PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Val Sheppard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Laterreur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Val Sheppard had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Sheppard
vs
Laterreur

221 cm
23
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Val Sheppard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bobby Laterreur!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Elvis Blanc and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Laterreur has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sheppard is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Laterreur is defending well.
Laterreur lands a body punch in the clinch.

Laterreur's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sheppard stuffs the takedown attempt from Laterreur. Laterreur gets slowly back to his feet.
Sheppard moves out of range of the strikes.

Laterreur feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Laterreur trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Laterreur postures up in Sheppard's guard and throws a big left but Sheppard blocks it.
Laterreur controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Laterreur thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sheppard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Laterreur.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laterreur is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Laterreur won't allow Sheppard to sweep him here.
Sheppard wants to hit a switch here but Laterreur passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Sheppard there!
Laterreur controlling the position easily from mount.
Laterreur misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laterreur sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Laterreur goes for an armbar but Sheppard turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Sheppard.
Sheppard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Laterreur holds on and takes a little breather.
Laterreur looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sheppard is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laterreur wants to get back to his feet but Sheppard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sheppard throwing strikes from guard but Laterreur blocks nicely.
Sheppard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Sheppard drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Laterreur dives on top into guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laterreur is stalling in the full guard.

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.
Sheppard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sheppard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sheppard being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Laterreur wants to stand but Sheppard has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A chopping leg kick lands by Sheppard.
Bobby Laterreur seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sheppard scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Laterreur has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Laterreur shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sheppard as he jumps to the side.
Laterreur checks a leg kick.
Laterreur looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sheppard is fending him off so far but Laterreur persists. Nope, Sheppard circles away and we're back to standing.
As Laterreur backs away, Sheppard returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Laterreur on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Laterreur with a poor takedown
enabling Sheppard to counter with a crisp jab.
Val Sheppard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Laterreur.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laterreur shoots in looking for a takedown. Sheppard tries to sprawl out of it but Laterreur keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sheppard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A quick step to the side and Sheppard tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sheppard throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheppard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sheppard wants it to stay on the feet.
Sheppard swats away the attempt to clinch by Laterreur.

Sheppard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Laterreur, pushing him back against the cage.
Sheppard is trying to pull guard but Laterreur has him pressed against the cage.
Laterreur prevents the takedown attempt.

Laterreur gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Sheppard regains guard.
Laterreur would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Laterreur looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Laterreur drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Laterreur jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laterreur scoring with some ground and pound.
Laterreur trying to control but Sheppard is working from the bottom.
Laterreur stopping the sweep attempt from Sheppard.
Laterreur looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laterreur is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sheppard is controlling Laterreur's posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sheppard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Laterreur tries to avoid it but Sheppard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Laterreur to the ground. Laterreur escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Laterreur shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sheppard as he avoids it easily.

Laterreur moves into range and clinches up with Sheppard.

Laterreur pulls guard effortlessly.
Laterreur is controlling Sheppard's posture.

Laterreur is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheppard in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Laterreur escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sheppard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Laterreur is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Laterreur working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sheppard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sheppard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Laterreur looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Sheppard has picked Laterreur up and slammed him! Laterreur can't keep hold of the triangle and Sheppard manages to pass to side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bobby Laterreur will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Sheppard throws a low kick, looking for Laterreur's leg but Laterreur calmly moves out of range.
Sheppard fails with the takedown.
Sheppard fails in his attempt to clinch.
Laterreur is looking to clinch but Sheppard is avoiding it.
Sheppard buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Bobby Laterreur is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sheppard tries to score a power double leg takedown but Laterreur sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sheppard somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laterreur tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Sheppard closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Laterreur did well to prevent Sheppard getting side control.

Laterreur looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laterreur is trying to stand.
Sheppard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Laterreur on the ground.
Laterreur holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Laterreur works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sheppard is fighting to break Laterreur's control of his arms but Laterreur is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Laterreur bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sheppard's guard.

Laterreur works over Sheppard with some ground and pound from guard.
Sheppard is trying to keep Laterreur in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laterreur pushing down on Sheppard's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sheppard keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Laterreur tries to stand and escape but Sheppard is controlling the position.
Laterreur throwing shots but Sheppard is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Laterreur with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Bobby Laterreur has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Laterreur throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sheppard swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sheppard with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Laterreur shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Sheppard gets tackled into the cage by Laterreur. Laterreur maintains the clinch.
Sheppard wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Laterreur has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laterreur dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Sheppard drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Val Sheppard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sheppard has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Laterreur after a bit of a struggle.
Laterreur tries to land a knee to the head but Sheppard blocks with his arms.

Sheppard lands a takedown into guard.
Laterreur is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Laterreur trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Laterreur wants to stand but Sheppard is controlling the position.
Val Sheppard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bobby Laterreur is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sheppard is fighting to break Laterreur's control of his arms but Laterreur is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Laterreur comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Laterreur 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Laterreur!