PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Bilboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rocky Bilboa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bilboa
vs
Shepherd

190 cm
18
207 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rocky Bilboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Lee Shepherd!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepherd doesn't manage to clinch there - Bilboa circles away.
Bilboa displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shepherd.
Shepherd is looking to clinch but Bilboa is avoiding it.
Shepherd swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Shepherd looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bilboa is fending him off so far but Shepherd persists. Nope, Bilboa circles away and we're back to standing.

Shepherd fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bilboa, pushing him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Shepherd's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Shepherd wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bilboa has him pressed against the cage.

Bilboa breaks from the clinch.
Lee Shepherd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shepherd is defended easily by Bilboa.
Rocky Bilboa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Shepherd.
Bilboa clinches but Shepherd breaks the clinch
and Bilboa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shepherd looks gassed!
Bilboa stuffs the takedown.
Bilboa wants to clinch up but Shepherd keeps it at a distance.
Shepherd shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bilboa pinned against the cage. Bilboa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bilboa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shepherd misses with a jab, cross combination.

Bilboa forces Shepherd back against the cage and clinches.
Shepherd is trying to drag Bilboa to the mat but Bilboa just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bilboa landing knees to the body.
Bilboa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Bilboa breaks the clinch.
Shepherd tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Bilboa counters by moving into the clinch.
Bilboa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Lee Shepherd has been cut.
Bilboa lands an elbow inside that Shepherd shrugs off.

Bilboa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bilboa is looking to clinch.

Bilboa forces Shepherd back against the cage and clinches.

Bilboa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Bilboa closes the distance and clinches.
Shepherd misses with a punch on the inside.
Bilboa prevents the takedown attempt.
Bilboa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bilboa connects with a nasty looking knee right to Shepherd's face.
Bilboa creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Shepherd's defenses.

Bilboa breaks the clinch.

Bilboa closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bilboa breaks from the clinch.
Bilboa wants to clinch.

Bilboa gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Bilboa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed right hand from Shepherd misses the target.
Bilboa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shepherd darts in trying to clinch
and Bilboa counters with a two punch combo.
Shepherd darts in trying to clinch
and Bilboa counters with a three punch combo that has Shepherd backing up. Shepherd nods at Bilboa to acknowledge the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bilboa is looking to clinch but Shepherd is avoiding it.
Shepherd fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bilboa tries to clinch but Shepherd is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bilboa has closed the distance and engaged Shepherd in a clinch.
Bilboa lands an elbow inside.

That has opened up Lee Shepherd's cut even more.
Bilboa dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Shepherd takes an elbow to the temple.

The cut above Lee Shepherd's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Shepherd jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bilboa walks away with a smile on his face. Shepherd gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Bilboa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bilboa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bilboa tries to clinch but Shepherd moves out of range.
Shepherd shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bilboa counters with a three punch combo that has Shepherd backing up. Shepherd nods at Bilboa to acknowledge the strikes.
Bilboa tries to clinch but Shepherd moves out of range.
Bilboa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shepherd throws a predictable looking body shot

and Bilboa moves into the clinch.
Bilboa lands a good knee to the midsection. Shepherd won't want to take too many of those.

Bilboa breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bilboa closes the distance and pushes Shepherd back into the cage.
Bilboa is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Bilboa lands a knee to the head.
Bilboa connects with a knee to the head.
Shepherd takes a knee right on the jaw!
Shepherd tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bilboa obliges.
Bilboa lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Bilboa landing knees to the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shepherd. Bilboa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bilboa tries to clinch up.
Rocky Bilboa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch combination from Shepherd misses.
Shepherd shoots in for a takedown but Bilboa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bilboa tries to clinch there but Shepherd circles away.
Shepherd takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Bilboa closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Bilboa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lee Shepherd's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bilboa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Shepherd wanted to stand there but Bilboa had control of the position.

Bilboa kicks Shepherd off and gets to his feet.
A swing and a miss from Shepherd.
Shepherd swats away the attempt to clinch by Bilboa.
Shepherd tries to clinch but Bilboa moves away

and Bilboa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Bilboa landing knees to the body.
Bilboa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bilboa misses with a knee strike.
Shepherd lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Shepherd doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Bilboa manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shepherd with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bilboa counters with a two punch combo.
Shepherd has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bilboa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shepherd darts in trying to clinch
and Bilboa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Shepherd shoots in for a takedown but Bilboa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rocky Bilboa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Shepherd.
Bilboa tries to clinch up

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
and Shepherd counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shepherd.

Bilboa manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Shepherd tries to clinch

and Bilboa moves into the clinch.
Bilboa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Shepherd has clasped his hands together around Bilboa's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Shepherd prevents Bilboa from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Bilboa is working to avoid the ground and pound but Shepherd connects with a decent elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bilboa is trying to get back to his feet.

Shepherd decides to stand up, so the ref orders Bilboa to his feet.
Shepherd tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bilboa swivels and escapes.
Shepherd throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Bilboa counters by moving into the clinch.
Bilboa can't get the takedown.
Shepherd is stalling here.
Shepherd fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bilboa scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd wants to get back to striking at distance but Bilboa won't allow it.
Bilboa tries a knee to the head but Shepherd blocks it.
Shepherd lands a right hand.
Bilboa prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bilboa stops a takedown attempt from Shepherd.
Bilboa lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Shepherd manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Shepherd manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Bilboa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shepherd swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shepherd wants to clinch

and Bilboa moves into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shepherd.
Bilboa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shepherd fails to pull guard.
Shepherd tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bilboa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Shepherd has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Bilboa regains guard immediately.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bilboa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shepherd is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shepherd is pushing down on Bilboa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bilboa is fighting to maintain full guard but Shepherd has managed to sneak the leg through.

Bilboa kicks Shepherd off and gets back to his feet.
Shepherd has a takedown stuffed.
Bilboa leaves Shepherd with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shepherd throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bilboa.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bilboa tries to clinch
and Shepherd counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bilboa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Shepherd throws a lazy head kick

and Bilboa moves into the clinch.
Shepherd looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Shepherd showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lee Shepherd's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Shepherd circles away from the clinch attempt

and Shepherd counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shepherd.
Shepherd wants to control from the top but Bilboa keeps moving.
Shepherd trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bilboa wants to stand up but Shepherd is controlling him.
Shepherd working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Shepherd is looking to work some ground and pound but Bilboa has wrist control.

Shepherd drops back looking for a leg! Bilboa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bilboa manages to kick Shepherd off! Shepherd jumps back into Bilboa's guard.
Shepherd in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shepherd accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Bilboa clinches with his opponent.
Shepherd tries to circle away but Bilboa has him pinned against the cage.
Bilboa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Bilboa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Bilboa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shepherd, pushing him back against the cage.
Rocky Bilboa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Bilboa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Shepherd jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bilboa walks away with a smile on his face. Shepherd gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Shepherd tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bilboa wants to clinch.
Shepherd lands a nice hook to Bilboa's body. Bilboa takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bilboa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shepherd swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shepherd shoots for a takedown but Bilboa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shepherd is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Bilboa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Shepherd, pushing him back against the cage.
Bilboa tries a knee to the head but Shepherd blocks it.
Shepherd lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bilboa tries a knee to the head but Shepherd blocks it.

Shepherd gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Shepherd is looking for a kimura here.

Bilboa kicks Shepherd off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bilboa is fending him off so far but Shepherd persists. Nope, Bilboa circles away and we're back to standing.
Rocky Bilboa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Shepherd.
Bilboa clinches but Shepherd breaks the clinch
and Shepherd counters with a nice body shot.
Bilboa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bilboa tries to close the distance and clinch but Shepherd swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shepherd throws a right and a left that Bilboa avoids nicely.
Bilboa circles away from the clinch attempt

and Bilboa counters by moving into the clinch.
Shepherd tries for a takedown. No joy.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Shepherd lands a hook that snaps the head of Bilboa backwards.
Shepherd wants to get back to striking at distance but Bilboa won't allow it.
A shot in the inside from Shepherd.
Shepherd tries to pull guard but Bilboa holds him up against the cage and eventually Shepherd drops back down to his feet.
Shepherd has a couple of punches blocked by Bilboa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Shepherd is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bilboa pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Shepherd's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Bilboa moves into range and clinches up with Shepherd.
Shepherd lands a shoulder strike.
Shepherd tries to pull guard but Bilboa holds him up against the cage and eventually Shepherd drops back down to his feet.
Bilboa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shepherd's efforts to push away.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bilboa obliges.
Shepherd changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bilboa fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Shepherd wants to clinch up but Bilboa keeps it at a distance.
Shepherd keeps the fight on the outside.
Shepherd swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Bilboa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Shepherd manages to pull guard.
Bilboa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shepherd on the ground.
Shepherd manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

And that's the end of the fight!
Lee Shepherd comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shepherd has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

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