PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Den Shepard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luis Balero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shepard
vs
Balero

185 cm
21
248 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Den Shepard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Luis Balero!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paulsen Ambrosius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Balero fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shepard avoids it really well and circles away.
Balero has a takedown stuffed.
Balero slips a straight right by Shepard.
Balero has a takedown stuffed.
Den Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luis Balero.
Balero fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shepard throws a head kick but Balero moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balero looks for a takedown but Shepard sprawls well.
Shepard misses with an uppercut. Balero saw that one coming.

Balero bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard trying to remain calm as Balero controls from the top position.
Shepard is pushing Balero's head away, looking to escape. Balero manages to hold on to the position though.
Shepard being controlled for a moment.

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.
Shepard takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sloppy strikes there by Balero.
Shepard defending against the ground and pound.
Shepard being controlled for a moment.
Shepard prevents Balero from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepard trying to remain calm as Balero controls from the top position.
Balero working the ground and pound.
Balero just content to control the position.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Luis Balero.

Balero closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Shepard to the mat! Shepard manages to get full guard.
Balero sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Shepard keeping full guard, as Balero tries to pass.
Balero slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Balero dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Shepard defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Balero.
Shepard throws a jab but it's blocked by Balero.
Shepard misses with a jab, cross combination.

Shepard gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Balero accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Balero is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Balero wants to pass the guard but Shepard is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balero is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Shepard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Balero slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two 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.
Shepard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Balero looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Let's hope that Balero has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balero postures up in Shepard's guard and throws a big left but Shepard blocks it.
Balero content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Luis Balero.
Balero looks for a takedown but Shepard sprawls well.
Shepard just misses with a punch to the body.
Balero shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shepard sprawls well. Shepard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Balero gets slowly back to his feet.
Den Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luis Balero.

That's four 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.
Shepard goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Balero fails with the takedown.

Balero closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Balero lands in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Balero slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Balero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Shepard slaps away a takedown attempt from Balero, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Shepard stuffs the takedown attempt from Balero. Balero gets slowly back to his feet.
Balero looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Den Shepard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luis Balero.
Balero shoots in but no luck this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Balero changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Shepard looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Balero takes a little break here. Shepard wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Balero takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Balero prevents Shepard from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepard gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Shepard is looking for a sweep. Balero is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Shepard could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Balero sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Shepard pushes Balero off looking to stand but Balero dives back in and keeps control.
Luis Balero has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Balero in particular looking to stall.
Shepard taking some punishment here, with Balero in his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Balero perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Shepard blocking the ground and pound attempt from Balero.
Balero thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shepard's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balero sitting and controlling from the half guard.

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.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Luis Balero.

Balero shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Shepard manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Balero is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luis Balero comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Balero winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luis Balero!