PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yong Sheppard (ranked 23907 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Ribeiro (ranked 4664 p4p, 0 weight class). Bruno Ribeiro has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sheppard
vs
Ribeiro

217 cm
19
193 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

183 cm
20
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 2 - 2 - 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Ribeiro!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Luis Engracia and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ribeiro jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sheppard throws a half hearted mid kick.
And Ribeiro tries to counter it with a takedown but Sheppard pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ribeiro closes the distance but Sheppard moves to the side

and Sheppard counters with a single leg into guard. Ribeiro didn't expect that.
Sheppard won't allow Ribeiro to get back to his feet.
Sheppard is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sheppard keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ribeiro's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ribeiro keeping moving, preventing Sheppard from controlling successfully.
Ribeiro working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sheppard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ribeiro holds on and takes a little breather.
Ribeiro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sheppard is one step ahead there.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ribeiro is on top in guard.

Ribeiro wants to control from the top but Sheppard keeps moving.
Ribeiro prevents Sheppard from getting back to his feet.
Sheppard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ribeiro on the ground.
Ribeiro wants to stand but Sheppard has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Ribeiro got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sheppard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ribeiro has managed to get both his arms back between Sheppard's legs - danger averted.
Ribeiro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ribeiro looking to pass the guard.
Sheppard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ribeiro.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sheppard moves in looking to clinch but Ribeiro pushes him off.

Ribeiro drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard wants to sweep here but Ribeiro controlling him for the moment.
Ribeiro controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ribeiro with a nice head shot there.
Sheppard wants to stand up but Ribeiro is controlling him.
Ribeiro controlling from the top position.

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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ribeiro cracks Sheppard with a solid left hand.
Ribeiro passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ribeiro is trying to ground and pound but Sheppard uses the momentary lack of control by Ribeiro to regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ribeiro is trying to control the action in half guard but Sheppard is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Ribeiro dominated that round.
That's time! Sheppard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ribeiro drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sheppard is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ribeiro wants to stand but Sheppard is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ribeiro advances position into side control!
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 is looking to reverse the position.
Ribeiro tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheppard tries to bench press Ribeiro off him but Ribeiro keeps the position.
Sheppard sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ribeiro stalling.
Ribeiro's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Ribeiro thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sheppard's head.
Bruno Ribeiro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ribeiro prevents Sheppard from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sheppard wants to control but Ribeiro is keeping busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sheppard shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ribeiro as he jumps to the side.

Ribeiro fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sheppard to the ground. Ribeiro is now in Sheppard's guard.
Ribeiro forces his way into half guard.
Ribeiro trying to control the action but Sheppard is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ribeiro is trying to work for a kimura but Sheppard is defending well.
Sheppard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ribeiro with the ground and pound but Sheppard uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Ribeiro thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ribeiro won't allow Sheppard to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ribeiro content to stall in guard here.
Sheppard has a closed guard, preventing Ribeiro from standing up.
Ribeiro throwing strikes from guard but Sheppard blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ribeiro is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sheppard's half guard.
Sheppard tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Ribeiro manages to move to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Ribeiro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ribeiro clinches.

Ribeiro has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Sheppard regains guard immediately.
Ribeiro trying to control the position from guard on top but Sheppard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ribeiro advances to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ribeiro trying to control from half guard but Sheppard is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ribeiro seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sheppard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sheppard trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Ribeiro manages to pass to mount!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ribeiro cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sheppard working to try and regain half guard.
Ribeiro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sheppard is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ribeiro cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sheppard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ribeiro trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ribeiro is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sheppard to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sheppard shrugs it off.
Ribeiro content just to control the position here.
Sheppard really wants to buck Ribeiro off and get back to his feet.
Sheppard is looking to get to half guard.
Sheppard wants to hold on but Ribeiro pushes him away.

That's four 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.
Ribeiro moves to the back position.
Sheppard is keeping busy.
Ribeiro biding his time, looking for the opening.
Sheppard tries to break free.
Yong Sheppard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bruno Ribeiro 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!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Ribeiro controlling the positon.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruno Ribeiro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ribeiro 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruno Ribeiro!
Bruno Ribeiro was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.