PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Newton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Sherk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sherk has chosen Champions as his entrance music. Shawn Sherk has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Newton
vs
Sherk

185 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jimmy Newton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shawn Sherk!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sherk shoots in and gets a takedown into Newton's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Newton wants to stand but Sherk is controlling the position.
Sherk trying to control the position from guard on top but Newton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Newton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Newton wants to stand and escape but Sherk is having none of it.
Sherk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Newton pushes Sherk off and scrambles back to his feet.
Sherk fails with a takedown attempt.

Sherk gets tackled into the cage by Newton. Newton maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newton tries to circle away but Sherk has him pinned against the cage.

Sherk manages to break the clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Newton enables Sherk to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Newton manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Newton is trying to control the position but Sherk postures up.

Sherk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sherk tries to free his leg and advance position but Newton is retaining full guard.

Newton 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.
Newton trying to keep a closed guard but Sherk is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton trying to strike off his back.
Sherkis looking to pass into half guard but Newton pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Newton is in guard.
Newton stopping the sweep attempt from Sherk.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sherk manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Newton keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newton is working hard here to advance position.
Sherk controlling his opponent.
Let's hope that Sherk has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Sherk jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Newton manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sherk decides to stand back up. Sherk steps back and let's Newton get back to his feet.

Sherk closes the distance and clinches.

Sherk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Sherk gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Newton has hold of one of Sherk's legs. Sherk is fighting the takedown attempt but Newton gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Newton gets to his feet. Sherk looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Newton is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Newton shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sherk manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Newton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
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 Jimmy Newton will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sherk scores with a takedown into Newton's guard.
Newton is trying to hold Sherk in close to prevent damage but Sherk has managed to pass into half guard.
Sherk keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Newton has hold of Sherk's hands but Sherk slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Newton wants to get back to full guard.
Newton is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sherk uses his free foot to push down on Newton's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Newton.
Newton's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newton really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
A nice elbow there by Sherk.

Sherk moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Newton has worked his arm free - good work by Newton!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sherk is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Newton has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sherk lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Newton down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherk advances to mount.
A nice elbow there by Sherk.

Sherk is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Newton has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Newton is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Sherk is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Newton to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Newton shrugs it off.
Newton is desperately trying to improve his position but Sherk has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sherk goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Newton is on top in guard.
Newton with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sherk looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sherk looking to control.
Newton sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sherk's guard.
Newton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Newton trying to control from half guard but Sherk is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Newton is going to stand back up.
Sherk makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sherk.
Sherk keeping full guard, as Newton tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sherk is pulling down on Newton's head. It's preventing any offense from Newton, at least for the moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Newton wants to control from the top but Sherk keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Sherk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Newton scores with a takedown into Sherk's guard.
Sherk keeping full guard, as Newton tries to pass.
Sherk is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Newton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Newton throwing strikes from guard but Sherk blocks nicely.
Sherk keeping moving, preventing Newton from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherk is looking to stand up but Newton isn't so interested in that idea.
Sherk is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Sherk is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Sherk escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Newton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sherk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Newton wants to control from the top but Sherk keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newton controls from within his opponent's guard.
Newton lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Sherk had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Newton defends it easily.
Newton controls from within his opponent's guard.
Newton looking to sit in guard and control but Sherk gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sherk must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Newton working for submissions but it's allowed Sherk to get to half guard.
Newton keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sherk throwing shots but Newton is blocking nicely.
Sherk lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newton punching from the bottom.
Sherk is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Newton reverses the position - he's now on top in Sherk's guard.
Sherk keeping moving, preventing Newton from controlling successfully.
Newton wants to pass the guard but Sherk is keeping the position.

Newton decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Sherk keeps the fight on the outside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jimmy Newton showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Newton 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jimmy Newton!