PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between B J Sherk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato Velcic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sherk might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to E Ala E. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

J Sherk
vs
Velcic

175 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

174 cm
18
164 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, B J Sherk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Renato Velcic!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Richard Clark and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sherk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Velcic swivels and escapes.
Sherk looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Velcic gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Velcic keeping full guard, as Sherk tries to pass.
Sherk is working hard here to advance position.
Velcic thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Velcic is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sherk trying to control the position from guard on top but Velcic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sherk is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Velcic is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Sherk gets to his feet. Velcic looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sherk closes this distance looking for a takedown but Velcic circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for B J Sherk. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velcic circles away from the clinch attempt.

Velcic gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Velcic is looking for a triangle but Sherk pushes his legs off easily.

Velcic has his foot on Sherk's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sherk works his way back into a safe position though.
Velcic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Velcic keeping moving, preventing Sherk from controlling successfully.
Sherk is breathing heavily.

Velcic looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Velcic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sherk throws a big right hand that misses.
Velcic lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sherk!
Velcic avoids the attempt from Sherk to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherk manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Velcic works his way into side control.
Sherk gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Velcic looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Sherk throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Velcic fails to take his opponent's back.

Velcic is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sherk is surviving well by controlling Velcic's body position as best he can.
Sherk is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Velcic working for a submission but Sherk is keeping him at bay.

Velcic looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Velcic works his way to his opponent's back.
Sherk is in bad spot here.
Sherk tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Sherk keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sherk tries to hold on but Velcic postures up.
Sherk is looking to improve his position but Velcic isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherk regains half guard.
Sherk trying to hold on to Velcic's head to control him but Velcic postures up.

Sherk looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sherk avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Velcic.
Velcic looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sherk tries to get to full guard but Velcic has control of the leg.

Velcic is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Velcic seems to be looking for submissions.
Sherk manages to get to full guard.
Sherk can't keep his opponent in guard - Velcic advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renato Velcic dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sherk feints and as Velcic raises his hands in defense, Sherk changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Sherk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Velcic keeping full guard, as Sherk tries to pass.
Velcic throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Renato Velcic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sherk trying to control but Velcic is working from the bottom.

Velcic working for a triangle but Sherk defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Velcic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Velcic throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sherk uses it to pass to side control.
Sherk tries to move to mount but Velcic blocks the move with his legs.
Velcic is looking to reverse the position.
Velcic is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Sherk has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Velcic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Velcic.
Horrible takedown by Sherk or perhaps it was just good defense by Velcic which made him look bad.

Sherk shoots in and bounces Velcic off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Velcic has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sherk can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherk forces his way into half guard.
Sherk passes to full mount!
Velcic is looking to improve his position but Sherk isn't that keen on the idea.
Velcic sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Velcic looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sherk frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sherk landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velcic tries to reverse the position but Sherk maintains control.
Sherk can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Velcic is looking to escape.
Velcic regains half guard.
Velcic is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sherk scores with a couple of nice shots.
Velcic is staying active underneath Sherk, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sherk passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Velcic!
Sherk tries to control but Velcic wriggling away.
Sherk is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Velcic can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Sherk thowing shots but they're missing.
Velcic is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Sherk working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherk pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Velcic is looking to get to half guard.
Sherk working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Sherk looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Sherk trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Velcic tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sherk dominating with strikes here.
Sherk lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Sherk tries to control but Velcic wriggling away.
Velcic is desperately trying to improve his position but Sherk has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

B J Sherk dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Velcic throws a right and a left that Sherk avoids nicely.
Sherk showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Velcic.
B J Sherk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sherk uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Velcic.
A punch combination from Velcic misses.

Sherk drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sherk lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sherk working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sherk wants to get up but he can't break Velcic's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sherk stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Velcic swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Velcic working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sherk doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sherk manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sherk trying to control the position from guard on top but Velcic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Velcic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Velcic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sherk is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherk trying to control the position from guard on top but Velcic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Velcic keeping full guard, as Sherk tries to pass.
Sherk is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sherk working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sherk wants to control from the top but Velcic keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Velcic will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sherk misses with a takedown attempt - Velcic sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Velcic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Velcic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Velcic stuffs the takedown attempt from Sherk. Sherk gets slowly back to his feet.
Velcic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sherk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Velcic gets caught flat footed, as Sherk shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Velcic working for a triangle but Sherk defends it easily.
Sherk passes into half guard.
Sherk not doing much here.
Sherk working Velcic over with strikes.
Sherk working Velcic over with strikes.
Velcic manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherk wants to control from the top but Velcic keeps moving.

Velcic looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sherk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sherk wants to control from the top but Velcic keeps moving.

Velcic is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sherk pushing down on Velcic's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Velcic is looking to improve his position.

That's four 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.

Sherk is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Velcic tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Velcic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sherk stalling.
Velcic moves into full guard.
Sherk stays in close to Velcic's body and controls the position.
Sherk chips away with some ground and pound.

Velcic is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sherk trying to control but Velcic is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
B J Sherk showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sherk 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... B J Sherk!