PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eoin Andershannon O Darby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Sherk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). O Darby's entrance music is I'm Shipping up to Boston by Dropkick Murphys. A fine choice. Sherk is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Grinder. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Andershannon O Darby
vs
Sherk

170 cm
29
154 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

181 cm
22
149 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Eoin Andershannon O Darby!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sean Sherk!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
O Darby misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sherk misses with a left hand
and O Darby cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
O Darby lunges at Sherk with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sherk's hand.
Sherk lands with a right hand.
Sherk misses with a looping right.
Sherk throws an off balance right hand
and O Darby counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sherk throws an overhand right that lands on O Darby's shoulder, as O Darby tries to avoid the shot.
O Darby throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sherk counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sherk throws a poor cross that misses
enabling O Darby to counter with a crisp jab.
Sherk misses with a right hand
and O Darby makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Darby just misses with a punch to the body.
Sherk misses with a right hand
enabling O Darby to counter with a crisp jab.
O Darby misses with a body shot.
Sean Sherk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
O Darby throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sherk counters with a stiff right hand.
O Darby misses with a body kick.

Sherk gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows O Darby to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sherk keeping moving, preventing O Darby from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

O Darby postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sherk is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of O Darby, into his guard.
Sherk must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
O Darby wants to control the position but Sherk says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
O Darby moves into full guard.

Sherk gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Darby avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
O Darby swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Sherk counter with a right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from O Darby. Sherk does a little dance to reset his feet.
O Darby moves out of range as Sherk strikes.
Sherk misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from O Darby.
Sherk swings away with a body shot that misses
and O Darby counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
O Darby slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
O Darby misses with a body shot
and Sherk counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
O Darby thows a body shot but no joy.
O Darby on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sherk uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by O Darby.
Sean Sherk is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
O Darby lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Sherk rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and O Darby counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sherk misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from O Darby.
Sherk on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
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 Eoin Andershannon O Darby will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Donk. Sherk catches O Darby right on the button with a cross.
Sherk throws an off balance right hand
and O Darby counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sherk takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sherk throws a lazy right hand but O Darby sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
O Darby misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sherk lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but O Darby circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Darby is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
O Darby is looking to wear down Sherk with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Sherk avoids the body shot from O Darby.
O Darby swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Sherk makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Darby throws a right hand that misses
and Sherk connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
O Darby swings away with a body shot that misses
and Sherk counters with a nice body shot.
Sherk misses with a right hand
and O Darby counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
O Darby fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sherk manages to avoid it.
Nice jab there from O Darby.
O Darby avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sherk is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sherk keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from O Darby.
A looping hook to the body misses from O Darby. Sherk does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherk throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sherk rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling O Darby to counter with a crisp jab.
O Darby misses with a right hand
and Sherk counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
O Darby jabs at Sherk's body.
Sherk dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sherk misses with a shot to the body
and O Darby counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
O Darby throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
O Darby swings for the body but Sherk moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Darby walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
O Darby with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sherk counters with a lovely straight right hand!
O Darby throws a jab when Sherk was well out of range.
O Darby throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sherk moves into range and connects with a jab.

O Darby gets a takedown into half guard.
Sherk is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

O Darby is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sherk is just riding it out for now. O Darby eventually gives up the hold.
Sherk scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but O Darby manages to mount him!
O Darby wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Sherk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! O Darby's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sherk rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and O Darby counters with a three punch combo that has Sherk backing up. Sherk nods at O Darby to acknowledge the strikes.
Sherk misses with an uppercut
and O Darby counters with a two punch combo.
Sherk's corner calls for a 1-2. Sherk obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sherk misses with an uppercut. O Darby saw that one coming.
Sherk misses with a right hand
and O Darby counters with a left and a right that stings Sherk.
Sherk misses with a left hand
and O Darby counters with a straight right hand.
Sherk scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A telegraphed right hand from Sherk misses the target.
O Darby looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sherk is fending him off so far but O Darby persists. Nope, Sherk circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Darby avoids a punch combination nicely.
O Darby misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sherk.
Sherk throws a right hand that misses
and O Darby counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sherk thinking.
O Darby lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sherk misses with a right hand
and O Darby counters with a straight right hand.
Sherk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Danga de danga de dang - Sherk scores with a four punch combination!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherk throws a poor cross that misses
and O Darby counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sherk throws an off balance right hand
and O Darby counters with a nice body kick.
O Darby ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sherk moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sherk. O Darby does a little dance to reset his feet.
A shot to the body from O Darby misses
and O Darby takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sherk connects with a single shot there.
Sherk misses with a right hand
enabling O Darby to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherk thows a left - swing and a miss!
O Darby scores with a body shot.
Sherk lands a really nice looking cross but O Darby seems unphased.
Sherk throws a right hand that misses
and O Darby counters with a nice body shot.
Sherk takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sherk takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sherk moves out of range of the body kick from O Darby.
Sherk bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherk throws a good cross that connects.
O Darby swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sherk cracks O Darby with an open hand slap.
O Darby waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sherk.
Sean Sherk seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sherk looks to score with a jab to the body but O Darby is just out of range.
Sherk lands a jab to O Darby's midsection.
Sherk tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but O Darby was well out of range. Poor timing from Sherk.
Sherk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Eoin Andershannon O Darby did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
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.

O Darby throws a poor cross that misses
and Sherk counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
O Darby throws a body punch but Sherk moves out of range.
O Darby thows a left - swing and a miss!
Donk. Sherk catches O Darby right on the button with a cross.
O Darby misses with a takedown
and Sherk counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sherk lands with a straight right. O Darby didn't see that one coming.

O Darby is rocked!
A combination from O Darby does no damage.
O Darby lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Darby slips under a jab from Sherk.
Nice jab there from Sherk.
Sherk throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent O Darby stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
O Darby bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
O Darby misses with a wild body shot.
Sherk takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
O Darby ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two 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.
O Darby swings for the body but Sherk moves out of range.
Sherk waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract O Darby.
Sherk swings widly with a right hand
and O Darby counters with a lovely shot to the body.
O Darby lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sherk at a distance.
Sherk throws an ugly left hook that misses
and O Darby counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
O Darby looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
O Darby has his takedown stuffed
and Sherk counters with a stiff right hand.
Sherk bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Darby misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sherk.
Sherk misses the jab.
O Darby misses with a lunging right hand
and Sherk counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
O Darby throws a poor cross that misses
and O Darby takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Oh O Darby is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sherk throws a lazy right hand but O Darby sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
O Darby seems to have got his legs back now.
O Darby throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sherk throws an off balance right hand
and O Darby counters with a nice body shot.
O Darby swings away with a body shot that misses
and Sherk counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Darby loads up on a big right hand but Sherk slips the punch.
Sherk is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by O Darby.
O Darby just misses with a punch to the body.
O Darby fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eoin Andershannon O Darby. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sherk falls off balance throwing a combination

and O Darby counters with a takedown into side control.
Sherk wants to get back to his feet.

O Darby is trying to get an arm triangle but Sherk is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Sean Sherk will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

O Darby lands a glancing blow to the side of Sherk's head.
A shot to the body from O Darby misses
and Sherk counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sherk lands a lovely overhand right.
O Darby throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sherk counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A swing and a miss from O Darby.
O Darby uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sherk.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Darby with a poor takedown
and Sherk counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sherk throws a poor cross that misses
and O Darby makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sherk misses with a lunging right hand
and Sherk takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
O Darby misses with an uppercut
and Sherk counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
O Darby misses with a jab to the body
and Sherk counters with a series of strikes. O Darby will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sherk fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. O Darby looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
O Darby avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sherk ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Darby just misses with a punch to the body.
Sherk waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract O Darby.
Sherk uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
O Darby throws a sloppy body shot
and Sherk counters with a nice uppercut.
O Darby misses with a wild combination.
O Darby misses with a body punch
enabling Sherk to counter with a crisp jab.
O Darby connects with a right hand. Sherk shakes it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Darby keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sherk.
Sherk works O Darby's body with a nice hook.
Sherk uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by O Darby.
Sherk throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
O Darby looks to score with a jab to the body but Sherk is just out of range.
O Darby showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sherk.
Sherk falls off balance throwing a combination
and O Darby counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sherk thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
O Darby swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sherk counters with a one-two to the body.
Sherk fakes high and swings low for a body shot but O Darby manages to avoid it.
O Darby throws a series of punches but Sherk avoids them all with ease.
O Darby avoids a punch combination nicely.
O Darby avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
O Darby cracks Sherk with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean Sherk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sherk has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 47:48
Judge William Gold scores the fight 45:50
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 47:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean Sherk!
Sean Sherk is the new featherweight champion!