PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Sherk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladivar Zubrowka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Sherk
vs
Zubrowka

179 cm
20
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

177 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Sherk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Vladivar Zubrowka!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sherk will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zubrowka moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
No joy there for Zubrowka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zubrowka lands with a thumping leg kick.
A punch combination from Zubrowka misses.
Zubrowka fails with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Zubrowka.
Zubrowka moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zubrowka tries a head kick but it misses.
Zubrowka connects with a high kick.
Zubrowka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zubrowka misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice sprawl there from Zubrowka as Sherk shoots in.
Zubrowka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Sherk.
Sherk cracks Zubrowka with a good jab.
Vladivar Zubrowka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zubrowka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sherk swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherk tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sherk is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zubrowka displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sherk.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Sherk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Zubrowka.
Sherk is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Zubrowka.

Zubrowka forces Sherk back against the cage and clinches.
Zubrowka has had enough of the clinch but Sherk keeps him there for the moment.
Zubrowka unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sherk lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sherk avoiding damage as Zubrowka throws knees to the body.
Zubrowka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sherk avoids it.
Zubrowka gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sherk.

Sherk jumps guard and drags Zubrowka to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Zubrowka stays in close to Sherk's body and controls the position.
Zubrowka would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zubrowka slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Zubrowka wants to stand but Sherk is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sherk is breathing heavily.
Sherk can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zubrowka controls the pace.
Zubrowka wants to stand but Sherk has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zubrowka 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.
Zubrowka would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zubrowka sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Zubrowka wanted to stand there but Sherk had control of the position.
Zubrowka throwing strikes from guard but Sherk blocks nicely.

Zubrowka stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Zubrowka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice sprawl there from Zubrowka as Sherk shoots in.
Zubrowka lands a slapping body shot.
Zubrowka scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherk changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zubrowka tries to avoid it but Sherk manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zubrowka to the ground. Zubrowka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sherk slips a jab and a cross from Zubrowka.
Zubrowka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Zubrowka rushes Sherk and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sherk blocks an elbow strike from Zubrowka.

Zubrowka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zubrowka throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sherk's head.
Zubrowka lands a two punch combo.
Zubrowka digs a good body shot into Sherk's ribs.
Zubrowka connects with a high kick.
Zubrowka tries a head kick but it misses.
Zubrowka lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zubrowka is defended easily by Sherk.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zubrowka throws a head kick but Sherk moves out of range.
Zubrowka wants to clinch up but Sherk keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladivar Zubrowka dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Zubrowka scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Sherk misses with a head kick.
Sherk stuffs the takedown.
Zubrowka looks to land a combination but Sherk avoids it well.
Zubrowka throws a head kick but Sherk moves out of range.
Sherk throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zubrowka's waist but Zubrowka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sherk off to one side.
Sherk pivots, looking for a leg kick but Zubrowka is out of range and Sherk settles back down.
Zubrowka tries to clinch but Sherk moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Zubrowka.
Zubrowka throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Zubrowka stuns Sherk with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Zubrowka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zubrowka shoots in for a takedown but Sherk shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zubrowka misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tom Sherk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladivar Zubrowka.
Zubrowka throws a nice head kick!
Good shot there by Zubrowka.
Zubrowka moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zubrowka closes the distance and clinches.

Zubrowka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sherk keeps the fight on the outside.

Zubrowka moves into range and clinches up with Sherk.
Zubrowka keeps control of Sherk as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Zubrowka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sherk is defending well for now.
Zubrowka has Sherk pressed against the cage, preventing Sherk from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Zubrowka looking to throw knees to the head but Sherk is blocking nicely.
Sherk managing to block the knees to the body from Zubrowka.
Zubrowka lands a nice elbow.

Zubrowka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sherk takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Zubrowka fails to land with a series of punches.

Sherk darts in and clinches Zubrowka up against the cage.
Zubrowka unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sherk lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A frustrated look appears on Zubrowka's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sherk managing to block the knees to the body from Zubrowka.
Sherk on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zubrowka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Zubrowka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sherk is defending well for now.
Zubrowka lands a knee to the head.
Zubrowka lands a damaging elbow.

Zubrowka breaks the clinch.
Sherk blocks a head kick by Zubrowka.
Zubrowka connects with a high kick.
Sherk takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Zubrowka lands a nice looking body kick.

Sherk tries to keep at a distance but Zubrowka has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sherk avoiding damage as Zubrowka throws knees to the body.

Zubrowka manages to break the clinch.
Zubrowka shoots for a double leg takedown but Sherk sprawls well. He's pushed Zubrowka's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zubrowka thumps Sherk with a low kick.

Zubrowka closes the distance and clinches.

Zubrowka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zubrowka scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Zubrowka!
A slapping body kick lands there for Zubrowka.
Zubrowka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zubrowka scores with a spinning back kick!
Zubrowka lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zubrowka scores with a head kick.
Zubrowka throws a combination that misses
and Sherk counters with a nice body kick.
Zubrowka misses with a head kick.
Tom Sherk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zubrowka tries a head kick but it misses.
Zubrowka throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Vladivar Zubrowka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zubrowka throws a head kick that misses.
Zubrowka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sherk tries to avoid it but Zubrowka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sherk to the ground. Sherk escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Zubrowka, right into the meat.
Sherk takes a kick to the side of the head.
Zubrowka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sherk is fending him off so far but Zubrowka persists. Nope, Sherk circles away and we're back to standing.
Zubrowka tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zubrowka wants to clinch.
Zubrowka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zubrowka turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Zubrowka scores with a push kick.
Sherk avoids the head kick by Zubrowka.
Zubrowka throws a nice outside leg kick.
Zubrowka lands a head kick!
Zubrowka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sherk takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sherk takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zubrowka lands a head kick. Sherk smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Zubrowka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zubrowka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladivar Zubrowka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zubrowka throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Sherk is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Sherk scores with a punch to the head.
Zubrowka tries to close the distance and clinch but Sherk swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zubrowka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zubrowka works over Sherk's head and body with a nice combination.
Sherk displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Zubrowka.
Zubrowka lands with a nice body kick.
Zubrowka lands a head kick!
Zubrowka throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Zubrowka closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zubrowka lands in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zubrowka stands and steps away. Sherk gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Zubrowka plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zubrowka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sherk blocks the body kick.
Zubrowka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zubrowka wants it to stay on the feet.

Sherk tries to keep at a distance but Zubrowka has taken the fight into the clinch.
Zubrowka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sherk blocks it with crossed arms.
Good body shot from Sherk.
Zubrowka tries to circle away but Sherk has him pinned against the cage.
Zubrowka landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Zubrowka tries a knee to the head but Sherk blocks it.
Zubrowka trying to land knees to the body.
Sherk on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zubrowka tries to land knees in the clinch but Sherk avoids the damage to the body.
Sherk on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sherk blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zubrowka working hard to break the clinch.
Zubrowka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Zubrowka landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sherk blocks the elbow strike.
Zubrowka wants to break free but Sherk has control.
Vladivar Zubrowka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherk fails to pull guard.
Sherk takes an elbow to the forehead.
Zubrowka looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Zubrowka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sherk is defending well for now.
Zubrowka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sherk.
Sherk takes an elbow to the forehead.
Zubrowka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sherk.

Zubrowka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zubrowka tries to clinch there but Sherk circles away.
Sherk is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Zubrowka.
Zubrowka lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Zubrowka feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sherk's calf.
Sherk gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zubrowka counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Sherk. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sherk steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Zubrowka. That one must have hurt.
Zubrowka misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zubrowka with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Zubrowka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sherk as he jumps to the side.
Zubrowka throws a series of strikes that have Sherk backpedaling.
Zubrowka throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Zubrowka tries to close the distance and clinch but Sherk swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zubrowka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A left and a right from Zubrowka both land. Nice combination.
Zubrowka throws a head kick that half lands.
Sherk swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zubrowka counters with a body kick.
Sherk takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A solid leg kick lands there for Zubrowka.

Zubrowka closes the distance and clinches.
Sherk tries to break free but Zubrowka pushes him back against the cage.
Zubrowka lands a damaging elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zubrowka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zubrowka stuffs the takedown attempt from Sherk. Sherk gets slowly back to his feet.

Zubrowka drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zubrowka stays in close to Sherk's body and controls the position.

Sherk looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Zubrowka gets to his feet. Sherk looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Zubrowka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sherk's waist but Sherk gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zubrowka off to one side.
Zubrowka lands with a kick to the temple. Sherk shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A head kick from Zubrowka lands but Sherk takes it in his stride.
Zubrowka tries a head kick but it misses.
Tom Sherk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zubrowka lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladivar Zubrowka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zubrowka 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladivar Zubrowka!