PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Freddie Shepherd (ranked 6622 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Ebersole (ranked 4844 p4p, 0 weight class). Ian Ebersole has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Shepherd
vs
Ebersole

159 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Freddie Shepherd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ian Ebersole!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepherd misses with a straight left.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ebersole looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shepherd throws a hook to the side of Ebersole's head but Ebersole sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Shepherd throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ebersole wants to counter the offense by Shepherd and move into the clinch position.
Ebersole blocks the body kick.
Shepherd really is a fat lump.
Ebersole tries to clinch there but Shepherd circles away.
Shepherd tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Ebersole manages to circle out of the way.

Shepherd gets the takedown into side control.
Shepherd controlling the position from side mount.
Ebersole looks to move to half guard but instead Shepherd has passed into mount! Damn!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepherd moves to the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ebersole just trying to survive but Shepherd is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Shepherd loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Ebersole hold on?
Shepherd has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Ebersole's body.
Shepherd lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Shepherd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Ebersole up.
Ebersole can't escape the position.
Shepherd lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Ebersole hold on?!
Good control from Shepherd.
Shepherd scores with punches to the body.
Shepherd controls the position.
Shepherd scores with punches to the body.
Shepherd lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ebersole is trapped and Shepherd is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Shepherd gets his hands free as Ebersole looks to control.
Shepherd lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Ebersole hold on?!
Ebersole is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Shepherd.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shepherd's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd scores with strikes from the back.
Shepherd is punishing Ebersole with strikes - can he finish him?!
Shepherd scores with punches to the body.
Shepherd has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ebersole tries to roll but Shepherd sticks to his back.
Ebersole looks winded!
Shepherd controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ebersole wants to clinch.
Ebersole connects with a high kick.
Ebersole leaves Shepherd with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shepherd fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ebersole scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Shepherd throws Ebersole to one side and escapes!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Ebersole.

Ebersole gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ebersole is breathing heavily.
Shepherd stays in close to Ebersole's body and controls the position.
Shepherd scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Shepherd lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Shepherd sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd landing some decent shots from guard.

Shepherd stands and steps away. Ebersole gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Shepherd gets a clinch.

Ebersole gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Shepherd manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ebersole gets underhooks to prevent Shepherd's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Freddie Shepherd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shepherd stalls.

Shepherd jumps into guard, dragging Ebersole to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd working a defensive guard here.
Ebersole looking to sit in guard and control but Shepherd gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Shepherd is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Shepherd distracts Ebersole with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Shepherd gets to his feet - Ebersole follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ebersole circles away.

Shepherd fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ebersole, pushing him back against the cage.
Ebersole will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Shepherd up against the cage.
Ebersole throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Shepherd jumps into guard, dragging Ebersole to the mat.

Shepherd manages to escape and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddie Shepherd dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Shepherd shoots in but Ebersole avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shepherd throws a jab when Ebersole was well out of range.
Shepherd missing with a left hand there. Ebersole was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shepherd fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ebersole avoids it really well and circles away.
Shepherd throws a sloppy head kick and Ebersole moves out of range easily.
Ebersole tries to close the distance and clinch but Shepherd swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepherd throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ebersole doesn't manage to clinch there - Shepherd circles away.
Ian Ebersole is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Shepherd closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ebersole did well to prevent Shepherd getting side control.
Shepherd thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shepherd stands up out of the half guard.

Ebersole closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Shepherd letting Ebersole take a breather here.
Ebersole takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ebersole stalling the fight.
Shepherd goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ebersole prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Freddie Shepherd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ebersole is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd looking for a takedown.
Ebersole doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shepherd dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ebersole tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shepherd's elbow.
Ebersole just leaning against Shepherd, taking a breather.
Shepherd is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ebersole can do to turn this around?
Ebersole wants to break free but Shepherd has control.

Ebersole pulls guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ebersole can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shepherd seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ebersole for as long as he can get away with.
Ebersole tries to strike from the bottom.
Ebersole looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shepherd is one step ahead there.
Shepherd 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.

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.
Shepherd scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ebersole wants to get back to his feet but Shepherd passes into half guard.
Shepherd stalling.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ebersole is looking for a sweep. Shepherd is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Freddie Shepherd.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shepherd, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Freddie Shepherd!