PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yong Sheppard (ranked 23967 p4p, 0 weight class) and Odero Onango (ranked 4552 p4p, 0 weight class). Onango has chosen URALYA as his entrance music. Odero Onango has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sheppard
vs
Onango

217 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

197 cm
22
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 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, Odero Onango!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Onango is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sheppard's half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sheppard blocking the ground and pound attempt from Onango.

Onango is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Onango thows a huge punch but Sheppard dodges it nicely.
Onango missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sheppard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Onango.
Onango lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sheppard tries to kick Onango off but Onango keeps his base steady and stays in half 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sheppard wants to control but Onango is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Onango seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Onango lands a nice short elbow.
Onango misses with a head shot. Sheppard uses the momentum to regain guard.
Onango throws a strike but Sheppard rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Onango seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Sheppard is looking to work some ground and pound but Onango has wrist control.
Sheppard stopping the sweep attempt from Onango.
Onango keeping moving, preventing Sheppard from controlling successfully.
Sheppard throwing strikes but missing.

That's two 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 landing some decent shots from guard.
Onango utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sheppard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Onango works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sheppard wants to stand and escape but instead Onango has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Onango postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Onango throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sheppard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sheppard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Onango's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Onango has a closed guard, preventing Sheppard from standing up.
Onango wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sheppard postures up in Onango's guard and throws a big left but Onango blocks it.
Sheppard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Onango working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sheppard.
Sheppard is looking to work some ground and pound but Onango has wrist control.

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 with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sheppard fails to land the takedown.
Onango follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Onango swats away the attempt to clinch by Sheppard.

Onango looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Onango trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sheppard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

Onango manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sheppard manages to get himself to full guard.

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

A close round but Odero Onango will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Onango throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sheppard tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Onango is in Sheppard's guard.
Onango working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Onango in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Onango works over Sheppard with some ground and pound from guard.
Onango stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sheppard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Onango missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Onango has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Onango distracts Sheppard with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Sheppard is rocked!
Odero Onango has got the better of the ground game so far.

Onango thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Onango throws an elbow that misses. Sheppard uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Onango's guard. Nice move by Sheppard!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sheppard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sheppard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Onango utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Onango preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Onango working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sheppard.
Onango has a closed guard, preventing Sheppard from standing up.
Onango avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Onango trying to keep a closed guard but Sheppard is proving a slippery customer.
Sheppard stopping the sweep attempt from Onango.
Onango has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Onango manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sheppard manages to get himself to full guard.

Onango throws a big right hand that misses.
Onango is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sheppard wants to stand up but Onango is controlling him.
Onango loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Onango scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Oh Sheppard is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Onango working some strikes from top position.
Onango postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Sheppard covers up, he's hurt! Onango keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Onango and the ref steps in to end the fight! Onango can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Odero Onango!
An out of breath Odero Onango thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.