PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maximus Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and B J Sherk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Manhoef might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Minowaman Style. Sherk has chosen E Ala E as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Manhoef
vs
J Sherk

178 cm
23
162 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
169 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Urban Vandal fight gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Maximus Manhoef!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, B J Sherk!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sherk lets loose with a powerful body kick. Manhoef will feel that in the morning.
Sherk dodges the punch combination from Manhoef.
Manhoef throws a series of punches but Sherk moves out of range.

Manhoef darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Manhoef perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Manhoef trying to mount his opponent but Sherk defends it.
Sherk is not content to let Manhoef control the position.
Manhoef sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sherk defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef is looking to take a break and control but Sherk is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sherk won't allow Manhoef to pass to mount.
Sherk is trying to stand back up but Manhoef is controlling him
Sherk trying to control from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Manhoef throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Nice body punch from Manhoef.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Manhoef.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sherk falls off balance throwing a combination

and Manhoef counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sherk working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Manhoef.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sherk controls Manhoef momentarily but Manhoef frees himself.
Sherk is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Manhoef is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sherk keeping moving, preventing Manhoef from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherk keeping full guard, as Manhoef tries to pass.
Sherk trying to keep a closed guard but Manhoef is proving a slippery customer.
Sherk is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Manhoef misses with a wild body shot.
Manhoef connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

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.
Sherk ducks right into an uppercut from Manhoef.
Manhoef will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Manhoef bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sherk's head backwards.

Sherk shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Sherk is looking for a kimura but Manhoef is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sherk to get the leverage.
Sherk performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sherk tries to stand and escape but Manhoef actually recovers to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Manhoef dominated that round.
That's time! Manhoef's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sherk tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Manhoef is able to avoid easily.
No joy there for Manhoef, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Manhoef shoots in but no luck this time.
Sherk wants to clinch but Manhoef slips to the side
letting Manhoef counter with a right hand.
Manhoef misses with a wild combination.
Manhoef throws a left and a right that both miss

and Sherk counters with a takedown into side control.
Manhoef is trying to control Sherk's posture but Sherk avoids it.

Sherk decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef lands a nice looking body shot.
Manhoef misses with a two punch combination.
Manhoef misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sherk goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sherk pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Manhoef fails with the takedown
and Sherk counters with a nice body kick.
Sherk throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Manhoef sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Maximus Manhoef is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sherk.
Manhoef comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Manhoef displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Manhoef fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sherk throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Manhoef sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Manhoef avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Manhoef checks a low kick from Sherk.
Sherk feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Manhoef's calf.
Sherk looks to land a body kick but Manhoef moved away.
Manhoef just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Manhoef misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef thows a left - swing and a miss!
Manhoef lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sherk at a distance.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sherk.
Manhoef shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sherk as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maximus Manhoef. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manhoef lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Manhoef misses with a combination

and Sherk counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sherk tries to pull guard but Manhoef won't allow it.

Sherk breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sherk.
Sherk tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef looks to score with a jab to the body but Sherk is just out of range.
Manhoef looks to score with a jab to the body but Sherk is just out of range.
Manhoef throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Sherk counters with a single leg into guard. Manhoef didn't expect that.
Sherk wants to stand and escape but instead Manhoef has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Manhoef sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sherk's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sherk moves into full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Manhoef wants to control from the top but Sherk keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

B J Sherk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Manhoef tests Sherk's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A nice combination there by Manhoef.
Danga de danga de dang - Manhoef scores with a four punch combination!
Manhoef moves out of range of the body kick from Sherk.
Manhoef moves out of range of the body kick.
Sherk shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Manhoef throws a nice looking combination but Sherk bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Manhoef lands a with a good body shot.

Sherk looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sherk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
B J Sherk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Manhoef looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sherk is one step ahead there.
Manhoef manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sherk manages to get himself to full guard.
Manhoef controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

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.
Manhoef preventing the sweep.
Sherk trying to keep a closed guard but Manhoef is proving a slippery customer.
Sherk avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sherk wants to sweep here but Manhoef controlling him for the moment.
Manhoef trying to control the position from guard on top but Sherk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sherk is looking for a triangle but Manhoef pushes his legs off easily.
Manhoef controlling from the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sherk gets caught flat footed, as Manhoef shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sherk can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Manhoef controls the pace.
Sherk trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef thows a big elbow that misses.
Manhoef sitting in guard here, content to control.
Manhoef trying to control but Sherk is working from the bottom.
Manhoef looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Manhoef clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sherk takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Sherk throws a hook to the side of Manhoef's head but Manhoef sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sherk shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sherk connects with a crisp jab.
Nice shot by Manhoef.
Manhoef wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Maximus Manhoef seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sherk misses with a low kick.
Sherk throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Manhoef blocks a head kick by Sherk.
Manhoef fails with the takedown
and Sherk finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherk avoids the body shot from Manhoef.
Sherk has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Manhoef throws a nice looking combination but Sherk bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sherk rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Manhoef moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Manhoef with a poor takedown

and Sherk holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sherk has a couple of punches blocked by Manhoef.
Sherk swings wildly with an uppercut but Manhoef uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Manhoef as Sherk tries to tie him up.
Manhoef wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Manhoef is trying to break free.
Sherk landing knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Manhoef is trying to break free.
Sherk jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Manhoef walks away with a smile on his face. Sherk gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Manhoef works the jab nicely.
Manhoef will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Manhoef lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Manhoef tries to bum rush Sherk with a series of wild strikes but Sherk uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sherk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Manhoef throws a nice looking combination but Sherk bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sherk tries to clinch up.
Manhoef lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sherk circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef blocks a head kick by Sherk.
Sherk misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Manhoef fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sherk looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Manhoef throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Sherk darts in trying to clinch
and Manhoef connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sherk tries to land a leg kick but Manhoef saw it coming and moves away.
Sherk walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Manhoef scores with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sherk swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maximus Manhoef. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manhoef lands a head shot.
Manhoef fails with the takedown
and Sherk counters with a stiff right hand.
Manhoef throws a right hand that Sherk ducks under and follows up with a left that Sherk also avoids with ease.

Manhoef drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Manhoef stays in close to Sherk's body and controls the position.
Sherk pulls Manhoef in close to his closed guard and prevents Manhoef from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Manhoef had his way with B J Sherk in that round.
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!

Sherk throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sherk throws a leg kick that is checked
and Manhoef makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sherk misses with a straight right.
Sherk lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sherk avoids the body shot from Manhoef.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manhoef shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sherk counters with a head kick. That will keep Manhoef thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Manhoef just misses with a punch to the body.
Sherk throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Manhoef counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sherk circles away quickly and effectively.

Manhoef scores a takedown into full mount!
Manhoef looking to control but Sherk is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Manhoef prevents Sherk from getting the reversal.
Manhoef thowing shots but they're missing.

Manhoef moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sherk has worked his arm free - good work by Sherk!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherk tries to bench press Manhoef off him but Manhoef keeps the position.
Sherk is trying to control Manhoef's posture but Manhoef avoids it.
Sherk is pushing Manhoef's head away, looking to escape. Manhoef manages to hold on to the position though.

Manhoef tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherk parries the strikes from Manhoef easily there. Manhoef is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Sherk to escape.
Manhoef in side control, throwing shots but Sherk defends.
Manhoef taking a breather here.
Sherk tries to buck Manhoef off but Manhoef is having none of it.
B J Sherk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sherk tries a low kick but Manhoef avoids it.
Manhoef throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sherk's waist but Sherk gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manhoef off to one side.
Sherk chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Manhoef gets caught flat footed, as Sherk shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sherk stopping the sweep attempt from Manhoef.
Manhoef wants to hit a switch here but Sherk passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Manhoef there!

And that's the end of the fight!
B J Sherk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Manhoef has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 48:47
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 48:47
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maximus Manhoef!
Maximus Manhoef is the new lightweight champion!