PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Toth Orion (ranked 2582 p4p, 3296 weight class) and Bill Sherman (ranked 328 p4p, 409 weight class). Sherman has chosen Thank God I'm a Country Boy as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Orion
vs
Sherman

194 cm
21
195
2 - 2 - 0

186 cm
21
188
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Toth Orion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bill Sherman!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Chris Dean and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sherman throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Toth Orion has been cut.
Orion waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sherman.
Sherman throws a fast counter high kick but Orion manages to duck under it in time.
Orion misses with a head kick.

Sherman closes the distance and clinches.

Orion manages to pull guard.
Orion is trying to keep Sherman in close.
Sherman seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Orion throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Orion has momentary wrist control but Sherman slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orion utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Sherman decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Orion, up you get!
Orion lands with an uppercut that bounces Sherman off the cage and back into range.

Sherman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Orion, pushing him back against the cage.
I was talking to Orion's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sherman.
Sherman landing knees to the body.
Orion is working for takedown but Sherman is calmly controlling the position for now.
Orion is breathing heavily.
Sherman using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Orion has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Orion goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sherman prevents it.
Orion is trying to pull guard but Sherman turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toth Orion. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sherman misses with an elbow strike.
Sherman missing with knees to the body.
Sherman landing knees to the body.
Orion is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sherman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sherman connects with a nasty looking knee right to Orion's face.
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!
Sherman with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherman lands an elbow inside.
A knee to the head by Sherman.
Sherman landing knees to the head.
Sherman lands a nice knee to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sherman - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sherman working Orion over with knees to the body.
Sherman tries a knee to the head but Orion blocks it.
Sherman is stalling here.
Orion fails to pull guard.
Sherman lands a knee to the head.
Sherman tries to land a knee to the head but Orion blocks with his arms.
Sherman unloads a knee to the mid-section. Orion lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sherman unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Sherman tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sherman with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Orion takes a knee right on the jaw!

Orion is rocked!
Orion takes a knee to the side of the body.
Sherman working Orion over with knees to the body.
Sherman with a knee to the head.
Oh Orion is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Sherman obliges.
Sherman tries a knee to the head but Orion blocks it.
Orion seems to have got his legs back now.
Sherman gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sherman is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Sherman has Orion pressed up against the cage in a tight Thai clinch. Orion is arching his back, trying to avoid the knees but a big one sneaks through from Sherman - that's hurt Orion badly! Oh, another knee lands and Orion is covering up! The referee steps in to save him - possibly a bit early but Orion doesn't seem to be complaining.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Bill Sherman!
In his post fight interview, Bill Sherman started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.