PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sean Sherk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timmy OToole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sherk comes into the arena with Sean Sherk Entrance blaring out of the sound system. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sherk
vs
OToole

167 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Violent Snake (SALES !)
Superior Ki Supplements

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sean Sherk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Timmy OToole!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
OToole waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Sherk.
A big left from OToole misses.

Sherk scores with a takedown into OToole's guard.
OToole is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sherk is controlling him.
Sherk would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
OToole keeping moving, preventing Sherk from controlling successfully.
Sherk tries to free his leg and advance position but OToole is retaining full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sherk's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sherk wants to control from the top but OToole keeps moving.
OToole can't keep his opponent in guard - Sherk advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherk looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Sherk stands up out of the half guard.
Some wild striking there from OToole.
OToole scores with a punch to the head.

OToole clinches up with Sherk and pushes him back against the cage.
Sherk is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

OToole breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Sherk bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
An elbow from Sherk crashes against the mat.
Sherk throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and OToole works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Sherk not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sherk thows a huge punch but OToole dodges it nicely.
OToole keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sherk thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed OToole's head.
OToole gets full guard.
OToole keeping moving, preventing Sherk from controlling successfully.
Sherk could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sherk with a flurry of punches that miss.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jab, jab by OToole - just one landing.
OToole tries a low kick but Sherk avoids it.
Sherk circles away from the clinch attempt.
OToole lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sherk circles away quickly and effectively.
Sherk shoots for a takedown but OToole saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
OToole stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Sherk darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
OToole blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sherk.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherk slips a nice elbow through OToole's hands, connecting with OToole's forehead.
Sherk throwing shots but OToole is blocking nicely.

Sherk wants to work for an arm triangle but OToole is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sherk is breathing heavily.
Sherk thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Sherk seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead OToole has recovered full guard.

Sherk gets to his feet. OToole looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Sherk 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.

Sherk takes a jab right on the kisser.
OToole lands a head shot.
Sherk circles away from the clinch attempt.
OToole lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by OToole.
Donk. OToole catches Sherk right on the button with a cross.

Sherk is rocked!
OToole is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Sherk shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts OToole as he jumps to the side.
Sean Sherk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sherk gets a takedown into half guard.
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!
Sherk throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if OToole can do anything to dispel that myth.
OToole on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sherk throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sherk stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows OToole to get to his feet.
Sherk looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
OToole shoots for a takedown but Sherk saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sherk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
OToole closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sherk counters with a three punch combo that has OToole backing up. OToole nods at Sherk to acknowledge the strikes.
OToole avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
OToole tries to land a front kick but Sherk steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Sherk closes the distance and clinches.

Sherk breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Timmy OToole seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
OToole lunges at Sherk with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sherk's hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherk misses with a two punch combination.
Sherk slips under a jab.
Sherk shoots in and drives through. OToole sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Sherk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sherk has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
OToole keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
OToole swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
OToole shoots and misses
and Sherk counters with a series of strikes. OToole will be more careful next time no doubt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sherk steps to the side to avoid the strikes from OToole.
A punch combination from OToole misses.
Sherk on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Sherk shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sherk displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Sherk shoots in looking for a takedown. OToole tries to sprawl out of it but Sherk keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. OToole manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sherk dodges the punch combination from OToole.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OToole throws a leg kick but Sherk moved away.
OToole misses with a combination

and Sherk counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sherk is keen to just control but OToole is a slippery customer.
Sherk wants to free his trapped foot but OToole is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sherk is nestled in close to OToole, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sherk not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Sherk seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead OToole has recovered full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OToole working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sherk.
Sherk with a flurry of punches that miss.
OToole is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sherk lands a couple of decent looking shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sherk missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Sherk stands up from OToole's guard - Sherk perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sean Sherk will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

OToole gets caught flat footed, as Sherk shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sherk throws a strike but OToole rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
OToole won't allow Sherk to sweep him here.
OToole trying to control the position from guard on top but Sherk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
OToole postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherk throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Sherk throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
OToole preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Sherk moves into the clinch.
Sherk can't break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by OToole.
OToole is looking to break free of the clinch but Sherk has double underhooks.
OToole wants to break free but Sherk has control.
Sherk prevents OToole from breaking the clinch.

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.
Sherk is looking to break free of the clinch but OToole has double underhooks.
Sherk lands a right hand.
OToole is trying to maintain a safe position but Sherk gets an underhook and turns OToole into the cage.

Sherk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
OToole misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A combination from OToole does no damage.
OToole misses with a jab, cross combination.
OToole looks to land a combination but Sherk avoids it well.
Sherk misses with a two punch combination.
Sean Sherk is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
OToole tries to score with a low kick but Sherk moves his leg out of the way.

Sherk closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OToole trying to stall but Sherk improves his position.

Sherk breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sherk fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sherk throws a jab but it's blocked by OToole.
No joy there for Sherk, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sherk tries to close the distance and clinch but OToole swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Timmy OToole seems to be getting the better of the standup.
OToole motions for Sherk to come forward. OToole throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A combination from OToole does no damage.
OToole throws a leg kick that is checked

so Sherk counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sherk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
OToole really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sherk. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sherk works over OToole with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sherk decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
OToole throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Sherk shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in OToole's guard.
Sherk trying to control the position from guard on top but OToole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Timmy OToole has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Sherk decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Sherk will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sherk tries to clinch up but OToole circles away and keeps his distance.
OToole throws a one two combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean Sherk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sherk, 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean Sherk!