PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stanley Sharpe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andrew Smith is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sharpe
vs
Smith

178 cm
22
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
26
170 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Stanley Sharpe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andrew Smith!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sharpe manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Sharpe takes the fight into the clinch.

Sharpe has hold of one of Smith's legs. Smith is fighting the takedown attempt but Sharpe gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Sharpe showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sharpe's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sharpe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith controls Sharpe momentarily but Sharpe frees himself.
Sharpe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Sharpe from controlling successfully.

Smith manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Smith tries for a takedown but Sharpe manages to get underhooks.
Sharpe's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Sharpe has had enough of the clinch but Smith keeps him there for the moment.
Sharpe using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Smith has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sharpe tries to circle away but Smith has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sharpe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Smith misses with a jab to the body
enabling Sharpe to counter with a crisp jab.
A punch combination from Sharpe misses.
Smith is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Sharpe tries a head kick but it misses.

Sharpe shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into 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!
Smith makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Smith.
Sharpe postures up.
Sharpe looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sharpe is one step ahead there.
Smith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sharpe manages to get himself to full guard.

Sharpe has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Smith working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sharpe throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Sharpe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sharpe knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Sharpe looking for a sweep. Not yet Sharpe, not yet.
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sharpe wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sharpe tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sharpe to the ground. Sharpe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sharpe instigates a clinch.
Sharpe misses with a knee strike.
Smith being controlled against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stanley Sharpe dominated that round.
That's time! Sharpe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sharpe feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Sharpe changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sharpe throws a big elbow that misses.
Sharpe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Sharpe throwing strikes but missing.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sharpe's guard.

Sharpe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Sharpe.
Smith cracks Sharpe with a solid left hand.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Smith chips away with some ground and pound.
Sharpe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith trying to control but Sharpe is working from the bottom.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sharpe trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Sharpe wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Smith looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sharpe is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Sharpe circles away and we're back to standing.
Stanley Sharpe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two 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.

Sharpe feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Sharpe changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Sharpe looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sharpe won't allow Smith to sweep him here.

Smith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sharpe defends well.
Sharpe trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharpe stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.
Sharpe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sharpe shoots in but Smith avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smith feints the counter takedown.
Sharpe fails with a takedown attempt.
Sharpe scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharpe tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown. Sharpe fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stanley Sharpe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sharpe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Smith drops back looking for a leg! Sharpe is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sharpe manages to kick Smith off! Smith jumps back into Sharpe's guard.
Smith working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Smith is in close to Sharpe's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Andrew Smith will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Smith misses with a body shot.
Sharpe shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Smith counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sharpe works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sharpe has control of Smith's left arm, preventing Smith from doing any damage.
Sharpe working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Sharpe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sharpe wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smith trying to control but Sharpe is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Sharpe.
Smith wants a takedown but no success here.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smith is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sharpe pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sharpe drops down looking for an ankle pick but Smith pulls his leg out and moves away.

Sharpe clinches.
Sharpe misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharpe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smith tries for a takedown but Sharpe manages to get underhooks.
Stanley Sharpe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrew Smith.
Sharpe prevents the takedown attempt.
Sharpe has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Smith after a bit of a struggle.
Sharpe has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Smith is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Sharpe breaks from the clinch.

Sharpe moves into the clinch.
Sharpe tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Smith changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sharpe fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sharpe fails to land the takedown.
Smith was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sharpe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Smith drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sharpe defends it well.
Sharpe shoots in but Smith avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Smith tries to clinch but Sharpe moves out of range.
Sharpe misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Smith stuffs the takedown.
Sharpe shoots in looking for a takedown but Smith manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sharpe's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sharpe doesn't manage to clinch there - Smith circles away.
Sharpe takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sharpe manages to avoid it.
Sharpe keeps the fight on the outside.
Smith tries to clinch but Sharpe is having none of it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sharpe.
Sharpe shoots for a double leg takedown but Smith sprawls well. He's pushed Sharpe's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Smith drives through with a takedown into Sharpe's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Sharpe controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith trying to control but Sharpe is working from the bottom.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrew Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smith 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Andrew Smith!