PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tomas Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Mata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jonathan Mata will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Shepherd
vs
Mata

156 cm
23
279 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tomas Shepherd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jonathan Mata!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shepherd drives through and clinches with Mata against the cage.
Shepherd jumps guard but Mata turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mata lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Mata jumps into guard, dragging Shepherd to the mat.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Shepherd's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mata utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mata not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mata looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Shepherd passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mata is trying to buck Shepherd off.
Mata tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mata struggling a bit here.
Mata tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Shepherd wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shepherd thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Mata is looking to reverse the position.
Mata is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Shepherd is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Shepherd looking for a guillotine from mount but Mata is having none of it.

Shepherd looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mata wants to control but Shepherd is having none of it.
Shepherd tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Shepherd really is a fat lump.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mata tries to hold on but Shepherd postures up.

Shepherd looking to secure an arm triangle but Mata defends it well.
Mata is desperately trying to improve his position but Shepherd has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomas Shepherd dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mata shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Shepherd is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Shepherd bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mata's guard.
Mata looking to control.
Mata looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shepherd trying to control but Mata is working from the bottom.
Shepherd is stalling in the full guard.
Mata wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jonathan Mata was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Mata listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Mata tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mata stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mata wants it to stay on the feet.
Jonathan Mata seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mata slaps away a takedown attempt from Shepherd, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mata fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

It looks like Tomas Shepherd has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mata looks to clinch
and Shepherd counters with a low kick, right behind Mata 's knee.
Mata tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shepherd fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomas Shepherd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shepherd tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mata swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shepherd fails with a takedown attempt.
Mata connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Shepherd blocks the leg kick.

Mata changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Shepherd looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Mata wants to stand but Shepherd has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Mata missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shepherd trying to strike off his back.
Mata wants to control from the top but Shepherd keeps moving.
Mata preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Shepherd keeping moving, preventing Mata from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mata stopping the sweep attempt from Shepherd.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jonathan Mata hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Shepherd is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mata's half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepherd with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Mata showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tomas 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. This is the final round!

Mata shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mata keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Shepherd throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
It looks like Mata is going to stand back up.
Mata trying to control the action but Shepherd is working from the bottom.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Mata. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jonathan Mata wasn't active enough on the ground.

Mata shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Shepherd napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Mata wants to control but Shepherd is keeping him busy.
Shepherd manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Mata is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Mata takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shepherd wants to sweep but Mata has passed to side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Mata off and has taken his back!
Shepherd not allowing Mata to control his hands.
Shepherd has the hooks in. Mata is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Mata is still trying to improve position.
What can Mata do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd not allowing Mata to control his hands.

Shepherd patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Mata defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Shepherd's arms.
Mata wants to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Shepherd trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
I really don't envy Mata right now.

Shepherd is looking for a choke. Mata gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Mata manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Mata stopping the sweep attempt from Shepherd.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonathan Mata comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mata 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonathan Mata!