PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Curtis Sharp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Doran Connell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Connell has chosen Rob Kelly - Rockstar as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sharp
vs
Connell

178 cm
26
176 lbs
15 - 9 - 1

184 cm
30
185 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Powerful

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Curtis Sharp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Doran Connell!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Eliza Hachem and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Connell wants to clinch.
Connell takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Connell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Doran Connell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Connell moves into range and clinches up with Sharp.

Connell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sharp swats away the attempt to clinch by Connell.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Connell!

Connell moves into range and clinches up with Sharp.
Sharp dodges an elbow strike from Connell.

Connell breaks the clinch.
Connell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sharp circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sharp keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Connell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sharp swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sharp keeps the fight on the outside.
Sharp throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Connell throws a head kick that misses.
Connell throws a head kick but Sharp moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connell throws a hook to the side of Sharp's head but Sharp sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Connell tries to clinch up.
Sharp avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sharp lands with a shot to the body.
Sharp misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Connell.
Connell takes one on the button.
Connell tries to clinch but Sharp is having none of it.
Connell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sharp swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sharp lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A shot to the body from Sharp misses
and Connell counters with a low kick, right behind Sharp 's knee.
Sharp thows a left - swing and a miss!
Connell throws a head kick that misses.
Sharp cracks Connell with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Connell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sharp paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sharp throws a shot from downtown. Connell moves away and avoids it.
Sharp lands a jab to the nose.
Sharp throws a jab but it's blocked by Connell.
Connell tries to clinch there but Sharp circles away.
Sharp keeps the fight on the outside.
Sharp avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharp cracks a nice hook into Connell's ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good standup being displayed there by Sharp as he connects with a hook.
Danga de danga de dang - Sharp scores with a four punch combination!
Connell wants to clinch up but Sharp keeps it at a distance.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sharp checks a leg kick.
Connell darts in trying to clinch
and Sharp connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sharp keeps the fight on the outside.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sharp.
Sharp throws a shot to the body.
Connell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Connell tries to clinch but Sharp is having none of it.
Sharp is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Connell is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Connell tries to clinch up.
Connell is looking to clinch but Sharp is avoiding it.
Connell tries to clinch
and Sharp counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sharp fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sharp looks to land a right hand but Connell moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sharp paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Connell walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Connell moves to clinch but Sharp breaks away

and Sharp counters with a takedown into side control.
Sharp looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Connell is avoiding damage well.
Sharp throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Connell works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Sharp is thwarting Connell's attempts to control the position.
Sharp not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sharp sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Connell defending well though.
Connell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sharp.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharp not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Connell taking some punishment here, with Sharp in his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sharp thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Connell's head.
Sharp passes to full mount!
Sharp fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sharp lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Connell hang on?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sharp looking to ground and pound but Connell is blocking nicely.

Sharp goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Connell turns into him and now he's in Sharp's guard.
Sharp utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Curtis Sharp dominated that 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.

Sharp avoids the head kick by Connell.
Connell throws a head kick that misses.
Connell slips a straight right by Sharp.
Connell doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sharp scores with a hook to the body. Connell takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Connell misses with a head kick.

Connell forces Sharp back against the cage and clinches.

Connell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Connell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sharp with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Connell tries to clinch
and Sharp counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Connell tries to clinch up but Sharp circles away and keeps his distance.
Connell is looking to clinch but Sharp is avoiding it.
Curtis Sharp is winning the standup battle so far.
Sharp misses with a straight left.
Connell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sharp ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Connell walks into a jab.
Sharp swats away the attempt to clinch by Connell.
Sharp throws the left hand but Connell avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharp shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Connell defends it nicely.
Connell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sharp paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Sharp clinches.
Connell lands an elbow just above Sharp 's eye.
Sharp tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Connell's elbow.
Sharp is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Connell breaks from the clinch.
Sharp lands a jab.
Connell tries to clinch but Sharp moves out of range.
Sharp misses with an uppercut.
Sharp scores with a crisp jab that stopped Connell in his tracks.
Connell wants to clinch up but Sharp keeps it at a distance.
Connell tries to clinch up but Sharp circles away and keeps his distance.
Sharp avoids the head kick by Connell.
Sharp avoids the head kick by Connell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharp swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sharp works the jab nicely.
Connell ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sharp swats away the attempt to clinch by Connell.
Sharp's jab looks to have found its range, popping Connell under the eye.
Sharp paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Connell tries to close the distance and clinch but Sharp swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Connell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Connell wants to clinch.
Doran Connell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Connell throws a right and a left that Sharp avoids nicely.
Connell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sharp manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sharp pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Connell on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Connell doesn't manage to clinch there - Sharp circles away.
Doran Connell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sharp blocks a head kick by Connell.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp feints and then cracks Connell's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Connell down.
Connell goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Connell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Connell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Connell doesn't manage to clinch there - Sharp circles away.
Sharp tries to land a leg kick but Connell saw it coming and moves away.
Sharp scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Connell doesn't seem bothered though.
Connell tries to clinch there but Sharp circles away.
Sharp scores with a one two! Connell had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Connell has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Sharp throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sharp connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sharp stuns Connell with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
No luck for Sharp with that takedown attempt.
Sharp connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sharp avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Connell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Connell clinches up with Sharp and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharp tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sharp tries a body shot but Connell blocks it.
Sharp scores with a shoulder strike.
Connell pressing his opponent against the cage.
Connell has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Connell has Sharp pushed against the cage.
Connell gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sharp throws an elbow that misses.

Connell manages to break the clinch.
Connell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sharp scores with a leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Connell tries to clinch up but Sharp circles away and keeps his distance.
Connell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Connell is breathing heavily.
Connell closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sharp counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Curtis Sharp dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Sharp keeps the fight on the outside.
Connell tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Sharp to counter with a crisp jab.
Connell throws a head kick but Sharp moves out of range.
A clash of legs there as Connell blocks the low kick.
Connell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Connell tries to clinch up but Sharp circles away and keeps his distance.
Good work by Connell as he checks the leg kick.
Sharp keeps the fight on the outside.
Connell throws a wild body kick that Sharp sees coming a mile off.
Sharp throws a wild body kick that Connell sees coming a mile off.
Sharp lands with an uppercut that bounces Connell off the cage and back into range.
Sharp keeps the fight on the outside.
Connell tries to clinch there but Sharp circles away.
Sharp avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Connell moves in looking to clinch but Sharp pushes him off.
Sharp is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Connell.
Sharp throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharp lands a body shot.
Connell wants to clinch up but Sharp keeps it at a distance.
Connell slips under a jab from Sharp.
Sharp swats away the attempt to clinch by Connell.
Connell wants to clinch

and Sharp counters with a single leg into guard. Connell didn't expect that.
Sharp stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Connell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sharp trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Connell seems keen to control Sharp's posture.
Curtis Sharp overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sharp pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Connell is keeping the position for now.
Sharp throws a strike but Connell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Doran Connell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connell wants to control from the top but Sharp keeps moving.
Sharp trying to keep a closed guard but Connell is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Connell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Connell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sharp is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sharp looking to hit a scissor sweep but Connell is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp keeping full guard, as Connell tries to pass.
Sharp is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Curtis Sharp is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sharp preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Connell trying to control but Sharp is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Connell moves in looking to clinch but Sharp pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sharp.
Sharp moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sharp fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Connell.
Nice defenses there by Connell.
Connell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sharp avoids the head kick by Connell.
Sharp tests Connell's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Connell closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sharp tries to break free but Connell pushes him back against the cage.
Sharp wants a takedown but no success here.
Sharp can't find room to land a body shot as Connell controls the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sharp manages to break the clinch.
Sharp circles away from the clinch attempt.
Connell throws a head kick but Sharp moves out of range.
Sharp uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Connell.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sharp misses with a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Curtis Sharp.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sharp, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Curtis Sharp!
During a confident post fight interview, Curtis Sharp thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.