PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Elijah Highlander (ranked 3939 p4p, 3853 weight class) and Leonel Sherman (ranked 390 p4p, 380 weight class). Sherman comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Lucky Me kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The key to victory for Elijah Highlander has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Highlander
vs
Sherman

178 cm
22
162
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
23
160
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very confident

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Elijah Highlander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leonel Sherman!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sherman is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Highlander's half guard.

Sherman is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Highlander defends it well.
Sherman wants to pass to mount but Highlander is defending the position.

Highlander is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sherman pulls his head out easily.

Sherman is looking for a kimura but Highlander is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sherman to get the leverage.
Highlander trying to control but Sherman postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sherman controlling the action here.

Highlander looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Highlander is trying to control but Sherman passes into side control!
Sherman working away.
Highlander looks to move to half guard but instead Sherman has passed into mount! Damn!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sherman controlling his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Highlander is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sherman looking to control but Highlander is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Highlander is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sherman avoids the attempt from Highlander to control.
Sherman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Highlander keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sherman controlling the pace for now.

Sherman working for a submission but Highlander is keeping him at bay.
Sherman with good strikes from the mount here!

Sherman is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Highlander to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Highlander shrugs it off.
Sherman putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherman controlling from the full mount.
Highlander is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Highlander manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sherman trying to control the action but Highlander is working from the bottom.
Highlander makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Highlander.

Highlander is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Highlander is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Highlander throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Sherman escapes and throws Highlander's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Sherman taking a breather here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Leonel Sherman dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sherman takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sherman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Highlander was well out of range. Poor timing from Sherman.

Highlander lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Sherman sprawling to the canvas. Highlander follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Sherman hang on?

Sherman is rocked!

Sherman is defending against the submission attempts here by Highlander.
Sherman is still in real trouble! Can Highlander finish him?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Highlander is looking for a kimura here.
Sherman seems to have recovered his senses.

Highlander trying to work for an americana but Sherman has managed to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Highlander manages to get himself to full guard.

Highlander is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sherman trying to control but Highlander is working from the bottom.
Highlander definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Sherman looking to sit in guard and control but Highlander gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sherman wants to hit a sweep here but Highlander passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Sherman there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Highlander working for a submission but Sherman is keeping him at bay.

Highlander working for a submission but Sherman is keeping him at bay.
Sherman wants to control but Highlander is having none of it.

Highlander working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherman is working to get back to half guard.

Highlander is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Sherman can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Sherman wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Leonel Sherman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sherman tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Sherman is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sherman tries to lock up and control but Highlander gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sherman can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sherman is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sherman is still trying to improve position.
Highlander moves to the back.
Sherman tries to escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Highlander is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Sherman is defending well though. Highlander let's go of the attempt for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Elijah Highlander dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Highlander misses with a body shot.

Sherman shoots in and gets a takedown into Highlander's guard.
Sherman trying to control but Highlander is working from the bottom.

Sherman stands up and waves to Highlander to follow him.
Sherman moves out of range of the strikes.
Sherman throws a head kick but Highlander moves out of range.
Highlander with a hook.

Highlander gets caught napping as Sherman dives in and scores a takedown. Highlander manages to retain guard.
Sherman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Highlander. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sherman trying to control the position from guard on top but Highlander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Highlander is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sherman defends well.
Sherman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherman's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Highlander is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sherman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sherman lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sherman trying to control the position from guard on top but Highlander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sherman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sherman showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Highlander is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sherman defends well.
Sherman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Highlander can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sherman controls the pace.

Sherman is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Highlander is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Highlander has escaped and now he's on top!

Sherman is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherman is trying to keep Highlander in close.
Highlander wants to control from the top but Sherman keeps moving.

Sherman is looking for a triangle but Highlander pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sherman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Highlander's guard.

Highlander looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sherman stays in close to Highlander's body and controls the position.

Highlander looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Highlander is looking for a triangle but Sherman pushes his legs off easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sherman content to stall in guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Leonel Sherman.
I think Sherman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonel Sherman!