PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Asa Sharp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rich Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Sharp
vs
Junior

175 cm
29
168 lbs
20 - 8 - 0

175 cm
26
159 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Asa Sharp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rich Junior!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Junior attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Junior throws the kick towards the body but Sharp avoids it.
Junior shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sharp pinned against the cage. Sharp gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sharp dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sharp connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Sharp tries to sprawl but Junior drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Sharp trying to control from the bottom.
Junior tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sharp knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Junior is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sharp is trying to stand back up but Junior is controlling him
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Junior working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Sharp blocking the ground and pound attempt from Junior.
Junior is looking to take a break and control but Sharp is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sharp is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Junior pulls his head out easily.
Junior wants to free his trapped foot but Sharp is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Sharp is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Junior pulls his head out easily.
Junior looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Junior wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sharp keeps working.
Sharp is trying to maintain the position but Junior is very close to passing his half guard.
Junior prevents Sharp from standing back up.

Sharp looking for submissions off his back.

Junior is looking for a kimura here.
Junior slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior prevents Sharp from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Junior wants to control but Sharp is keeping him busy.
Junior working over Sharp with some ground and pound. Sharp looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sharp is trying to stand back up but Junior is controlling him
Junior seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Sharp keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sharp is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Junior's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Junior's back!
Junior rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Sharp blocks the strikes from Junior.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior is looking to improve his position.

Junior looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sharp drops an elbow to the side of Junior's head.
Sharp takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sharp connects with a nice short shot to Junior's temple.
Junior regains full guard. Nicely done.
Junior is trying to control the position but Sharp postures up.
Sharp stands up over Junior, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Junior trying to control the position.
Sharp advances position into side control!
Junior tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junior taking a bit of punishment here - Sharp scoring with strikes.
Sharp works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sharp is chipping away with strikes.

Sharp is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Junior knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sharp trying to control the position but Junior is working away.
Junior tries to bench press Sharp off him but Sharp keeps the position.

Sharp is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Junior is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Junior tries to bench press Sharp off him but Sharp keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asa Sharp dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sharp fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Junior manages to avoid it.
Junior throws a series of punches but Sharp moves out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Sharp misses its target.
Junior throws out a leg kick but Sharp moves out of range and Junior only half commits.
Junior fails to land the takedown.
Junior shoots for a double leg takedown but Sharp sprawls well. He's pushed Junior's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Junior drops his hands momentarily and Sharp takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Junior tries for a takedown but Sharp circles away easily
and Sharp counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Junior thinking.
Asa Sharp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Junior.
Junior misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sharp cracks Junior with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sharp takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sharp moves forwards but Junior connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sharp fails to land with a series of punches.
Sharp misses with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sharp doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharp leaves Junior with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sharp is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Asa Sharp is winning the standup battle so far.

Junior scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sharp has hold of Junior's hands but Junior slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Junior is trying to control. Sharp wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Junior missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Junior trying to control from half guard but Sharp is working away.

Sharp actively working from the bottom here.
Junior is looking to take a break and control but Sharp is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sharp tries to kick Junior off but Junior keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sharp is looking to improve his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Junior in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharp works his way to full guard. Good work.

Sharp escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Junior gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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

Junior wants to sweep here but Sharp controlling him for the moment.
Sharp throwing strikes but missing.
Sharp stays in close to Junior's body and controls the position.
Junior 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.
Asa Sharp overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sharp content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sharp trying to control the position from guard on top but Junior is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sharp has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sharp missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sharp is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Junior 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.
Sharp is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sharp wants to control from the top but Junior keeps moving.

Junior has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sharp can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharp stopping the sweep attempt from Junior.
Junior keeping full guard, as Sharp tries to pass.
Sharp postures up in Junior's guard and throws a big left but Junior blocks it.
Junior wants to sweep but no luck.
Junior working a defensive guard here.
Sharp is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Junior can do to turn this around?
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Junior manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sharp manages to get himself to full guard.

Sharp is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Sharp is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Junior is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asa Sharp dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Junior closes the distance and clinches.
Junior wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Junior jumps guard but Sharp stands there with Junior around his waist. Junior gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Junior lands a takedown into guard.

Junior avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sharp keeping moving, preventing Junior from controlling successfully.
Junior throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sharp tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sharp is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sharp working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharp keeping moving, preventing Junior from controlling successfully.
Junior scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Junior trying to control the position from guard on top but Sharp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Junior lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Sharp is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Junior defends well.

Sharp is looking for a triangle but Junior pushes his legs off easily.
Junior trying to control the position from guard on top but Sharp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Junior looking to sit in guard and control but Sharp gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rich Junior has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharp keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Junior's head.
Sharp postures up in Junior's guard and throws a big left but Junior blocks it.
Sharp sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Junior 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.

Junior looking for a guillotine here but Sharp defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sharp passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

Junior looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Junior is looking for a sweep. Sharp is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Sharp wants to work for an arm triangle but Junior is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Junior taking some punishment here, with Sharp in his half guard.
Junior wants to get back to full guard.
Sharp looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sharp trying to control from half guard but Junior is working away.
Junior tries to roll over but Sharp keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sharp is looking for a kimura but Junior is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sharp to get the leverage.
Junior scores with a few weak punches.
Sharp seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Junior does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sharp wants to pass the guard but Junior is defending well.
Junior is pressing down on Sharp's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sharp advances to half guard.
Sharp landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sharp is nestled in close to Junior, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sharp trying to advance position but Junior counters by regaining guard.
Junior trying to strike off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Asa Sharp showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Asa Sharp!
Asa Sharp thanked the fans post fight for their support.