PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Irek Ismagilov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Sharp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Ismagilov
vs
Sharp

178 cm
19
180 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
176 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Knockout power

Amped Performance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Irek Ismagilov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Sharp!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Alyssa Summers and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sharp misses with a lunging right hand
and Sharp takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ismagilov walks into a stiff left hand from Sharp.
Ismagilov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A nice side step and Sharp releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A punch lands to the side of Ismagilov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Sharp lands with a right hand.
James Sharp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sharp takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Ismagilov throws a right hand that Sharp ducks under and follows up with a left that Sharp also avoids with ease.
Ismagilov seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Sharp thuds a left hand into Ismagilov's body.
Sharp throws a jab but it's blocked by Ismagilov.
Sharp fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ismagilov misses with a body shot.
Sharp is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
A nice combination there by Sharp.

Ismagilov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismagilov throwing strikes but missing.
Ismagilov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Ismagilov wants to control from the top but Sharp keeps moving.
Sharp preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ismagilov preventing the sweep.
Ismagilov throws an elbow that misses. Sharp uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ismagilov's guard. Nice move by Sharp!

Ismagilov is controlling Sharp's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharp stopping the sweep attempt from Ismagilov.
Ismagilov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sharp is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ismagilov wants to sweep but no luck.
Ismagilov keeping moving, preventing Sharp from controlling successfully.
Ismagilov pulls Sharp in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ismagilov is on top in guard.

Ismagilov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Sharp looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ismagilov postures up.
Sharp has momentary wrist control but Ismagilov slips an elbow through the middle.
Ismagilov preventing the sweep.
Ismagilov with a nice head shot there.
Ismagilov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ismagilov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ismagilov throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ismagilov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ismagilov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ismagilov looking to sit in guard and control but Sharp gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ismagilov wants to sweep but no luck.
Ismagilov has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Sharp has passed into side control.
Sharp is looking to take a break and control but Ismagilov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Sharp 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.

Ismagilov swings for the body but Sharp moves out of range.
Sharp takes a swing at Ismagilov's ribcage but misses.
A little feinted left hand from Ismagilov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
James Sharp is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sharp ducks under a wild hook from Ismagilov.
Ismagilov walks into a jab.
Ismagilov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sharp sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ismagilov throws a lazy right hand but Sharp sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sharp throws a looping overhand right but Ismagilov ducks down to avoid it.
Sharp just misses with a punch to the body.
Ismagilov misses with a lunging right hand
and Sharp counters with a two punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sharp with a jab.

Ismagilov moves into the clinch.

Ismagilov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Sharp is trying to keep an underhook but Ismagilov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
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!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ismagilov throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sharp to regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismagilov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sharp works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ismagilov with a nice head shot there.
Sharp keeping moving, preventing Ismagilov from controlling successfully.
Ismagilov postures up in Sharp's guard and throws a big left but Sharp blocks it.
Ismagilov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ismagilov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ismagilov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ismagilov trying to control the position from guard on top but Sharp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ismagilov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ismagilov chips away with some ground and pound.
Sharp controls Ismagilov momentarily but Ismagilov frees himself.
Ismagilov won't allow Sharp to sweep him here.
Irek Ismagilov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ismagilov lands a couple of digs.
Ismagilov postures up in Sharp's guard and throws a big left but Sharp blocks it.
Ismagilov with a nice head shot there.
Ismagilov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sharp seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ismagilov distracts Sharp with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ismagilov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ismagilov throwing strikes but missing.
Ismagilov throwing strikes from guard but Sharp blocks nicely.
Sharp can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ismagilov controls the pace.
Sharp utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ismagilov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ismagilov throws a big elbow that misses.
Ismagilov is in close to Sharp's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ismagilov throws an elbow that misses. Sharp uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ismagilov's guard. Nice move by Sharp!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ismagilov controlling the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ismagilov is on top in guard.

Ismagilov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ismagilov works over Sharp with some ground and pound from guard.
Ismagilov working some strikes from top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ismagilov landing some decent shots from guard.
Sharp utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Irek Ismagilov dominated that second round.
That's time! Ismagilov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sharp fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ismagilov manages to avoid it.
Ismagilov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sharp manages to avoid it.

Ismagilov clinches up against the cage.
Ismagilov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ismagilov misses with the head strike.
Ismagilov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sharp.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ismagilov as Sharp tries to tie him up.
Sharp has Ismagilov pressed against the cage.

Ismagilov turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sharp is looking to regain half guard here but Ismagilov keeps moving and retains side control.
Sharp has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Ismagilov in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismagilov misses with the ground and pound.
Ismagilov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Sharp regains half guard there - taking advantage of Ismagilov's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Sharp blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ismagilov.
Ismagilov working over Sharp with some ground and pound. Sharp looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sharp wants to get back to full guard.
Ismagilov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ismagilov trying to control the pace.
Sharp trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ismagilov 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.
Ismagilov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sharp keeps working.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sharp can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ismagilov passes to side control.
Ismagilov throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Ismagilov lands an elbow.
Ismagilov is chipping away with strikes.
Sharp takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sharp taking a bit of punishment here - Ismagilov scoring with strikes.

Sharp is rocked!
Ismagilov in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Sharp looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Ismagilov turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Irek Ismagilov!
In his post fight interview, Irek Ismagilov started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.