PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Elwood Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Austin Bostin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Bostin's choice of entrance music: DJ Envy - Text Ur Number (feat. DJ Sliink & Fetty Wap). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shepard
vs
Bostin

155 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

154 cm
25
136 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Elwood Shepard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Austin Bostin!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Bruno Hogan and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.

Shepard rushes Bostin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Bostin has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Shepard clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Bostin working for the choke.
Shepard is in bad spot here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shepard turns into Bostin and is now in his guard.
Shepard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bostin on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bostin is looking for a triangle but Shepard pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Bostin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Shepard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bostin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shepard has managed to get both his arms back between Bostin's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Bostin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shepard defends well.
Shepard is looking to work some ground and pound but Bostin has wrist control.
Shepard is looking to stand up but Bostin won't let him.
Shepard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shepard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shepard content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bostin is on top in guard.

Bostin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shepard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bostin has managed to get both his arms back between Shepard's legs - danger averted.

Bostin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Shepard is trying to control the position but Bostin postures up.

Bostin drops back, looking for a kneebar! Shepard looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Shepard looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Shepard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bostin is looking for a sweep.
Shepard working the ground and pound.
Shepard working the ground and pound from side control.
Bostin is trying to get back to half guard.
Shepard sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bostin is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Bostin is looking to reverse the position.
Shepard wants to stand but Bostin is controlling his arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bostin is looking for a sweep.
Shepard just content to control the position.
Shepard throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Bostin is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Bostin tries to roll over but Shepard keeps him under control.
Shepard is trying to control the action in half guard but Bostin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bostin is looking to improve his position.
Shepard is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Elwood Shepard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shepard shoots for a takedown but Bostin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shepard fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bostin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elwood Shepard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepard dives in and grabs Bostin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bostin pushes down on Shepard's head and hops out.

Shepard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bostin, pushing him back against the cage.

Shepard drags the fight down to the ground.
Shepard looking for a sweep. Not yet Shepard, not yet.

Bostin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Bostin drops back looking for a leg! Shepard is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shepard manages to kick Bostin off! Bostin jumps back into Shepard's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bostin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bostin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Bostin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Bostin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bostin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Bostin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Shepard is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bostin, into his guard.

Shepard throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bostin is on top in guard.

Bostin drops back looking for a leg! Shepard is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shepard manages to kick Bostin off! Bostin jumps back into Shepard's guard.

Bostin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Bostin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Bostin drops back looking for a leg! Shepard is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shepard manages to kick Bostin off! Bostin jumps back into Shepard's guard.

Bostin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bostin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Shepard is in close to Bostin's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shepard with a nice head shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Austin Bostin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Shepard shoots in for a takedown but Bostin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bostin with the counter takedown but Shepard avoids it easily.

Shepard moves into the clinch.

Bostin has hold of one of Shepard's legs. Shepard is fighting the takedown attempt but Bostin gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Bostin prevents Shepard from getting back to his feet.

Bostin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bostin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Bostin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Austin Bostin has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Shepard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bostin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shepard is one step ahead there.
Bostin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Shepard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Bostin 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bostin is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bostin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Bostin is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Shepard is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Shepard has escaped and now he's on top!

Shepard landing with the ground and pound.
Bostin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bostin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bostin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Shepard is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Bostin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Bostin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Bostin drops back looking for a leg! Shepard is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shepard manages to kick Bostin off! Bostin jumps back into Shepard's guard.

Bostin has gone for a leg lock! Shepard slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bostin's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepard preventing the sweep.
Shepard passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bostin manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bostin 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!

Bostin is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Shepard has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Austin Bostin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bostin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Austin Bostin!
A very excited looking Austin Bostin made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.