PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andre Bernadesci (ranked 2725 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lavrentiy Shepkin (ranked 4734 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Bernadesci
vs
Shepkin

195 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

196 cm
21
213 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Andre Bernadesci!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lavrentiy Shepkin!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, David Hoff and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bernadesci shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Shepkin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shepkin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bernadesci trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shepkin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bernadesci stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shepkin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Shepkin is looking for a triangle here but Bernadesci uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shepkin explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Shepkin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bernadesci defends well and Shepkin ends up having to push Bernadesci into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Bernadesci drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bernadesci passes Shepkin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Shepkin is trying to stand back up but Bernadesci is controlling him
Bernadesci passes to full mount!
Bernadesci wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
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.

Bernadesci looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Shepkin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bernadesci fails to take his opponent's back.
Shepkin is working to get back to half guard.
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!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Shepkin that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Bernadesci with shots to the head and body - Shepkin looks very uncomfortable down there.
Bernadesci putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Shepkin manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Bernadesci trying to mount his opponent but Shepkin defends it.

Shepkin has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Bernadesci is on him like a limpet, forcing Shepkin back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bernadesci jumps guard but Shepkin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

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

Bernadesci shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bernadesci moves into full mount! Shepkin won't be happy about that!
Bernadesci looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Shepkin sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Bernadesci stops Shepkin from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Bernadesci dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Shepkin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Bernadesci closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bernadesci lands in his opponent's guard.
Shepkin is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Bernadesci dives into side control.

Shepkin throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Andre Bernadesci seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bernadesci scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Shepkin throws Bernadesci to one side and escapes!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bernadesci shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernadesci trying to mount his opponent but Shepkin defends it.
Shepkin is looking to control Bernadesci's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shepkin avoid being mounted?
Shepkin wants to get back to full guard.

Shepkin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bernadesci passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shepkin taking punishment in the form of punches.
Shepkin is looking to reverse the position.
Bernadesci landing a few strikes.
Shepkin is looking for a sweep.
Shepkin manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bernadesci's best efforts.
Andre Bernadesci overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernadesci working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Shepkin works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bernadesci pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shepkin is keeping the position for now.
Shepkin wants to control the position but Bernadesci says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Bernadesci wants to free his trapped foot but Shepkin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bernadesci scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Shepkin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bernadesci's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bernadesci's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bernadesci tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Bernadesci really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Poor strikes thrown by Shepkin there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Shepkin unloads with some shots from mount but Bernadesci bucks and avoids them well.
Shepkin thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Bernadesci regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lavrentiy Shepkin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Bernadesci shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bernadesci showed some decent athleticism there.

Shepkin has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Bernadesci is on him like a limpet, forcing Shepkin back against the cage.

Shepkin jumps guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shepkin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bernadesci stands and throws Shepkin's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Shepkin is looking to regain half guard here but Bernadesci keeps moving and retains side control.
Shepkin keeps trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepkin taking punishment in the form of punches.
Bernadesci lands a decent elbow from side control.
Shepkin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bernadesci cracks Shepkin with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Shepkin can't do much from the bottom here.
Shepkin tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernadesci working away.

Bernadesci is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shepkin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Bernadesci tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Shepkin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bernadesci. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Bernadesci working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernadesci lands a nice forearm strike.
Shepkin tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four 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.

Bernadesci is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Shepkin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Shepkin regains half guard.
Shepkin moves into full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shepkin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bernadesci is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andre Bernadesci showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bernadesci has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andre Bernadesci!