PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matt Sherk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam McNugget (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam McNugget has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sherk
vs
McNugget

190 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matt Sherk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sam McNugget!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sherk avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McNugget avoids a kick to the body.

Sherk gets the takedown into side control.
McNugget manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sherk's best efforts.
McNugget trying to hold on to Sherk's head to control him but Sherk postures up.
Sherk seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Sherk trying to pass the guard but McNugget defending well.
Sherk thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Sherk postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for McNugget to stand up.
McNugget keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sherk really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sherk misses with an attempted mid kick.

McNugget gets the takedown into side control.
Sherk tries to buck McNugget off but McNugget is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNugget wants to control but Sherk is keeping him busy.
McNugget might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sherk kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
McNugget has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Sherk!
Sherk wants to get back to his feet.
McNugget content just to control the position here.
Sherk is squirming around, avoiding McNugget's attempts to control the action.
McNugget lands a big elbow.
McNugget trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sherk really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sherk throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Sherk is breathing heavily.
McNugget scoring with strikes but Sherk is staying in there.
McNugget wants to control the pace but Sherk is squirming around nicely.
McNugget is in the full mount, landing strikes.
McNugget trying to control but Sherk is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McNugget is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherk is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
McNugget scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sherk is in all sorts of trouble here.
McNugget is in the full mount, landing strikes.
BOOM! McNugget connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sherk can't escape the position.
McNugget has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McNugget working Sherk over with strikes here.
Sherk is desperately trying to improve his position but McNugget has a good base and remains in mount.
McNugget landing strikes from the mount.

That's four 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.

McNugget stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Sherk misses with a takedown

and McNugget counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sherk manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sherk wants to sweep here but McNugget controlling him for the moment.
McNugget wants to control from the top but Sherk keeps moving.
McNugget controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
McNugget postures up and lands a big shot to Sherk's brow.
Sherk will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sherk throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sherk keeping moving, preventing McNugget from controlling successfully.
McNugget works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam McNugget dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sherk bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Sherk creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Sherk has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
McNugget keeps the fight on the outside.
Sherk tries for a takedown but McNugget circles away easily

and McNugget counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sherk!
McNugget can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sherk is looking to escape.
Sherk is in a horrible position here. McNugget smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
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!
Sherk is in all sorts of trouble here.
McNugget trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McNugget prevents Sherk from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McNugget stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Sherk fails in his attempt to clinch.
McNugget with a poor takedown

and Sherk counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
McNugget regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sherk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

McNugget has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sherk can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

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

McNugget has his foot on Sherk's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sherk works his way back into a safe position though.
Sherk in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sam McNugget has got the better of the ground game so far.
McNugget preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherk throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McNugget wants to sweep here but Sherk controlling him for the moment.
Sherk cracks McNugget with a solid left hand.
Sherk distracts McNugget with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sherk stands up over McNugget, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sherk with a flurry of punches that miss.
McNugget working a defensive guard but Sherk passes into half guard.
McNugget trying to hold on to Sherk's head to control him but Sherk postures up.
Sherk is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
McNugget manages to get to full guard.
Sherk lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherk passes into half guard.
McNugget is looking to improve his position.
McNugget on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
McNugget is trying to stand.
Sherk is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for McNugget!
Sherk with a couple of short strikes.
McNugget wants to control but Sherk is having none of it.
Sherk lands a nice shot to the head.
McNugget wants to control but Sherk is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherk with the ground and pound from mount.
McNugget regains half guard.
McNugget is trying to maintain the position but Sherk is very close to passing his half guard.
McNugget slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
McNugget bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sherk's guard.
McNugget trying to control the position from guard on top but Sherk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McNugget distracts Sherk with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McNugget tries to free his leg and advance position but Sherk is retaining full guard.

Sherk looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Sherk dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sherk throws a body kick the misses

and McNugget counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McNugget trying to control from half guard but Sherk is working away.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. McNugget connects with a nice short shot to Sherk's temple.
Sherk is looking to get back to is feet but McNugget passes into side control.
Sherk tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McNugget sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Sherk is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
McNugget avoids the strikes from the bottom by Sherk.
Sherk manages to get back to half guard.
Sherk keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sherk pushes McNugget off looking to stand but McNugget dives back in and keeps control.
McNugget takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McNugget sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
McNugget needs to keep his hands up - Sherk had a free shot at his head there.
Sherk displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Sherk looks to clinch
and McNugget counters with a head kick. That will keep Sherk thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
McNugget takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
McNugget will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Matt Sherk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McNugget clinches but Sherk breaks the clinch

and Sherk counters with a single leg into guard. McNugget didn't expect that.
McNugget trying to control the position.
Sherk with a flurry of punches that miss.
McNugget 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.
Sherk postures up.

McNugget looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McNugget manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sherk manages to get himself to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McNugget forces his way into half guard.
Sherk is trying to get back to full guard.
Sherk misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Sherk slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sherk manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McNugget manages to get himself to full guard.
Sherk working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
McNugget manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherk looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
McNugget softening up his opponent with strikes here.
McNugget struggling to keep hold of the position.
Sherk is covering up but some of the strikes from McNugget are getting through and doing damage.
McNugget connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Sherk to escape the position.

Sherk defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of McNugget's arms.
McNugget really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Sherk.
McNugget lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Sherk hold on?!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNugget is hanging on to Sherk's back as he tries to escape.
McNugget trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Sherk rolls, trying to escape but McNugget keeps control of the position.
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.
McNugget lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by McNugget.
Sherk tries to escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sherk is keeping busy.
Sherk holding both McNugget 's hands and preventing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sam McNugget.
I think McNugget 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam McNugget!