdinand has wrist control.
Shepard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ferdinand works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shepard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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

Shepard is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ferdinand's half guard.
Shepard landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Shepard is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Shepard slows the pace down in half guard.

Shepard is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Shepard is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ferdinand has managed to free his arm - good work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Shepard in particular looking to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ferdinand on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernie Shepard dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A head kick by Ferdinand misses

and Shepard moves into the clinch.

Shepard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ferdinand throws a poor cross that misses

and Shepard counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ferdinand!
Shepard is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ferdinand will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Shepard working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Shepard lands some shots froms side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ferdinand taking punishment in the form of punches.
Ferdinand is breathing heavily.
Shepard working the ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard taking a breather here.
Shepard seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ferdinand for as long as he can get away with.
Shepard lands a decent elbow from side control.
Shepard working the ground and pound.
Ferdinand takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shepard lands some shots froms side control.
Ferdinand is letting Shepard control him for a moment.
Shepard is chipping away with strikes.
Shepard in side control lands a decent elbow.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepard continues to stall.
Shepard lands a decent elbow from side control.

Shepard tries for a kimura but Ferdinand is defending well.

Shepard looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Shepard just content to control the position.

Shepard tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shepard has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shepard is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ferdinand knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Shepard tries for a kimura but Ferdinand is defending well.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Shepard works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's four 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.
Check out the look on Shepard's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Shepard tries for a kimura but Ferdinand is defending well.
Shepard connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ferdinand some visible discomfort.
Shepard creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Ferdinand takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Shepard looks up at the clock and then as Ferdinand takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Shepard smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ferdinand tries to escape but Shepard is in control.
Ferdinand is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Shepard cracks Ferdinand with a big right hand but Ferdinand just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernie Shepard dominated that second round.
That's time! Shepard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Ferdinand throws a lazy head kick

so Shepard counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shepard's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shepard landing with the ground and pound.
Shepard 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.

Ferdinand has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Shepard can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Shepard 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepard makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ferdinand takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Shepard postures up and lands a big shot to Ferdinand's brow.

Shepard thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Shepard lands a couple of digs.
Shepard makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shepard content to stall in guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shepard accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shepard content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Shepard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

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

Ferdinand gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Shepard to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Bernie Shepard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shepard distracts Ferdinand with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Shepard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ferdinand's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Shepard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ferdinand can do to turn this around?
Shepard lands a couple of digs.
Shepard is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Shepard distracts Ferdinand with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Shepard controls from within his opponent's guard.
Shepard stands up over Ferdinand, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shepard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shepard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Shepard's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shepard scoring with some ground and pound.
Ferdinand has momentary wrist control but Shepard slips an elbow through the middle.
Shepard content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ferdinand avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Uriel Ferdinand has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shepard landing with the ground and pound.
Shepard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ferdinand's head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shepard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bernie Shepard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shepard scores with a kick to the midsection.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernie Shepard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shepard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:26
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernie Shepard!