PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Dalton (ranked 2828 p4p, 24681 weight class) and Alexander Shark (ranked 256 p4p, 379 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Dalton
vs
Shark

175 cm
18
144
2 - 0 - 0

160 cm
20
145
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Bondi MMA ðŸï¸

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Dalton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alexander Shark!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dalton tries for a takedown but Shark sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dalton keeps the fight on the outside.
Shark tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James Dalton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dalton swings for the body but Shark moves out of range.

Shark looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Dalton is refusing to be controlled, as Shark sits in half guard.
Dalton is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dalton is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shark pulls his head out easily.
Shark wants to free his trapped foot but Dalton is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Well, if Shark is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dalton is trying to get back to full guard.

Dalton looking for submissions off his back.

Shark is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dalton has managed to free his arm - good work.

Dalton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Dalton definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Shark is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Shark tries to stand and escape but Dalton is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Shark is looking for a kimura but Dalton is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shark to get the leverage.
Dalton tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Dalton moves into full guard.
Shark trying to control the position from guard on top but Dalton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Dalton is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shark defends well.
Shark pushing down on Dalton's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Shark is taking a breather. Dalton says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Shark passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Dalton!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dalton keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Dalton regains half guard.
Dalton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shark.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shark throwing shots but Dalton is blocking nicely.

Shark seems to be working for a kimura but Dalton defends the submission attempt.
Ground and pound from Shark.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shark is looking for a kimura but Dalton is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shark to get the leverage.
Dalton wants to get back to full guard.
Dalton tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Dalton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Shark is looking to advance position but Dalton won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shark is nestled in close to Dalton, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Dalton tries to roll over but Shark keeps him under control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Shark dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Shark darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Shark is keen to just control but Dalton is a slippery customer.
Shark is taking a breather. Dalton says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Dalton tries to get to full guard but Shark has control of the leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Shark in particular looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dalton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dalton wants to get back to full guard but Shark has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dalton tries to buck Shark off but Shark is having none of it.
Shark tries to stand but Dalton is controlling his head.

Shark is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dalton is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dalton regains half guard.
Shark uses his free foot to push down on Dalton's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Dalton.
Dalton regains half guard.
Dalton is looking to improve his position.

Dalton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shark content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Dalton looking for submissions off his back.
Dalton is looking to improve his position.

Dalton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Dalton is defending against the submission attempts here by Shark.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shark postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Dalton to stand up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dalton.

Shark shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Shark is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Dalton looking for subs off his back but Shark has passed one foot through into half guard.
Dalton works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dalton keeping moving, preventing Shark from controlling successfully.

Dalton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dalton looking for a sweep. Not yet Dalton, not yet.
Shark is looking to stand up but Dalton won't let him.

Dalton is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shark defends well.
Shark has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shark preventing the sweep.
Shark is looking to stand up but Dalton won't let him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Shark showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Shark gets a double leg takedown into Dalton's guard.
Shark looking to pass the guard.
Dalton has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Shark has passed into side control.
Shark gets to mount! Dalton was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Shark throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Shark sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dalton is desperately trying to improve his position but Shark has a good base and remains in mount.

Shark has hold of Dalton's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Dalton manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Dalton is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dalton wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Dalton is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Shark gets his way!

Shark is persistently looking for the submission but Dalton is defending it well.
Shark slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Shark is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Dalton has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dalton is in bad spot here.
Shark punches Dalton on the ear.

Dalton is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Well, with Shark on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Dalton is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
I really don't envy Dalton right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Dalton tries to break free.
Dalton tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Dalton avoids a series of strikes thrown by Shark.
Shark controlling the position easily from mount.
Dalton is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dalton tries to improve his position but instead Shark has taken his back!
Dalton rolls, trying to escape but Shark keeps control of the position.
Shark biding his time, controlling Dalton.
Shark throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Shark is hanging on to Dalton's back as he tries to escape.

Shark tightening his grip on Dalton, looking for the choke.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shark keeps control of the position as Dalton tries to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Shark comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Shark has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Shark!
After the fight, Alexander Shark was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.