PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zabit Sharipov (ranked 2201 p4p, 249 weight class) and Tino Tropper (ranked 2021 p4p, 236 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sharipov
vs
Tropper

175 cm
26
152 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

177 cm
26
160 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zabit Sharipov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tino Tropper!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Michael Johnstone and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sharipov throws a shot from downtown. Tropper moves away and avoids it.
Tropper shoots in for a takedown but Sharipov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sharipov seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Sharipov pushes Tropper up against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sharipov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sharipov as Tropper tries to tie him up.
Tropper letting Sharipov take a breather here.
Sharipov scores with a nice hook to the head.
Still in the clinch, Sharipov scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tropper jumps guard but Sharipov stands there with Tropper around his waist. Tropper gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sharipov is pushing Tropper up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sharipov as Tropper tries to tie him up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharipov taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Sharipov - that landed with a thud.
Tropper is trying to pull guard but Sharipov has him pressed against the cage.
Zabit Sharipov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tino Tropper.
Tropper trying to control the position but instead, Sharipov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Tropper into the cage.
Sharipov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Tropper has had enough of the clinch but Sharipov keeps him there for the moment.
Sharipov lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tropper.
Stalling in the clinch from Sharipov.
Tropper is trying to maintain a safe position but Sharipov gets an underhook and turns Tropper into the cage.
The referee calls for Sharipov to work.
Sharipov gets through Tropper's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tropper is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sharipov is working Tropper over against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Sharipov.
Sharipov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sharipov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tropper or not.
Sharipov lands a body shot.
Sharipov lands a body punch in the clinch.
Sharipov lands with a light punch inside.
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!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sharipov.
Tropper stalling in the clinch but Sharipov improves position.
Sharipov pushes Tropper back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sharipov as Tropper tries to tie him up.
Sharipov lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharipov lands a shoulder strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sharipov lands with a right to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Sharipov.
Sharipov pressing his opponent against the cage.
Sharipov gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Sharipov has Tropper pushed against the cage.
Tropper has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Sharipov seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Tropper can turn it around.
Sharipov lands with a short shot to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sharipov.
Sharipov stalling the fight.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sharipov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Zabit Sharipov.
Sharipov scores with a nice head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tropper avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Tropper tries to keep at a distance but Sharipov has taken the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sharipov.
Tropper working hard to break the clinch.
Tropper is trying to stall.
Sharipov scores with a hook to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Sharipov.
Sharipov lands a left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tropper is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Tropper is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sharipov to keep the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zabit Sharipov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sharipov swings for the body but Tropper moves out of range.
Sharipov misses with a body shot.
Tropper with the counter takedown but Sharipov avoids it easily.
Sharipov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Tropper misses the target.
As Tropper tries to get set, Sharipov tries to push him back and clinch up but Tropper manages to avoid the attempt.
Tropper throws a lazy right hand but Sharipov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sharipov looks to score with a jab to the body but Tropper is just out of range.
Tropper missing with a left hand there. Sharipov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sharipov misses with a hook

and Tropper counters with a shoot takedown. Sharipov fights it but they end up in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sharipov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tropper.
Tropper scoring with some ground and pound.
Tropper stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sharipov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tropper sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tropper missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sharipov seems keen to control Tropper's posture.
Sharipov working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tropper works over Sharipov with some ground and pound from guard.
Sharipov has momentary wrist control but Tropper slips an elbow through the middle.
Tropper engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Sharipov controlling the position.
Sharipov is trying to keep Tropper in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tropper postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tropper sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Tropper trying to control the position from guard on top but Sharipov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tropper keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tropper drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sharipov defends it well.
Tropper bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tropper is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Sharipov looks to score with a jab to the body but Tropper is just out of range.
Tropper changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tropper misses with a hook.
Sharipov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tropper swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharipov wants to clinch up but Tropper keeps it at a distance.
Sharipov staying out of range there.
Sharipov seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Sharipov misses with a straight right.
Sharipov tries to clinch but Tropper is having none of it.
Sharipov tries to close the distance and clinch but Tropper swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tropper circles away from the clinch attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sharipov. Tropper does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sharipov moves away from the strike by Tropper.
Tropper misses with a takedown attempt - Sharipov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sharipov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharipov slips under a jab.
Sharipov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tropper defending well as Sharipov loads up on a big left hand.
Tropper swats away the attempt to clinch by Sharipov.
Tropper tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Tropper uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sharipov.
Sharipov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tropper with the counter takedown but Sharipov avoids it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sharipov misses with a straight right.
Sharipov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tropper.
Sharipov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tropper can do to turn this around?
Tropper throws a jab but it's blocked by Sharipov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tino Tropper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tropper dives in and grabs Sharipov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sharipov pushes down on Tropper's head and hops out.
Sharipov tries to clinch there but Tropper circles away.
Tropper tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Tropper throws a shot from downtown. Sharipov moves away and avoids it.
Tropper avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tropper uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sharipov.
Tropper feints the counter takedown.
Sharipov is looking to clinch.
Tropper slips under a jab.
Tropper pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tropper throws out a loose jab but Sharipov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sharipov wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Tropper throws a body punch but Sharipov moves out of range.
Tropper avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zabit Sharipov is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharipov misses the shot to the body.
Sharipov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tropper moves away.
Sharipov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tropper.
Sharipov wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Sharipov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tropper moves away.
Sharipov throws a hook but Tropper blocks it.

Sharipov has Tropper up against the cage in a clinch.
Sharipov scores with a hook to the body.
Sharipov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tropper is trying to pull guard but Sharipov has him pressed against the cage.
Sharipov presses Tropper against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Tropper is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sharipov is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharipov works on Tropper's body with a couple of short punches.
Sharipov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sharipov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tropper's efforts to push away.
Sharipov dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Tropper is looking to control Sharipov's arms but Sharipov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tropper has his back to the cage.
Tropper is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Sharipov has denied him.
Tropper is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sharipov to keep the fight standing.
Zabit Sharipov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tino Tropper.
Sharipov cracks Tropper with a nice body shot.
Sharipov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tropper jumps guard but Sharipov stands there with Tropper around his waist. Tropper gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sharipov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharipov is struggling to control the position.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sharipov.
Sharipov pressing his opponent against the cage.
Tropper is looking to control Sharipov's arms but Sharipov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tropper has his back to the cage.
Tropper is trying to break the clinch but Sharipov is controlling him.
Sharipov lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sharipov lands a body punch.
Tropper taking a breather.
Sharipov presses Tropper against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Tropper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sharipov throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Sharipov.
Sharipov scores with a shoulder strike.
Sharipov lands a hook that snaps the head of Tropper backwards.
Sharipov lands a body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sharipov.
Tropper is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sharipov is keeping busy.
A right hand to the body from Sharipov.
Sharipov stalling in the clinch.
Tropper being controlled against the cage.
Sharipov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sharipov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zabit Sharipov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sharipov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zabit Sharipov!
A relieved looking Zabit Sharipov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.