|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sagara Sanosuke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!
 |
|
 |
| 183 cm
26
185 lbs
14 - 6 - 0 |
|
190 cm
22
199 lbs
11 - 3 - 0 |
BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin |
|
BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin |
|
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Shepherd!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sagara Sanosuke!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepherd gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Sanosuke counter with a right hand.
Sanosuke thows a body shot but no joy.
Sanosuke dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Shepherd. That did some damage!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepherd fails with the takedown
and Sanosuke cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepherd checks the leg kick nicely there.
Sanosuke throws a front kick aimed at Shepherd's knee but Shepherd avoids it well.
Shepherd gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sanosuke counters with a nice low kick that buckles Shepherd's knee momentarily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Shepherd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanosuke lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
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.
Sanosuke misses with a leg kick.
Shepherd fails with the takedown
and Sanosuke counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sanosuke. That's going to slow Shepherd down.
Sanosuke connects with a solid leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanosuke swings widly with a right hand
so Shepherd counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Shepherd postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sanosuke is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Shepherd, into his guard.
Shepherd is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Shepherd is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Shepherd is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sanosuke has managed to free his arm - good work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shepherd is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sanosuke keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Shepherd misses with a head shot. Sanosuke uses the momentum to regain guard.
Sanosuke lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Shepherd!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Sagara Sanosuke will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Shepherd gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sanosuke counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Shepherd with a poor takedown
and Sanosuke counters with a low kick, right behind Shepherd 's knee.
Sanosuke feints and then cracks Shepherd's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Shepherd down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepherd with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sanosuke counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Shepherd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepherd steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Sanosuke. That one must have hurt.
Shepherd misses with a takedown attempt
and Sanosuke counters with a thumping low kick.
Sanosuke throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sanosuke.
Sanosuke throws out a leg kick but Shepherd moves out of range and Sanosuke only half commits.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanosuke thuds a left hand into Shepherd's body.
Sanosuke lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sanosuke lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sagara Sanosuke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanosuke is looking to chop away at Shepherd's legs.
Sanosuke scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sanosuke counters with a leg kick.
Shepherd tries for a takedown but Sanosuke circles away easily
and Sanosuke counters with a stiff right hand.
Shepherd checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
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.
Sanosuke pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sanosuke throws a leg kick
and Shepherd counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shepherd accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sanosuke preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shepherd throwing strikes but missing.
Shepherd with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sanosuke controlling Shepherd's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Sagara Sanosuke 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!
Shepherd doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sanosuke counters with a nice body kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sanosuke.
Shepherd gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sanosuke cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanosuke scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sanosuke swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A head kick by Shepherd misses
and Sanosuke counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Shepherd is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Shepherd fails with the takedown
and Sanosuke counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Shepherd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
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.
Sanosuke tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Shepherd is able to avoid easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sanosuke. That's going to slow Shepherd down.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sanosuke. That's going to slow Shepherd down.
Sanosuke throws a low kick but Shepherd avoids it.
Shepherd has his takedown stuffed
and Sanosuke counters with an inside leg kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanosuke scores with the left hand. Shepherd knows he should have avoided that one.
Sanosuke scores with a hook to the body. Shepherd takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Shepherd misses with a takedown
and Sanosuke counters with a straight right hand.
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.
Shepherd misses with a takedown attempt
and Sanosuke counters with a nice low kick that buckles Shepherd's knee momentarily.
Sanosuke chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sanosuke feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Shepherds jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shepherd with a poor takedown
and Sanosuke counters with a thumping low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Sagara Sanosuke really dominated that round.
That's time! Shepherd's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Shepherd shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sanosuke counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Shepherd takes one on the button.
Shepherd closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sanosuke's guard.
Shepherd throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanosuke works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Shepherd loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shepherd throws a strike but Sanosuke rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepherd looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanosuke is one step ahead there.
Shepherd isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Sanosuke stacks Shepherd on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Sanosuke!
Sanosuke is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Shepherd is looking to regain half guard here but Sanosuke keeps moving and retains side control.
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.
Sanosuke controlling from side mount.
Shepherd tries to buck Sanosuke off but Sanosuke is having none of it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Sagara Sanosuke was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sanosuke tries a head kick but it misses.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd tries for a takedown but Sanosuke circles away easily
letting Sanosuke counter with a right hand.
Shepherd shoots and misses
and Sanosuke makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Shepherd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shepherd fails with the takedown
and Sanosuke counters with a good low kick that Shepherd was not able to check.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanosuke lands a nice looking kick to the body. Shepherd takes a step back to recover.
Sanosuke uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shepherd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shepherd has his takedown stuffed
and Sanosuke counters with an inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Sagara Sanosuke dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Shepherd's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!
Sanosuke throws a low kick but Shepherd moves out of range easily.
Shepherd checks a leg kick nicely.
Shepherd shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shepherd walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sagara Sanosuke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanosuke feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Shepherd's calf.
Shepherd fails with the takedown
and Sanosuke counters with a nice low kick that buckles Shepherd's knee momentarily.
Shepherd closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sanosuke did well to prevent Shepherd getting side control.
Shepherd looking for a submission but Sanosuke manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Sanosuke avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
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.
Shepherd pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanosuke is keeping the position for now.
Shepherd throws a strike but Sanosuke rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Shepherd is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shepherd looking for subs off his back but Sanosuke has passed one foot through into half guard.
Shepherd flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shepherd tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Shepherd looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sanosuke looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Shepherd is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's four 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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Shepherd manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sanosuke not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Shepherd 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.
Shepherd is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sanosuke is aware though and is defending well.
Shepherd looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sanosuke passes into half guard.
Shepherd tries to get to full guard but Sanosuke has control of the leg.
John Shepherd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shepherd looking for submissions off his back.
And that's the end of the fight!
Sagara Sanosuke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sanosuke 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 45:50
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 45:50
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 45:50
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sagara Sanosuke! Sagara Sanosuke retains his middleweight title!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
35% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
