PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Scott Sharp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Scott Sharp has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sharp
vs
Oliveira

164 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Scott Sharp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Oliveira!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Daniel Cesar and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oliveira throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Oliveira shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sharp manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Oliveira with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sharp is trying to keep Oliveira in close.

Oliveira got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sharp has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Oliveira has managed to get both his arms back between Sharp's legs - danger averted.
Oliveira controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oliveira tries to free his leg and advance position but Sharp is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira 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.
Oliveira postures up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sharp throws a low kick but Oliveira moves out of range easily.
Oliveira misses with a kick to the body.

Oliveira drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Sharp throws Oliveira to one side and escapes!
Oliveira throws a head kick but Sharp moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sharp tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Oliveira defends well and Sharp ends up having to push Oliveira into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Oliveira takes the fight into the clinch.
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!
Sharp drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sharp is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Scott Sharp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sharp keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Oliveira's efforts to push away.
Sharp tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Oliveira just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sharp fails to pull guard.
Oliveira will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sharp up against the cage.
Oliveira wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira can't break the clinch.

Oliveira pulls Sharp into guard.
Oliveira is looking to stand up but Sharp isn't so interested in that idea.
Sharp throwing strikes from guard but Oliveira blocks nicely.
Oliveira pulls Sharp in close to prevent any damage.

Oliveira is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sharp is aware though and is defending well.

Oliveira is looking for a triangle here but Sharp uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Oliveira tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Sharp easily slips into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Oliveira 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.

Oliveira dives in and scores a takedown into Sharp's guard.

Sharp has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Oliveira has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Oliveira is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Oliveira has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Sharp regains guard immediately.

Sharp has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Oliveira off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Oliveira is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Oliveira shoots in and bounces Sharp off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Oliveira trying to control the position from guard on top but Sharp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sharp is looking for a triangle but Oliveira pushes his legs off easily.

Sharp is looking for a triangle but Oliveira pushes his legs off easily.
Sharp throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Oliveira must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Oliveira throws a strike but Sharp rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Oliveira is pulling down on Sharp's head to control his posture.
Oliveira working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sharp.

Oliveira is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Sharp letting Oliveira take a breather here.
Sharp jumps guard but Oliveira stands there with Sharp around his waist. Sharp gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sharp tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp is trying to pull guard but Oliveira has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Scott Sharp. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Oliveira has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sharp wants a takedown.
Oliveira lands a nice uppercut.
Sharp fails to pull guard.

Oliveira gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Oliveira is standing up over Sharp. Sharp looks to escape but Oliveira dives into side control.
Rafael Oliveira has got the better of the ground game so far.

Oliveira is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sharp is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
A lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharp tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Oliveira wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sharp is trying to buck Oliveira off.
Oliveira takes a little break here. Sharp wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oliveira working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rafael Oliveira will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Oliveira shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sharp is trying to defend but Oliveira finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Oliveira seems to be working for a kimura but Sharp defends the submission attempt.

Oliveira stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Sharp to get to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Oliveira fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sharp to the ground. Oliveira is now in Sharp's guard.

Sharp wriggles free and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Oliveira shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sharp is trying to defend but Oliveira finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Oliveira trying to control from Sharp's half guard. Sharp has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Sharp can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Oliveira controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharp working a defensive guard here.

Oliveira decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Oliveira cracks Sharp with a right hand to the side of the head.

Oliveira throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sharp tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Oliveira is in Sharp's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp wants to hit a switch here but Oliveira passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Sharp there!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Oliveira looking to control and managing it successfully.

Oliveira moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sharp has worked his arm free - good work by Sharp!
Oliveira misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

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.
Sharp takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sharp prevents Oliveira from moving into mount.

Oliveira stands up and beckons Sharp to his feet.
Sharp fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Oliveira drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sharp regains half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Oliveira thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Scott Sharp has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafael Oliveira is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Oliveira decides to stand and escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Oliveira comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Oliveira 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Oliveira!