PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tomas Shepherd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Koitsu Baraka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tomas Shepherd has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Shepherd
vs
Baraka

156 cm
23
279 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

225 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 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, Koitsu Baraka!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shepherd is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Baraka.
Baraka throws a one two combo.
Koitsu Baraka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baraka connects with a nice looking jab.
Shepherd really is a fat lump.
Baraka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shepherd wants to clinch.
Baraka throws a series of punches but Shepherd avoids them all with ease.
Sloppy strikes from Baraka. Those never looked like landing.
Shepherd walks into a jab.
Baraka misses with the combination.
Shepherd walks into a stiff left hand from Baraka.
Some wild striking there from Baraka.
Shepherd walks into a jab.
Baraka misses with a series of wild punches.
Baraka lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shepherd circles away quickly and effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baraka throws a right and a left that both miss.
Baraka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Baraka shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Shepherd eats them both and turns towards Baraka to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Baraka misses with a double jab.
Shepherd is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Baraka throws a right hand that Shepherd ducks under and follows up with a left that Shepherd also avoids with ease.
Baraka swinging wildly here.
No joy there for Baraka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Baraka lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shepherd circles away quickly and effectively.

Shepherd darts in and clinches Baraka up against the cage.
Baraka tries to stall but Shepherd uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Shepherd tightens his grip and picks Baraka up, before dumping him to the ground. Baraka manages to land in guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Shepherd 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.
Baraka looking to control but Shepherd passes into half guard.
Shepherd performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Baraka keeping hold of Shepherd's head, controlling as best he can.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Shepherd is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Baraka has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baraka scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Shepherd manages to mount him!
Baraka tries to hold on but Shepherd postures up.
Baraka tries to control the position but Shepherd now has his back.
Baraka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Baraka is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baraka is trying to get back to his feet but Shepherd has full control of the position and if anything, Baraka has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Baraka trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Baraka has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shepherd has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Baraka's body.
Baraka rolls, trying to escape but Shepherd keeps control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koitsu Baraka dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shepherd takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Baraka moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Baraka lands with a nice combination. Shepherd backs away looking to recover.
Baraka tries to bum rush Shepherd with a series of wild strikes but Shepherd uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shepherd tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Baraka punishes Shepherd's body with a nice straight punch.
Baraka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shepherd is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Baraka.
Baraka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Shepherd shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Baraka's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Baraka can do anything to dispel that myth.
Baraka controls Shepherd momentarily but Shepherd frees himself.
Shepherd is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tomas Shepherd.
Baraka stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Baraka throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Shepherd lands a right hook to the body.
Baraka fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Shepherd on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baraka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baraka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
No joy there for Baraka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Baraka keeps the fight on the outside.

Shepherd decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Shepherd is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Baraka defends it well.
Shepherd takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
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!
Shepherd prevents Baraka from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Baraka is trying to control but Shepherd passes into side control!
Baraka trying his best to control but Shepherd has mounted him.
Shepherd lands a big shot there that rocks Baraka but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

It looks like Koitsu Baraka has been cut.
Shepherd sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Shepherd can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Baraka is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd breaks from Baraka's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shepherd controlling the position easily from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baraka tries to buck Shepherd off but Shepherd takes his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomas Shepherd dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Koitsu Baraka's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Shepherd dodges the punch combination from Baraka.
Baraka has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Shepherd fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Baraka misses with a double jab.
Shepherd shoots for a double leg takedown but Baraka sprawls well. He's pushed Shepherd's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Baraka misses with a double jab.

Shepherd scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Baraka wants to control but Shepherd postures up.
Shepherd is looking to take a break and control but Baraka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shepherd is staying tight to Baraka's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baraka keeps Shepherd under control for a moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Baraka connects with a nice looking jab.
Baraka is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Shepherd walks into a jab.
Baraka fails to land with a series of punches.
Koitsu Baraka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baraka connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Baraka scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Baraka connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Baraka comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd takes a jab right on the kisser.
Baraka will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Baraka catches Shepherd with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Baraka connects with a looping right hand.
No joy there for Baraka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shepherd shoots in but Baraka avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomas Shepherd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shepherd takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Baraka throws a series of punches but Shepherd avoids them all with ease.
Baraka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baraka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shepherd shoots in but no luck this time.
Shepherd dives in for a single leg takedown but Baraka sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Baraka is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepherd wants to take the fight to the mat but Baraka manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Shepherd drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Baraka gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Baraka tries to break free but Shepherd pushes him back against the cage.
Shepherd has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Baraka after a bit of a struggle.
Baraka trying to control the position but instead, Shepherd has worked for underhooks and has pushed Baraka into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Koitsu Baraka.
Baraka stalks Shepherd and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Shepherd's face. Shepherd staggers backwards, shaken.
Baraka bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Shepherd's head backwards.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Baraka!
Baraka takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Shepherd dodges the punch combination from Baraka.
Nice takedown defense from Baraka. No joy for Shepherd on that attempt.
Baraka misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shepherd tries to close the distance and clinch but Baraka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Baraka might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Baraka throws a right and a left that Shepherd avoids nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Koitsu Baraka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Baraka 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Koitsu Baraka!