PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yong Sheppard (ranked 4708 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato Augusta (ranked 4513 p4p, 419 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sheppard
vs
Augusta

217 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yong Sheppard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Renato Augusta!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Matheus Silva and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Augusta drives through with a takedown into Sheppard's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Augusta is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sheppard wants to get back to his feet but Augusta passes into half guard.
Sheppard is holding on to half guard well.
Augusta is stalling here. Sheppard is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Augusta seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Sheppard has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sheppard grinds an elbow into Augusta's temple.
Augusta is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Sheppard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheppard is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Augusta slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sheppard throwing strikes but missing.
Augusta wants to stand up but Sheppard is controlling him.
Augusta looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sheppard is looking to work some ground and pound but Augusta has wrist control.
Sheppard is fighting to break Augusta's control of his arms but Augusta is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sheppard throwing strikes from guard but Augusta blocks nicely.
Sheppard throwing strikes but missing.
Augusta has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

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

Augusta feints and as Sheppard raises his hands in defense, Augusta changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sheppard 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.
Sheppard trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Augusta trying to control the position from guard on top but Sheppard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Augusta might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sheppard haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Augusta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sheppard swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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.
Sheppard looking to control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sheppard keeping moving, preventing Augusta from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sheppard fails with a takedown attempt.
Renato Augusta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Augusta looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Sheppard!
Sheppard wants to get back to his feet but Augusta is dominant here and he's now got Sheppard's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Augusta dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sheppard tries to close the distance and clinch but Augusta swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Augusta shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sheppard's guard.
Augusta is standing up over Sheppard. Sheppard looks to escape but Augusta dives into side control.

Augusta in side control lands a decent elbow.

Augusta thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Augusta throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Augusta looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sheppard manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheppard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Augusta is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Augusta manages to get to full guard.
Augusta seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sheppard looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Augusta is trying to keep Sheppard in close.
Augusta avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sheppard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Augusta is trying to control the position but Sheppard postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard working some strikes from top position.
Augusta managing to control the position.
Augusta is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Augusta looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Sheppard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Augusta controlling the action here.
Sheppard wants to get back to full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Augusta is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Augusta trying to control the action but Sheppard is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Augusta shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sheppard napping and manages to drive through into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Renato Augusta will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Augusta shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Sheppard is trying to stand up here but Augusta is controlling him well.
Augusta thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sheppard's head.
Augusta is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sheppard is looking for a sweep. Augusta is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Augusta content to control rather than advance.
Augusta is thwarting Sheppard's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Augusta is trying to work for a kimura but Sheppard is defending well.
Sheppard is trying to stand up here but Augusta is controlling him well.
Augusta trying to control from half guard but Sheppard is working away.

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

Augusta shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sheppard manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Augusta wants to control from the top but Sheppard keeps moving.
Augusta throws a big right hand that misses.
Augusta loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Augusta has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Augusta is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Augusta trying to control the position from guard on top but Sheppard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Augusta decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sheppard, up you get!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard with a lazy takedown attempt

and Augusta counters by moving into the clinch.
Sheppard wants a takedown.

Augusta breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Augusta feints and as Sheppard raises his hands in defense, Augusta changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Augusta trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Augusta stands and throws Sheppard's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sheppard trying to remain calm as Augusta controls from the top position.
Augusta is continuing to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Augusta crashes against the mat.
Yong Sheppard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Renato Augusta is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renato Augusta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Augusta 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renato Augusta!