PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Sherlock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Barrett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sherlock
vs
Barrett

190 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mark Sherlock!
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, John Barrett!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barrett shoots in and drives through. Sherlock sprawls well.
Barrett throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barrett takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A punch combination from Sherlock misses.
Barrett walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sherlock lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Barrett swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barrett throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sherlock makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sherlock misses with the combination.

Barrett has taken the fight to the clinch.
Barrett taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Barrett drags the fight down to the ground.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barrett can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sherlock controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Barrett keeping full guard, as Sherlock tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherlock trying to stand up but can't free himself from Barrett's guard.
Sherlock trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sherlock has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sherlock has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Barrett is proving hard to escape from.
Barrett manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Barrett thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

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.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Barrett cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sherlock is squirming around, avoiding Barrett's attempts to control the action.
Barrett sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Sherlock is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sherlock knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Barrett on the ground.
Barrett trying to control but Sherlock is having none of it.
Sherlock is looking to improve his position but Barrett isn't that keen on the idea.
Barrett misses with a head shot.
Sherlock is desperately trying to improve his position but Barrett has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrett thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Sherlock can't escape the position.
Poor strikes thrown by Barrett there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Sherlock is squirming around, avoiding Barrett's attempts to control the action.
Barrett scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sherlock?
Sherlock is squirming around, avoiding Barrett's attempts to control the action.
Barrett has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

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.
Sherlock wants to control but Barrett is having none of it.
Sherlock is breathing heavily.
Barrett looking to finish with strikes here!
Poor strikes thrown by Barrett there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Barrett trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sherlock is desperately trying to improve his position but Barrett has a good base and remains in mount.
Barrett with good strikes from the mount here!
Barrett working Sherlock over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mark Sherlock will probably get the nod.
That's time! Sherlock's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Horrible takedown by Barrett or perhaps it was just good defense by Sherlock which made him look bad.
Sherlock throws a combination that misses
and Barrett counters with a two punch combo.
Barrett misses with a looping left.
Barrett misses with a head kick.
Barrett tries to clinch there but Sherlock circles away.

Barrett clinches.
Sherlock tries to pull guard but Barrett won't allow it.
Sherlock throws a punch but it's blocked by Barrett.
Sherlock wants to get back to striking at distance but Barrett won't allow it.
Sherlock wants to break free but Barrett has control.
Sherlock is looking to control Barrett's arms but Barrett gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sherlock has his back to the cage.
A short right from Barrett on the inside.
Sherlock tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Barrett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sherlock!
Sherlock ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrett is looking to clinch but Sherlock is avoiding it.
Barrett falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Sherlock counter with a right hand.
Mark Sherlock is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barrett is breathing heavily.
Barrett avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sherlock tries to score a power double leg takedown but Barrett sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sherlock somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Sherlock. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sherlock looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barrett slips a jab and a cross from Sherlock.
Mark Sherlock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Sherlock does no damage.
Sherlock scores with a sloppy right hand. Barrett should have avoided that one.
Sherlock defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Barrett.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrett ducks right into an uppercut from Sherlock.
A combination from Barrett does no damage.
Donk. Barrett catches Sherlock right on the button with a cross.
Nice shot lands for Sherlock.
Barrett tries to clinch up.
Sherlock is looking to clinch but Barrett is avoiding it.
Barrett shoots in looking for a takedown. Sherlock tries to sprawl out of it but Barrett keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sherlock manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Barrett tries to clinch but Sherlock moves out of range.
Barrett tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sherlock smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sherlock throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barrett.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherlock defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Barrett.
Sherlock rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barrett moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sherlock lands a slapping body shot.
Sherlock lands with a nice combination. Barrett backs away looking to recover.
Sherlock leaves Barrett with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sherlock lands a jab.
Barrett tries to clinch but Sherlock moves out of range.
Sherlock misses with a combination
and Barrett counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A punch lands to the side of Barrett 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherlock will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sherlock tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barrett paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sherlock throws a nice looking combination but Barrett bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sherlock closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Sherlock looks to score with a jab to the body but Barrett is just out of range.
Sherlock tries to clinch there but Barrett circles away.
Barrett wants to clinch.
Barrett takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sherlock throws a right hand that Barrett ducks under and follows up with a left that Barrett also avoids with ease.
Sherlock lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barrett circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Sherlock dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Barrett throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sherlock counters with a nice body shot.
Barrett throws a sloppy head kick and Sherlock moves out of range easily.
Sherlock swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sherlock lands with a shot to the body.
Barrett tries to clinch but Sherlock is having none of it.
Barrett shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sherlock pinned against the cage. Sherlock gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sherlock looks to land a combination. Barrett sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Barrett gets caught flat footed, as Sherlock shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sherlock trying to stand up but can't free himself from Barrett's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sherlock wants to control from the top but Barrett keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrett throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Sherlock missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barrett is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barrett preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barrett bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sherlock's guard.

Barrett stands and steps away. Sherlock gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

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.

Barrett moves into the clinch.

Barrett's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sherlock stuffs the takedown attempt from Barrett. Barrett gets slowly back to his feet.
No joy there for Sherlock, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mark Sherlock is winning the standup battle so far.
Barrett misses with a takedown attempt
and Sherlock counters with a two punch combo.
Mark Sherlock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Barrett.
Barrett connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sherlock's hands.
Barrett looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Barrett looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sherlock throws a combination that misses
and Barrett counters with a three punch combo that has Sherlock backing up. Sherlock nods at Barrett to acknowledge the strikes.
Sherlock lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Barrett swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sherlock counters with a three punch combo that has Barrett backing up. Barrett nods at Sherlock to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrett takes a swing at Sherlock's ribcage but misses.
Barrett takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Barrett misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sherlock falls off balance throwing a combination

and Barrett counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Barrett decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sherlock, up you get!
Barrett throws a combination that misses
and Sherlock counters with a series of strikes. Barrett will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sherlock swinging wilding here.
Mark Sherlock is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barrett takes a swing at Sherlock's ribcage but misses.
Barrett fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sherlock throws a right and a left that Barrett avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherlock takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barrett.
Barrett takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Good shot there by Sherlock.
Sherlock throws a nice looking combination but Barrett bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Barrett drives through and clinches with Sherlock against the cage.
Sherlock tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barrett smiles and moves away.
Sherlock scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Barrett.
I think Sherlock 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!