PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blake Phoenix (ranked 986 p4p, 147 weight class) and Rohith Sharma (ranked 1043 p4p, 156 weight class). Blake Phoenix has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Phoenix
vs
Sharma

194 cm
21
206 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

192 cm
20
224 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blake Phoenix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rohith Sharma!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Summer Carpenter and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phoenix on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Phoenix scores with a jab.
Sharma fakes the leg kick and cracks Phoenix in the body.
Sharma fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Phoenix tests Sharma's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sharma tries to score with a low kick but Phoenix moves his leg out of the way.
Good leg kick by Sharma there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Phoenix misses with a straight right.
Phoenix looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Phoenix misses with a wild body shot.
A big left from Phoenix misses.
Phoenix moves out of range of the body kick.
Phoenix throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sharma counters with a head kick. That will keep Phoenix thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A slow jab from Sharma misses its intended target.
Phoenix uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sharma.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sharma throws the kick towards the body but Phoenix avoids it.
A head kick misses from Sharma.
Sharma misses with a wild body shot.
Phoenix takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sharma uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Phoenix.
Phoenix lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharma lands a jab to Phoenix's midsection.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Sharma.
Sharma lands a right hook to the body.
Phoenix clobbers Sharma with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Sharma takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sharma slips under a jab from Phoenix.
Phoenix misses the jab.
Sharma ducks under a wild hook from Phoenix.
Nice uppercut there from Sharma.
Sharma misses with a head kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sharma. That's going to slow Phoenix down.
Phoenix listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Phoenix throws a hook but Sharma avoids it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sharma ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sharma scores with a push kick.
Phoenix keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sharma slips under a jab.
Phoenix ducks under a wild hook from Sharma.
Phoenix is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix checks a leg kick.
Nice uppercut lands for Phoenix. That snapped Sharma's head back.
Sharma fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Phoenix.
Phoenix scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Phoenix waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sharma.
Sharma flicks out a counter leg kick but Phoenix steps away.
Sharma shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Phoenix throws a predictable looking body shot
and Sharma counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sharma takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Phoenix misses with a straight right.
Phoenix takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Phoenix blocks a head kick by Sharma.
Sharma takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sharma wants to clinch up but Phoenix keeps it at a distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sharma. Phoenix does a little dance to reset his feet.
Phoenix connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sharma momentarily.
Phoenix moves out of range as Sharma strikes.
Sharma keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sharma misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharma throws a nice looking combination but Phoenix bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sharma throws a low kick but Phoenix avoids it.
Rohith Sharma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phoenix misses the jab.
Sharma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Phoenix throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sharma throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Phoenix throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Phoenix is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
An inside leg kick lands from Sharma.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sharma displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Phoenix throws out the jab.
A little jabbing left from Sharma on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Phoenix uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sharma.
Phoenix needs to keep his hands up - Sharma had a free shot at his head there.
Sharma pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A big left from Sharma misses.
Phoenix waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sharma.
Phoenix's corner calls for a 1-2. Phoenix obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sharma works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sharma avoids the body shot from Phoenix.
Phoenix lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sharma at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Phoenix moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Phoenix walks into a straight right hand from Sharma.
Phoenix with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sharma to score with a decent uppercut.
Sharma takes a jab right on the kisser.
Phoenix throws an overhand right that lands on Sharma's shoulder, as Sharma tries to avoid the shot.
Sharma uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Phoenix.
Phoenix cracks Sharma with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sharma staying out of range there.
Sharma throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Phoenix throws a jab but it's blocked by Sharma.
Phoenix throws a body shot but no joy.
Phoenix misses with a wild body shot.
Phoenix throws the left hand but Sharma avoids the punch easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sharma throws a shot to the body.
Sharma moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sharma misses with a leg kick.
Phoenix throws a body punch but Sharma moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rohith Sharma will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Phoenix misses with an uppercut.
Sharma swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Phoenix connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Phoenix works Sharma's body with a nice hook.
Sharma ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Phoenix moves away.
Phoenix misses with a hook. Sharma ducked under it nicely.
Phoenix throws a big shot that misses.
Sharma fails in his attempt to clinch.
Phoenix slips a jab from Sharma.
Sharma looks to land a right hand but Phoenix moved out of range.
Sharma displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Phoenix throws out the jab.
A nice side step and Sharma releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Blake Phoenix is winning the standup battle so far.
Phoenix misses with a body shot.
Phoenix lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sharma misses with a hook.
Phoenix uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sharma.
A counter left hand to the body from Phoenix misses its target.
Sharma throws a hook but Phoenix avoids it easily.
Phoenix stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sharma.
Nice uppercut there from Phoenix.
Sharma just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharma throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Phoenix fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sharma tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Phoenix was well out of range. Poor timing from Sharma.
Sharma moves out of range as Phoenix strikes.
A head kick misses from Sharma.
It looked like Phoenix was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Sharma.
A punch lands to the side of Sharma 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Sharma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Phoenix keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Phoenix misses with a looping right.
Sharma tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sharma misses with a looping left.
Phoenix is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sharma.
Phoenix cracks Sharma with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Sharma throws a low kick but Phoenix avoids it.
A head kick misses from Sharma.
Nice shot lands for Phoenix.
Sharma connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sharma displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Phoenix throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sharma scores with a punch to the head.
Sharma avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Phoenix thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sharma throws a solid leg kick but Phoenix takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Sharma.
Phoenix throws a shot to the body.
Sharma throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A left lands for Sharma.
Phoenix swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Phoenix misses with an uppercut.
Sharma misses with a shot to the body
enabling Phoenix to counter with a crisp jab.
Phoenix scores with a jab.
Phoenix takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Phoenix misses with a hook.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Sharma displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Phoenix throws out the jab.
Phoenix moves out of range of the body kick.
Sharma loads up on a big right hand but Phoenix slips the punch.
Phoenix swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharma scores with a nice strike.
Sharma swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sharma on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Sharma shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Phoenix is looking to counter punch.
Good standup being displayed there by Phoenix as he connects with a hook.
Phoenix takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Phoenix lands a right hook to the body.
Sharma has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Phoenix scores with a shot to the body.
Phoenix connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Sharma lands a nice shot to the body.
Phoenix throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sharma scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sharma throws a head kick but Phoenix moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Phoenix misses the target.
A thudding body kick lands there by Sharma!
Sharma ducks under a wild hook from Phoenix.
Phoenix throws a hook but Sharma avoids it easily.
It seemed like Sharma was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sharma ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix throws the left hand but Sharma avoids the punch easily.
Sharma is looking for the big counter here.
Sharma tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Phoenix manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sharma lands with a thumping leg kick.
Phoenix misses with a looping right.
Sharma walks into a straight right hand from Phoenix.
Sharma swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Phoenix misses with an uppercut. Sharma saw that one coming.
Sharma throws a body shot but no joy.
It looked like Phoenix wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Phoenix bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Sharma keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Phoenix.
Phoenix ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sharma moves away.
Phoenix throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Phoenix throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sharma lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Phoenix has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Phoenix and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Sharma throws a shot to the body.
Sharma misses with a jab to the body
and Sharma takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sharma lands a leg kick that knocks Phoenix off balance momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Phoenix dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Phoenix ducks under a wild hook from Sharma.
Phoenix stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Phoenix throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Phoenix swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sharma ducks under a wild hook from Phoenix.
Sharma throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circling - Phoenix throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sharma takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Phoenix misses with a straight right.
Phoenix takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sharma throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sharma uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Phoenix.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sharma throws a poor cross that misses
and Phoenix counters with a nice uppercut.
Sharma darts in trying to clinch
and Phoenix counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sharma lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix cracks Sharma with a right hand to the side of the head.
Phoenix misses with an uppercut. Sharma saw that one coming.
Sharma thows a body kick. Phoenix tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Phoenix missing with a left hand there. Sharma was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sharma throws a lazy body kick
and Phoenix counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sharma tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Phoenix counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Phoenix will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
A big left from Phoenix misses.
Sharma tries to land a front kick but Phoenix steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sharma takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sharma misses with a body shot
letting Phoenix counter with a right hand.
Sharma misses with an attempted mid kick.
Phoenix uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sharma.
Phoenix moves out of range of the strikes.
Phoenix misses with a looping left.
Phoenix misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sharma.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Phoenix.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Phoenix lands a jab to the head.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Phoenix crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Sharma - the referee stops the clock and Phoenix gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Sharma. Phoenix manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Sharma misses the shot to the body.
It looked like Phoenix wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Phoenix lands a slapping body shot.
Phoenix lands a jab to the head.
Phoenix punishes Sharma's body with a nice straight punch.
Phoenix walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A slow jab from Phoenix misses its intended target.
Sharma slips under a jab.
Sharma throws a looping overhand right but Phoenix ducks down to avoid it.
Sharma with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Phoenix is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sharma.
Phoenix misses with a looping right.
That kick from Sharma tenderised Phoenix's leg. Phoenix is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sharma with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Phoenix checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix avoids the body shot from Sharma.
Sharma wants to land a leg kick but Phoenix is out of range.
Phoenix drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nice defenses there by Phoenix.
Sharma moves out of range as Phoenix strikes.
Sharma is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Phoenix blocks a leg kick.
Sharma misses with a looping right.
Phoenix looks to land a right hand but Sharma moved out of range.
Sharma pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Phoenix lands a jab to the head.
Sharma takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Phoenix ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sharma bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Phoenix throws an overhand right that lands on Sharma's shoulder, as Sharma tries to avoid the shot.
Sharma uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Phoenix.
Nice shot lands for Phoenix.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Phoenix throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Phoenix looks to land a right hand but Sharma moved out of range.
Phoenix cracks Sharma with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Phoenix throws a looping overhand right but Sharma ducks down to avoid it.
A clash of legs there as Phoenix blocks the low kick.
Sharma throws a leg kick but Phoenix sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sharma misses with a straight right.
Good standup being displayed there by Sharma as he connects with a hook.
Phoenix lands a jab to Sharma's midsection.
Sharma throws a looping overhand right but Phoenix ducks down to avoid it.
Phoenix checks a low kick from Sharma.
Sharma wants to slow Phoenix down by chopping away at his legs.
Phoenix uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sharma.
Phoenix throws a body punch but Sharma moves out of range.
Phoenix tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Phoenix blocks a head kick by Sharma.
Sharma moves away from the strike by Phoenix.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake Phoenix showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Phoenix 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28

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