PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clive Sharpe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sharpe comes into the arena with What You Know - T.I. blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Sharpe
vs
Phoenix

210 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

194 cm
19
222 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

BHP's Shaolin Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Clive Sharpe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matthew Phoenix!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phoenix misses with a left hand
and Sharpe counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sharpe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Phoenix.
Phoenix swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Phoenix throws a head kick that misses.
Matthew Phoenix seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phoenix misses with a hook
and Sharpe counters with a series of strikes. Phoenix will be more careful next time no doubt.
Phoenix pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Phoenix misses with a body shot.
Phoenix tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sharpe lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Matthew Phoenix has been cut.
Phoenix lands a nice looking body shot.

Sharpe closes the distance and pushes Phoenix back into the ropes.
Phoenix tries to throw a body punch but Sharpe avoids it by throwing Phoenix back against the ropes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sharpe.
Phoenix lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sharpe or not.
Sharpe jumps guard but Phoenix turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Phoenix struggles to land a body shot inside as Sharpe controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix has a couple of punches blocked by Sharpe.
Phoenix throws a punch but it's blocked by Sharpe.
Phoenix fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sharpe blocking some punches.
Sharpe throws a head punch that misses.
Phoenix doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sharpe drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Phoenix gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Sharpe drags the fight down to the ground.
Phoenix showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix advances to half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Well, if Phoenix 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.
Phoenix has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Phoenix tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sharpe is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix controlling from mount.
Sharpe wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Phoenix.
Phoenix landing strikes from the mount.
Phoenix looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sharpe is wriggling around trying to escape.
Phoenix controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharpe throwing hammer fists to the chest of Phoenix. What's that going to do exactly?
Sharpe swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sharpe can't escape the position.
Phoenix content just to control the position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Phoenix dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matthew Phoenix's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Phoenix misses with a head kick.

Sharpe has closed the distance and engaged Phoenix in a clinch.
Phoenix misses with a body punch.
Sharpe fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A head punch on the inside from Phoenix fails to land.

Sharpe manages to break the clinch.
Sharpe slips a jab from Phoenix.
Phoenix misses with a straight right.
Phoenix scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sharpe bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Clive Sharpe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sharpe rushes Phoenix and presses him up against the ropes.
Phoenix lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Sharpe tries to land a knee to the head but Phoenix blocks with his arms.
Sharpe blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sharpe blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Phoenix digs a right hand into Sharpe's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sharpe's gas tank.
Phoenix fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sharpe jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Phoenix walks away with a smile on his face. Sharpe gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Phoenix sizes up Sharpe with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Sharpe tries to keep at a distance but Phoenix has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sharpe wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Phoenix has him pressed against the ropes.
Phoenix tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Sharpe pulls guard successfully.
Phoenix looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Sharpe has his foot on Phoenix's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Phoenix works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Sharpe throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Phoenix escapes and throws Sharpe's legs to the side, diving into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
A lull in the action here as Phoenix stalls from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharpe looks to move to half guard but instead Phoenix has passed into mount! Damn!
Phoenix sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Sharpe wants to control but Phoenix is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Phoenix sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Phoenix showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matthew Phoenix's cut.
That's time! Sharpe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Phoenix throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Phoenix misses with a body shot.
Sharpe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Phoenix thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sharpe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Phoenix digs a good body shot into Sharpe's ribs.
Sharpe ducks under a wild hook from Phoenix.
Phoenix tries a head kick but it misses.
Sharpe throws a nice looking combination but Phoenix bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Phoenix clinches up with Sharpe and pushes him back against the ropes.
Phoenix tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Phoenix lands with a right to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Phoenix.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharpe tries to circle away but Phoenix has him pinned against the ropes.
Sharpe is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Phoenix pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Phoenix doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Phoenix misses with a punch to the body.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Phoenix in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Phoenix can't find room to land a body shot as Sharpe controls the action.
Sharpe blocks a body shot from Phoenix.
Phoenix misses with a hook to the ribs.
Phoenix misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sharpe is trying to pull guard but Phoenix turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Phoenix misses with a punch on the inside.
Sharpe jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Phoenix walks away with a smile on his face. Sharpe gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Clive Sharpe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sharpe scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Phoenix scores with a hook to the body. Sharpe takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Phoenix is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Good standup being displayed there by Phoenix as he connects with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phoenix looks to score with a jab to the body but Sharpe is just out of range.
Clive Sharpe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Phoenix tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Phoenix swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sharpe blocks a head kick by Phoenix.
Phoenix punishes Sharpe's body with a nice straight punch.
Sharpe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Phoenix circles away quickly and effectively.

Sharpe closes the distance and pushes Phoenix back into the ropes.
Phoenix lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Phoenix lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sharpe backwards.
Phoenix tries to throw a body punch but Sharpe avoids it by throwing Phoenix back against the ropes.
Sharpe prevents a body shot from Phoenix.
Phoenix struggles to land a body shot inside as Sharpe controls his hands.
Sharpe jumps guard but Phoenix stands there with Sharpe around his waist. Sharpe gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Matthew Phoenix seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A right hook to the body lands for Phoenix.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix lands a body shot in the clinch.
Phoenix misses with some punches.
Phoenix can't find room to land a body shot as Sharpe controls the action.
Phoenix swings wildly with an uppercut but Sharpe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Phoenix has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Phoenix working aggressively here.
Phoenix lands a shoulder strike.
Phoenix tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Phoenix lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sharpe backwards.
Phoenix tries a body shot but Sharpe blocks it.
Phoenix throws a punch but it's blocked by Sharpe.
Phoenix misses with a punch to the body.
Sharpe is trying to pull guard but Phoenix has him pressed against the ropes.
Sharpe is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Phoenix.
Phoenix is working Sharpe over against the ropes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Phoenix working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Phoenix tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sharpe's elbow.
Phoenix lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sharpe.
Phoenix scores with a shot to the side of Sharpe's head.
Phoenix tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Phoenix lands with a short shot to the head.
Sharpe jumps guard but Phoenix stands there with Sharpe around his waist. Sharpe gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Phoenix tries a body shot but Sharpe blocks it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Phoenix throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sharpes head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sharpe.
Phoenix pushes Sharpe back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Phoenix misses with a shot to the kidneys.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Phoenix comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Phoenix 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Phoenix!
Matthew Phoenix took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, BHP's Shaolin Nutrition for their support in the buildup to the fight.