PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luther King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sherman Tribbett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sherman Tribbett will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

King
vs
Tribbett

180 cm
24
204 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

195 cm
23
213 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Luther King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sherman Tribbett!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tribbett throws a head kick but King moves out of range.
Tribbett swats away the attempt to clinch by King.
King tries to bum rush Tribbett with a series of wild strikes but Tribbett uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tribbett throws a sloppy head kick and King moves out of range easily.
King tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Tribbett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
King lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Tribbett fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sherman Tribbett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tribbett misses with a head kick.
Tribbett looks for the body kick but King saw that one coming.
King moves out of range as Tribbett throws a body kick.
King throws a quick inside leg kick.
King closes the distance but Tribbett moves to the side

and Tribbett moves into the clinch.

Tribbett pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tribbett tries to close the distance and clinch but King swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
King stalks Tribbett and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tribbett's face. Tribbett staggers backwards, shaken.
King fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tribbett looks gassed!

Tribbett fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging King to the ground. Tribbett is now in King's guard.
King might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
King trying to control the position.
Tribbett prevents King from getting back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tribbett slips nicely into half guard.
Tribbett tries to pass the half guard into mount. King knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tribbett seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Tribbett stops King from getting back to his feet.

King looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tribbett wants to pass to mount but King is defending the position.
Tribbett seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King is trying to stand up here but Tribbett is controlling him well.
Tribbett slows the pace down in half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sherman Tribbett hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
King blocks a jab.
King tries to clinch up but Tribbett circles away and keeps his distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A thudding body kick lands there by King!
Tribbett avoids the head kick by King.
Tribbett tries to clinch but King moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Luther King will probably get the nod.
That's time! King's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

King shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Tribbett eats them both and turns towards King to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Tribbett instigates a clinch.
Tribbett drops down looking for an ankle pick but King pulls his leg out and moves away.
King lands with a straight right. Tribbett didn't see that one coming.
King misses with a double jab.
King tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tribbett paws at him with a jab and circles away.
King lands with a slapping head kick.
King avoids a punch combination nicely.
King misses with a head kick.

Tribbett has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

King pulls Tribbett into guard.
Tribbett looking to pass the guard.
Tribbett pushing down on King's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Tribbett lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Tribbett is looking for a kimura but King is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tribbett to get the leverage.
Tribbett is controlling the pace.
Tribbett is looking to stall here but King recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King is looking for a triangle but Tribbett pushes his legs off easily.
Tribbett trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
Tribbett is in close to King's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tribbett loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tribbett stops King from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tribbett controlling from the top position.
King looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tribbett is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tribbett controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sherman Tribbett hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Tribbett tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tribbett misses with a wild combination.
King throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
King wants to clinch but Tribbett slips to the side

and Tribbett counters with a shoot takedown. King fights it but they end up in guard.
Tribbett trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
Tribbett stands and throws King's legs to the side, diving into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An elbow from Tribbett crashes against the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sherman Tribbett showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

King scores with a head kick. Tribbett tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Tribbett misses with a double jab.

Tribbett pushes King up against the cage in a clinch.
Tribbett drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tribbett tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. King smiles and moves away.
Luther King is winning the standup battle so far.

Tribbett gets a clinch.
King is trying to push Tribbett away but Tribbett has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
King wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
King working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tribbett pulls guard.
King has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
King wants to stand and escape but instead Tribbett has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Tribbett stands and steps away. King gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
King throws a sloppy head kick and Tribbett moves out of range easily.
Luther King is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tribbett tries to clinch but King is having none of it.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by King!

Tribbett clinches up against the cage.

Tribbett breaks the clinch.
King throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
King fails to land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Tribbett darts in and clinches King up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tribbett gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tribbett frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
King is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tribbett lands a heavy elbow.
King wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Tribbett is landing with strikes from the back.
King covers up after that shot from Tribbett.

Tribbett is persistently looking for the submission but King is defending it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tribbett is looking for the choke from the back position but King is controlling his hands well.
King is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Tribbett.

Tribbett working for a choke but King is defending well.
You can see the frustration on King's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

King 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 Tribbett gets his way!
King prevents Tribbett from getting a body triangle.
You can see the frustration on King's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tribbett is working for a rear naked choke. King is not defending it well and Tribbett has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! King refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of King's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Sherman Tribbett!