PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cruz Dillon (ranked 24876 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Shephard (ranked 5014 p4p, 461 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Dillon
vs
Shephard

161 cm
22
177 lbs
2 - 4 - 1

182 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Cruz Dillon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Shephard!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shephard walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Dillon checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Dillon appears to be looking for a big counter.
Dillon misses with a combination
and Shephard makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Shephard clinches up with Dillon and pushes him back against the cage.
Shephard tries to break the clinch but Dillon is controlling the position.

Dillon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Oooooh!!! Shephard has knocked Dillon down with a huge combo! Shephard steps away and waves a wobbly Dillon back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Cruz Dillon has been cut.
Shephard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Dillon counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Dillon.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dillon wants a takedown but no success here.

Shephard pulls guard.
Shephard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shephard keeps trying to improve his position.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Shephard manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Dillon really is a fat lump.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillon fails to pull guard.
Dillon gets underhooks to prevent Shephard's takedown attempt.

Dillon drags the fight down to the ground.
Dillon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shephard trying to control the position from guard on top but Dillon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shephard preventing the sweep.
Shephard is stalling in the full guard.
Dillon has a closed guard, preventing Shephard from standing up.

That's two 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.
Dillon managing to control the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Shephard wants to stand and escape but instead Dillon has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Shephard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dillon is one step ahead there.
Dillon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shephard looking for a sweep. Not yet Shephard, not yet.
Dillon controls from within his opponent's guard.
Dillon working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shephard's head.
Shephard wants to sweep but no luck.
Shephard controls Dillon momentarily but Dillon frees himself.

Dillon stands up and waves to Shephard to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Dillon clinches up against the cage.
Dillon prevents the takedown attempt.
Shephard taking a breather.

Dillon turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Dillon manages to end up in side control.
Dillon controls the position.
Shephard takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shephard throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

Dillon is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Shephard is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Shephard dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cruz Dillon's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Shephard misses with a wild combination.
Shephard looks to land a combination but Dillon avoids it well.
Shephard ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Shephard lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Shephard misses with a hook.
Shephard tries to bum rush Dillon with a series of wild strikes but Dillon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shephard scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Dillon dodges the punch combination from Shephard.
As Shephard tries to get set, Dillon tries to push him back and clinch up but Shephard manages to avoid the attempt.
A punch combination from Shephard misses.
No joy there for Shephard, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shephard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shephard is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shephard changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillon rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Shephard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Shephard rushes Dillon and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Dillon turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Shephard tries to improve position but can't.
Shephard is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Dillon off and has taken his back!
Shephard avoiding Dillon 's attempts to control his hands.
Dillon is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Shephard is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Dillon controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad spot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shephard has got his arm under Dillon's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Dillon has spun round into Shephard's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Dillon gets to his feet. Shephard looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Shephard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dillon.
Dillon throws a right and a left that both miss.

Shephard gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Shephard is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Dillon to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dillon has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Shephard clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Shephard breaks Dillon's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Dillon has his hands on Shephard's head, controlling the position.
Dillon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shephard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dillon looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Shephard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dillon is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shephard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dillon is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Dillon might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Shephard trying to control the position from guard on top but Dillon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dillon is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Shephard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Cruz Dillon's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Dillon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shephard is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Shephard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dillon circles away quickly and effectively.
Shephard misses with a head kick.
Dillon appears to be looking for a big counter.
Some wild striking there from Dillon.
Shephard throws a right and a left that Dillon avoids nicely.
Shephard lands a jab-cross combination.
Shephard takes a swing at Dillon's ribcage but misses.
Dillon is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Shephard.
A head kick by Shephard misses
and Dillon counters with a three punch combo that has Shephard backing up. Shephard nods at Dillon to acknowledge the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shephard throws a head kick that misses.
Shephard throws a combination that misses
and Dillon counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Shephard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dillon goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Dillon throws a series of strikes that have Shephard backpedaling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillon is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shephard.

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

Dillon lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Shephard manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Dillon keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Dillon turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Shephard is looking to get back to his feet here but Dillon is keeping cool and he's managed to take Shephard's back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dillon working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Dillon looking to break Shephard's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Shephard remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Dillon will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shephard defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Dillon's arms.
I would not like to be Shephard right now.

Dillon working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Dillon keeps control of the position as Shephard tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shephard showing good submission defense here.

Dillon has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Shephard has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Shephard trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

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.
Dillon controls the position.
I really don't envy Shephard right now.
Dillon has Shephard flattened out and is raining down punches.
Shephard looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Shephard rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Cruz Dillon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sam Shephard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shephard has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dillon is working away from the top position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cruz Dillon showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shephard 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Shephard!