PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rosalio Elisa (ranked 3954 p4p, 4991 weight class) and Asher Sherman (ranked 0 p4p, 395 weight class). The key to victory for Rosalio Elisa has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Elisa
vs
Sherman

170 cm
17
160
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
155
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rosalio Elisa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Asher Sherman!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elisa cracks Sherman with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rosalio Elisa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Elisa tries to clinch but Sherman moves out of range.
Elisa tries to clinch there but Sherman circles away.
Elisa lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sloppy strikes from Elisa. Those never looked like landing.
Elisa wants to clinch

and Sherman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sherman.
Sherman stops Elisa from standing up.
Sherman working some strikes from top position.
Sherman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sherman controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sherman's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Elisa has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Sherman has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherman scores with punches from side control.
Sherman scores with punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Elisa is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Sherman asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Sherman is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Elisa will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Elisa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sherman wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sherman landing strikes.

Sherman has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Elisa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rosalio Elisa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Elisa tries to clinch but Sherman moves away

and Sherman counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sherman seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nice strikes from Sherman there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherman is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sherman working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sherman is controlling the pace.
Elisa tries to kick Sherman off but Sherman keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four 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.
Elisa is trying to control but can't.

Sherman stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
The fight stays on the outside here - Elisa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Elisa darts in trying to clinch

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Sherman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sherman advances position into side control!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Elisa being controlled for a moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Asher Sherman dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Elisa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Elisa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sherman just misses with a punch to the body.
Elisa is looking to clinch but Sherman is avoiding it.
Elisa scores with a body shot.
Elisa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sherman swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Sherman rushes Elisa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Sherman has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Elisa uses from the top position.
Elisa is fighting to break Sherman's control of his arms but Sherman is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Elisa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sherman on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sherman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Elisa manages to get himself to full guard.

Sherman slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sherman drops back looking for a leg! Elisa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Elisa manages to kick Sherman off! Sherman jumps back into Elisa's guard.
Elisa is trying to keep Sherman in close.
Sherman slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Asher Sherman has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.
Sherman slips nicely into half guard.

Sherman decides to stand and escape the position.
Elisa closes the distance looking to clinch

and Sherman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Elisa wants to get back to his feet but Sherman passes into half guard.

Sherman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Sherman escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elisa misses with a few strikes there.
Elisa tries to clinch

and Sherman counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sherman looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Sherman stands up from Elisa's guard - Sherman perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherman swats away the attempt to clinch by Elisa.
Elisa tries to clinch up but Sherman circles away and keeps his distance.

Sherman clinches up against the cage.
Elisa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Elisa swings wildly with an uppercut but Sherman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sherman blocks an uppercut.

Sherman lands a takedown into guard.
Sherman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Elisa wants to sweep here but Sherman controlling him for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Asher Sherman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sherman circles away from the clinch attempt.

Sherman throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Elisa was covering up waiting for the punch and Sherman finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Elisa is looking to stand back up but Sherman counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Elisa.

Sherman drops an elbow to the side of Elisa's head.

Sherman is working for a kimura but Elisa is defending it quite comfortably.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sherman looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherman slips a nice elbow through Elisa's hands, connecting with Elisa's forehead.
Sherman takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sherman takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sherman stalling.
Sherman frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherman controlling his opponent.
Elisa is desperately trying to improve his position but Sherman has a good base and remains in mount.

Sherman has control of Elisa's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Elisa regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Sherman looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherman scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sherman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Elisa is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sherman takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Elisa is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Elisa working to try and regain half guard.

Sherman throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Elisa has his hands clasped together but Sherman breaks the hold and Elisa is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Sherman!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Asher Sherman!