PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sterling Sharp (ranked 22902 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Smith (ranked 6748 p4p, 0 weight class). Sterling Sharp has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Sharp
vs
Smith

203 cm
19
161 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

190 cm
19
157 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sterling Sharp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Smith!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Saam Ante and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sharp avoids it really well and circles away.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sharp pinned against the cage. Sharp gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sterling Sharp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Smith.
Sharp leaves Smith with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith throws a lazy head kick

and Sharp counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Smith controls Sharp momentarily but Sharp frees himself.
Smith has momentary wrist control but Sharp slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Sharp is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith is trying to control the position but Sharp postures up.
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 postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Sharp decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Smith with a poor takedown

and Sharp counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smith won't be happy with that.

Sharp stands up.
Smith throws a leg kick but Sharp sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sharp really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Sharp.
Smith tries for a takedown but Sharp sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Smith looks winded!
Smith misses with a takedown attempt - Sharp sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Sharp looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sharp will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sharp accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sharp throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sharp throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Smith 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sharp connects with a couple of short punches.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sharp postures up and lands a big shot to Smith's brow.
Sharp is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sharp scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to control.
Sharp throws a big right hand that misses.
Smith is trying to keep Sharp in close.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sharp.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Smith working for a triangle but Sharp defends it easily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sterling Sharp dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smith doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sharp counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sharp.
Sharp 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.
Sharp is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?

Sharp decides to pull guard.
Smith being controlled here momentarily.
Smith really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sharp. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sharp manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

Sterling Sharp overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sharp lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Smith controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharp throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sharp connects with a couple of short punches.
Sharp with a nice head shot there.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Sharp is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sharp is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smith keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sharp is one step ahead there.
Sharp lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Sharp's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sharp fails in his attempt to clinch.

Sharp takes the fight into the clinch.
Sharp is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Sharp gets a trip takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sharp.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smith is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Smith is trying to maintain the position but Sharp is very close to passing his half guard.
Sharp throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.

Sharp has managed to clinch.
Sharp on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Sharp is trying to trip Smith. He has hold of a leg but Smith is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Sharp persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Sharp throws a big elbow that misses.
Sharp is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sharp loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Sharp gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sterling Sharp dominated that second round.
That's time! Sharp's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sharp defends it nicely.
Sharp tries to counter by clinching up but Smith breaks away and moves out of range.

Sharp instigates a clinch.
Sharp is trying to pull guard but Smith turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Sharp wants to get back to striking at distance but Smith won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sharp manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Sharp wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Smith must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sharp striking off his back but it's not causing Smith any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sharp keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Sharp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith won't allow Sharp to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Sharp gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smith displaying some good clinch control by pressing Sharp up against the cage.
Sharp is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smith is defending well.
A bit of stalling here from Sharp.
Smith with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Sharp has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Smith regains guard immediately.
Smith has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Sharp has passed into side control.
Sharp throws a strike aimed at the side of Smith's head but Smith avoids it well.
Smith looks to move to half guard but instead Sharp has passed into mount! Damn!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to hold on but Sharp pushes him away.
Sharp lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Sharp landing strikes from the mount and Smith is in trouble!
Smith in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Sharp prevents Smith from getting the reversal.
Sharp cracks Smith with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sharp has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Smith's face.
Smith tries to lock up and control but Sharp gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharp with the ground and pound from mount.
Smith is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The referee warns Smith that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee warns Smith that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Smith is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Smith tries to lock up and control but Sharp gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
John Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sterling Sharp is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sharp sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sterling Sharp showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sharp 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sterling Sharp!