PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gerwazy Babula (ranked 1809 p4p, 1575 weight class) and Donovan Sharpe (ranked 246 p4p, 215 weight class). Babula's entrance music is Hey Buddy. A fine choice. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Babula
vs
Sharpe

188 cm
20
185
5 - 1 - 0

182 cm
20
185
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Conviction
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Arcticus University: London

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gerwazy Babula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Donovan Sharpe!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sharpe looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Babula!
Sharpe creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Babula sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Babula wants to get back to his feet.
Sharpe creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Babula sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
What's Babula going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Babula is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Sharpe in side control lands a decent elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sharpe connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Babula some visible discomfort.
Sharpe scoring with punches from side control.
Babula takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Sharpe cracks Babula with a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babula is trying to control Sharpe's posture but Sharpe avoids it.
Sloppy strikes there by Sharpe.
Sharpe misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sharpe lands a nice forearm strike.

Sharpe looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sharpe trying to control the position but Babula is working away.
Sharpe connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Babula some visible discomfort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sharpe working the ground and pound but Babula is defending the strikes.
Babula is trying to buck Sharpe off.
Sharpe throws a strike aimed at the side of Babula's head but Babula avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babula is trying to buck Sharpe off.
Babula takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Sharpe is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Babula knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sharpe swings around for an armbar but Babula sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Sharpe's guard.

Sharpe is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Babula presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Babula can't break the clinch.

Sharpe has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Babula regains guard immediately.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Sharpe working his ground and pound in the gym.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sharpe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sharpe looking to sit in guard and control but Babula gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babula throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sharpe controlling the position.
Babula won't allow Sharpe to get back to his feet.
Sharpe is pulling down on Babula's head to control his posture.
Babula sitting in guard here, content to control.
Babula has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sharpe is proving hard to escape from.
Babula postures up.
Babula stopping the sweep attempt from Sharpe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sharpe is looking to stand up but Babula isn't so interested in that idea.
Sharpe has his hands on Babula's head, controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Babula keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
An attempted straight right counter from Babula misses the target.
A left and a right from Babula both land. Nice combination.
Donovan Sharpe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Babula throws a jab when Sharpe was well out of range.
Sharpe moves out of range as Babula strikes.
Sharpe shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Babula counters with a nice uppercut.
Sharpe with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Babula to score with a decent uppercut.
Sharpe shoots for a double leg takedown but Babula sprawls well. He's pushed Sharpe's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gerwazy Babula has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donovan Sharpe.
Babula throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sharpe counters with a series of strikes. Babula will be more careful next time no doubt.
Babula throws an overhand right that drops Sharpe like a sack of potatoes! Babula dives in to finish the fight with more strikes and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gerwazy Babula!