PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Edvard Grieg (ranked 1437 p4p, 210 weight class) and Asa Sharp (ranked 1114 p4p, 173 weight class). Grieg comes into the arena with In the Hall of the Mountain King blaring out of the sound system. Edvard Grieg has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Grieg
vs
Sharp

167 cm
21
172 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

183 cm
22
175 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Project Mayhem
IniTech Nutrition

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Edvard Grieg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Asa Sharp!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Reed Andrews and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sharp displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Grieg throws out the jab.
Sharp let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Sloppy strikes from Sharp. Those never looked like landing.
Grieg uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sharp.
Sharp just misses with a punch to the body.
Grieg keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sharp.
We've been hearing reports that Grieg has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Sharp misses with a right hand

and Grieg counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sharp keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Grieg throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sharp avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Grieg.
Grieg throwing shots but Sharp is blocking nicely.
Grieg lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Grieg throwing shots but Sharp is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grieg throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sharp is trying to stand.
Grieg wants to free his trapped foot but Sharp is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Grieg throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Grieg missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Grieg thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sharp is doing well to control the position and prevent Grieg from advancing to side control.
Grieg throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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.
Grieg passes to full mount!
Sharp is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Grieg thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Grieg sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Sharp slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sharp keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Grieg not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Grieg is looking to take a break and control but Sharp is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Grieg scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grieg throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sharp to regain full guard.
Grieg pushes down on Sharp's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Grieg uses his free foot to push down on Sharp's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sharp.
Sharp tries to hold on but Grieg postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grieg sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Grieg looking to ground and pound but Sharp is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grieg misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sharp blocking the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grieg avoids the attempt from Sharp to control.
Grieg thowing shots but they're missing.
Sharp blocking the ground and pound.
Sharp is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grieg throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sharp because Grieg loaded up on that one.
Sharp tries to hold on but Grieg postures up.
Poor strikes thrown by Grieg there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edvard Grieg dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sharp misses with a hook. Grieg ducked under it nicely.
Grieg fires out a quick counter leg kick but Sharp just manages to avoid it.

Grieg looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Sharp!

Sharp sneaks out the side door and pushes Grieg away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Grieg.
A big right from Sharp misses.
Grieg tries for a takedown but Sharp sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Sharp.
Grieg walks into a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grieg has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sharp.
Sharp throws a hook but Grieg blocks it.
Grieg appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Asa Sharp is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharp lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Sharp swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sharp swings for the body but Grieg moves out of range.
Sharp ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grieg moves away.
Sharp misses with an uppercut. Grieg saw that one coming.
Sharp cracks a nice hook into Grieg's ribs.
A jab from Sharp finds it's way through Grieg's defenses.
Sharp connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Grieg misses with a head kick.
Sharp misses with a looping left.
Grieg ducks under a wild hook from Sharp.
It looked like Grieg was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grieg takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sharp throws out a powerful jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sharp misses with a looping left.
Grieg is looking to clinch.
Asa Sharp seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sharp throws a left and a right that both miss

and Grieg counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Grieg.
Sharp avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Grieg throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Grieg makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Grieg throws a strike but Sharp rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Grieg tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Grieg might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sharp won't allow Grieg to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Grieg is on top in guard.

We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Sharp preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sharp avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Sharp preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Grieg postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Grieg trying to control but Sharp is working from the bottom.
Sharp preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Grieg missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Grieg in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Grieg throwing strikes from guard but Sharp blocks nicely.
Grieg has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sharp is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asa Sharp showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sharp misses with a body shot
letting Grieg counter with a right hand.
Sharp tests Grieg's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sharp stuffs the takedown.
Sharp lands a nice shot to the body.
Sharp throws a hook but Grieg blocks it.
Some wild striking there from Sharp.
Sharp misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sharp lands with a hook. Grieg tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sharp looks to land a right hand but Grieg moved out of range.
Grieg is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grieg lands a really nice looking cross but Sharp seems unphased.
Sharp is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Grieg.
Sharp misses with a right hand
and Grieg connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sharp is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Sharp keeps the fight on the outside.
Sharp with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Grieg.
Grieg looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Grieg is defended easily by Sharp.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edvard Grieg. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grieg swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sharp with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sharp misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sharp punishes Grieg's body with a nice straight punch.
Grieg tries a head kick but it misses.
Sharp connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Grieg's hands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sharp ducks under a wild hook from Grieg.
Grieg fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Grieg misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sharp.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grieg connects with a solid leg kick.
Sharp ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grieg moves away.
Sharp throws a body shot but no joy.
Grieg has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sharp finds it's way round the side to connect with Grieg's head.
Sharp tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Grieg was well out of range. Poor timing from Sharp.
Sharp throws a jab when Grieg was well out of range.
Asa Sharp seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Grieg displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sharp throws out the jab.
Sharp connects with a body shot.
Sharp lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Sharp swings for the body but Grieg moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grieg takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sharp fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Grieg looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Grieg tries to clinch up but Sharp circles away and keeps his distance.
Sharp looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Grieg tries to close the distance and clinch but Sharp swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Grieg blocks a head kick by Sharp.
Sharp rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Grieg counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Grieg misses the shot to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grieg dives in and grabs Sharp's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sharp pushes down on Grieg's head and hops out.
Sharp scores with a kick to the midsection.

Grieg closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sharp to the mat! Sharp manages to get full guard.
Grieg throws a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Asa Sharp comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sharp 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Asa Sharp!
A very excited looking Asa Sharp made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.