PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shang Tsung (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean claude Sherk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tsung comes to the cage accompanied by Mortal Kombat Theme Remix. The key to victory for Shang Tsung has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Tsung
vs
claude Sherk

186 cm
23
199 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

175 cm
23
190 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shang Tsung!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jean claude Sherk!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sherk takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

It looks like Jean claude Sherk has been cut.
Sherk shoots in for a double leg but Tsung sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A punch combination from Sherk misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tsung.
Sherk on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Tsung in side control lands a decent elbow.
Sherk is looking to reverse the position.
Sherk trying to remain calm as Tsung controls from the top position.
Sherk is trying to control Tsung's posture but Tsung avoids it.
Sherk is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsung working away.
Tsung wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sherk keeps working.
Sherk manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Tsung is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Sherk!
Sherk tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tsung controlling from mount.
Tsung with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsung looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sherk is looking to improve his position but Tsung isn't that keen on the idea.
Tsung tries to control but Sherk wriggling away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tsung controlling his opponent.
Sherk is looking to improve his position but Tsung isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsung tries to control but Sherk wriggling away.
Tsung avoids the attempt from Sherk to control.
Tsung putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Tsung will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sherk sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Tsung seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Tsung working Sherk over with strikes.

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.
Sherk manages to get to full guard.
Tsung advances position into side control!
Sherk wants to get back to his feet but Tsung is dominant here and he's now got Sherk's back!
Sherk looks gassed!

Tsung moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sherk has worked his arm free - good work by Sherk!
Tsung in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tsung works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shang Tsung dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jean claude Sherk's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sherk gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tsung counters with a three punch combo that has Sherk backing up. Sherk nods at Tsung to acknowledge the strikes.

Sherk bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tsung gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Sherk is trying to work for a kimura but Tsung is defending well.
Tsung manages to get to full guard.
Sherk is fighting to break Tsung's control of his arms but Tsung is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Sherk is breathing heavily.
Sherk forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsung gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tsung looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sherk is one step ahead there.
Tsung is trying to keep Sherk in close.
Sherk stopping the sweep attempt from Tsung.
Sherk controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tsung holds on and takes a little breather.
Tsung wants to sweep but no luck.
Tsung controlling the position.
Sherk trying to control the position from guard on top but Tsung is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tsung not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Sherk postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tsung is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sherk, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsung trying to control but Sherk is working from the bottom.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Shang Tsung just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tsung.
Sherk gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tsung counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A punch lands to the side of Sherk 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Sherk fails with the takedown
and Tsung counters with an outside leg kick.
Shang Tsung has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean claude Sherk.
Sherk uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tsung.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherk tries for a takedown but Tsung circles away easily
and Tsung counters with a right hand to the body.
Sherk with a poor takedown
and Tsung counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sherk with a poor takedown
and Tsung counters with an inside leg kick.
Tsung scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Tsung lands a nice shot that snaps Sherk's head back.
Sherk shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Tsung counters with a nice uppercut.
Sherk gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Tsung counters with a single leg into guard. Sherk didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tsung is stalling in the full guard.
Sherk managing to control the position.
Sherk wants to sweep here but Tsung controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shang Tsung dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jean claude Sherk's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tsung lands with a nice body punch.
Tsung is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Tsung misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tsung lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tsung with a hook.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Tsung.
Tsung lands with a straight right. Sherk didn't see that one coming.
Tsung lands an overhand right.
Sherk tries for a takedown but Tsung circles away easily
and Tsung counters with a head kick.
Sherk shoots and misses
and Tsung counters with a straight right hand.
Sherk tries a head kick but it misses.
Tsung lands a head kick. Sherk smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sherk has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Tsung.
Sherk shoots and misses
and Tsung counters with a nice body kick.
Shang Tsung has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jean claude Sherk.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sherk takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sherk shoots and misses
and Tsung counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sherk thinking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsung feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sherk's calf.

Sherk shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tsung's guard.
Sherk looking to pass the guard.
Sherk would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sherk trying to control the position from guard on top but Tsung is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sherk must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sherk tries to free his leg and advance position but Tsung is retaining full guard.
Sherk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherk slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sherk fails with the takedown
and Tsung counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tsung. That's going to slow Sherk down.
Tsung thuds his right hand into Sherk's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tsung scores with a leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tsung.
Sherk takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Tsung drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sherk wants to control but Tsung postures up.
Sherk is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tsung is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sherk is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Shang Tsung overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sherk is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tsung wants to control but Sherk is keeping him busy.
Tsung taking a breather here.
What's Sherk going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.

That's four 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.
Sherk is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Tsung's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Sherk actively working from the bottom here.
Tsung is controlling the pace.

Tsung moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Sherk.
Jean claude Sherk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sherk manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shang Tsung showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tsung has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shang Tsung!