PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Josef Dellal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and German Shephard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shephard has chosen K9 Justice as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dellal
vs
Shephard

177 cm
35
184 lbs
29 - 16 - 2

180 cm
27
182 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josef Dellal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, German Shephard!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Columbo Gatti and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shephard dips to his left and cracks Dellal with an uppercut!
Shephard with a nice cross.
Dellal tries for a takedown but Shephard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dellal shoots in looking for a takedown. Shephard tries to sprawl out of it but Dellal keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shephard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Shephard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dellal.
Dellal slips under a jab from Shephard.
Dellal shoots in looking for a takedown. Shephard tries to sprawl out of it but Dellal keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shephard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josef Dellal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shephard gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Dellal wants to control from the top but Shephard keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shephard trying to control the position here.
Dellal trying to control the position from guard on top but Shephard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shephard keeping full guard, as Dellal tries to pass.
Shephard is pulling down on Dellal's head to control his posture.

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.
Dellal trying to control the position from guard on top but Shephard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Shephard looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dellal moves forwards but Shephard connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Shephard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Dellal shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Shephard tried to score with a low kick but Dellal checks it.
Shephard takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
German Shephard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shephard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Shephard throws a body punch but Dellal moves out of range.
Dellal appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shephard works the jab nicely.
Shephard throws a lazy right hand but Dellal sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dellal blocks the body kick.
Dellal takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Shephard connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Shephard buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Dellal shoots for a takedown but Shephard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Shephard throws a leg kick which misses Dellal's front leg but catches the back leg as Dellal tries to avoid it.
Shephard lands with a thumping leg kick.
Shephard throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dellal sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Dellal has his takedown stuffed
and Shephard counters with a left to the body.
Dellal slips a jab from Shephard.
Dellal moves out of range as Shephard strikes.
Dellal changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dellal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shephard swivels and escapes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shephard thumps Dellal with a low kick.
Shephard scores with a nice right hand.
Dellal blocks a head kick by Shephard.
Dellal attempts a counter takedown but Shephard avoids it well and moves away.
Shephard throws a shot from downtown. Dellal moves away and avoids it.
Dellal takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Dellal walks into a left hand.
Shephard misses with an uppercut. Dellal saw that one coming.

Shephard shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Shephard showed some decent athleticism there.

Shephard seems to be looking for submissions.
Dellal wants to control but Shephard is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

German Shephard dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Dellal shoots in but Shephard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dellal looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shephard is fending him off so far but Dellal persists. Nope, Shephard circles away and we're back to standing.
Shephard looks for the body kick but Dellal saw that one coming.
Dellal changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A telegraphed right hand from Shephard misses the target.

Dellal shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Dellal works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Shephard wants to improve his position but Dellal is controlling well.
Shephard is trying to stand back up but Dellal is controlling him
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dellal prevents Shephard from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dellal trying to control the action but Shephard is working from the bottom.
Shephard controlling the position well.
Josef Dellal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shephard is trying to control but can't.

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

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.
Dellal is trying to control the action in half guard but Shephard is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Dellal takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Dellal takes one to the chin there.
Shephard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dellal moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dellal half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Dellal drives through with a takedown into Shephard's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Shephard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dellal trying to control but Shephard is working from the bottom.
Shephard looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dellal wants to control from the top but Shephard keeps moving.
Dellal postures up.
Dellal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shephard can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dellal controls the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Shephard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dellal moves away.
Shephard throws an overhand right that lands on Dellal's shoulder, as Dellal tries to avoid the shot.
Shephard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice takedown defense from Shephard. No joy for Dellal on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josef Dellal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.
Dellal slips a jab from Shephard.
Dellal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dellal fails to land the takedown.
Shephard thumps Dellal with a low kick.
Shephard turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Dellal on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Dellal is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Dellal walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Shephard throws a front kick aimed at Dellal's knee but Dellal avoids it well.
Dellal changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shephard throws a leg kick

and Dellal counters with a shoot takedown. Shephard fights it but they end up in guard.
Shephard keeping full guard, as Dellal tries to pass.
Shephard keeping moving, preventing Dellal from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but German Shephard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Shephard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dellal appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Shephard bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Dellal tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shephard defends well and Dellal ends up having to push Shephard into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Dellal walks into a jab.
Shephard lands a head kick!
Dellal fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shephard avoids it really well and circles away.
Shephard fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shephard closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A jab from Shephard misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shephard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dellal tries to counter with a takedown but Shephard is quick to defend against it.
Shephard connects with an inside leg kick.
Dellal chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Shephard can pounce on him.
Dellal walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Shephard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dellal tries to counter with a takedown but Shephard is quick to defend against it.
Dellal blocks a jab.
Dellal moves out of range of the body kick.
Dellal drops his hands momentarily and Shephard takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Shephard throws a front kick aimed at Dellal's knee but Dellal avoids it well.
Shephard lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Dellal takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Shephard, right into the meat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shephard.
Josef Dellal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shephard wants to land a leg kick but Dellal is out of range.
Dellal doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shephard counters with a good low kick that Dellal was not able to check.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josef Dellal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shephard misses with a body shot.
Dellal closes the distance and clinches up with Shephard, looking for a takedown. Dellal pushes Shephard against the cage but Shephard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shephard takes a swing at Dellal's ribcage but misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shephard.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dellal.
Shephard feints and then cracks Dellal's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Dellal down.
Dellal misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shephard lands a jab.

Dellal drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Shephard gets back to half guard.
Shephard gets full guard.
Shephard pulls Dellal in close to his closed guard and prevents Dellal from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dellal tries to free his leg and advance position but Shephard is retaining full guard.

Dellal postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Shephard is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dellal, into his guard.

Dellal working for submissions but it's allowed Shephard to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shephard is keen to just control but Dellal is a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
German Shephard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shephard 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... German Shephard!
An out of breath German Shephard thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.