PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Frank Sherman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Short (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sherman
vs
Short

170 cm
22
166 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

160 cm
28
146 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Frank Sherman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Damien Short!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Short swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Short throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Short slips a jab from Sherman.
Sherman throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sherman swings for the body but Short moves out of range.

Sherman closes the distance and pushes Short back into the cage.

Short's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sherman scores with a jab.
Short thows a body shot but no joy.
Sherman fails with a takedown attempt.
Short throws out a loose jab but Sherman uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Short throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sherman is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Short.
Sherman looks to score with a jab to the body but Short is just out of range.
Sherman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Short defends it nicely.
Sherman misses with a low kick.
Short thows a body shot but no joy.
Sloppy strikes from Sherman. Those never looked like landing.
Sherman thows a body shot but no joy.
Sherman throws a head kick but Short moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherman wants to clinch but Short slips to the side
and Short connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Short lands with a right hand.
Sherman takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Short misses with a left hand
letting Sherman counter with a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sherman slips under a jab from Short.
A telegraphed right hand from Short misses the target.
Short throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sherman staying out of range there.
Short lands with an uppercut that bounces Sherman off the cage and back into range.
Short throws a big shot that misses.
Short slips a straight right by Sherman.
Damien Short is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Short lands with a nice body punch.
Sherman ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sherman shoots for a takedown but Short saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Sherman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Short throws an overhand right that lands on Sherman's shoulder, as Sherman tries to avoid the shot.
Short throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Short misses with a wild body shot.
Short misses with a wild body shot.
Donk. Short catches Sherman right on the button with a cross.
Short misses with a looping left.
Short slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sherman tries to clinch but Short is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Short throws a looping overhand right but Sherman ducks down to avoid it.
Sherman throws a looping overhand right but Short ducks down to avoid it.
Sherman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Short.
Short throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sherman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sherman misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Short to counter with a crisp jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Short looks to score with a jab to the body but Sherman is just out of range.
Sherman moves in looking to clinch but Short pushes him off.
Short scores with a body shot.
Short keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sherman is defended easily by Short.
Damien Short seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Short changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sherman is breathing heavily.
Short throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sherman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Short ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sherman moves away.
Sherman ducks under a wild hook from Short.

Sherman throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Short was covering up waiting for the punch and Sherman finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sherman trying to control but Short is working from the bottom.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Sherman stops Short from standing up.
Sherman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sherman looking to sit in guard and control but Short gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sherman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Short doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Short manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Sherman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Short wants to stand but Sherman has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sherman tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's eight 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sherman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Short throws a body punch but Sherman moves out of range.
Short punishes Sherman's body with a nice straight punch.
Sherman lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Short throws a shot from downtown. Sherman moves away and avoids it.
Sherman is looking to clinch.
Short swinging wildly here.
Sherman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Short pinned against the cage. Short gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Short thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Short takes a swing at Sherman's ribcage but misses.
Short uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sherman.
Short takes a swing at Sherman's ribcage but misses.
Sherman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Short throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Short fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sherman manages to avoid it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Short misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Short dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Short throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Short looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Short. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Sherman rushes Short and presses him up against the cage.
Short has had enough of the clinch but Sherman keeps him there for the moment.
Short keeps control of Sherman as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Short has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sherman has Short pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Short manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Short breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Short swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Short throws a looping overhand right but Sherman ducks down to avoid it.
Sloppy strikes from Short. Those never looked like landing.
Short avoids the body shot from Sherman.
Sherman is looking to clinch but Short is avoiding it.
Short fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sherman manages to avoid it.
Sherman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Short manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sherman is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Damien Short seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Sherman moves into range and clinches up with Short.
Short gets underhooks to prevent Sherman's takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherman tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Sherman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Short breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sherman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Short swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Short keeps the fight on the outside.
Short fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sherman manages to avoid it.
Sherman ducks under a wild hook from Short.
Short misses with a wild body shot.
Sherman fails with the takedown
and Short counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sherman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Short was well out of range. Poor timing from Sherman.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Short jabs Sherman right on the nose. Sherman blinks but takes it well.
Short slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Short stuffs the takedown attempt from Sherman. Sherman gets slowly back to his feet.
Short missing with a left hand there. Sherman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Sherman manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Short on his heels. He'll look to pass Short's guard now, I'm sure.
Sherman won't allow Short to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Short uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Short throws out a loose jab but Sherman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sherman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Short.
Short avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice uppercut lands for Short. That snapped Sherman's head back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sherman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Short just misses with a punch to the body.
Sherman throws a body punch but Short moves out of range.
Sherman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Short swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Short's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sherman under the eye.
Sherman misses with a takedown attempt
and Short makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sherman thows a body shot but no joy.
Short fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sherman manages to avoid it.
Short lands with a shot to the body.
Sherman slips under a jab.
Short throws a body punch but Sherman moves out of range.
Sherman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Short.
Short takes a swing at Sherman's ribcage but misses.
Short misses with a right hand
and Sherman counters with a nice low kick that buckles Short's knee momentarily.
Short bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Short misses.
Sherman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Short.
Short is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sherman rather than just go for the knockout.
Sherman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Short pinned against the cage. Short gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sherman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Short avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Short misses with a body punch
and Sherman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Short throws a hook to the side of Sherman's head but Sherman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sherman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Short.
Sherman staying out of range there.
Sherman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Short.
Sherman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Short is fending him off so far but Sherman persists. Nope, Short circles away and we're back to standing.
Sherman slips under a jab.
Short leaves Sherman with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sherman tries for a takedown but Short sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sherman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Short's waist but Short gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sherman off to one side.
Sherman shoots in but Short avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Short swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Short misses with an uppercut. Sherman saw that one coming.
Sherman slips a straight right by Short.
Sherman slips under a jab.
Short just misses with a punch to the body.
Short lands with a right hand.
A slow jab from Short misses its intended target.
Short feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Shermans jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Short lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Frank Sherman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Short lands a nice shot to the body.
Short misses with a body shot.
Sherman slips under a jab.
Short jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Sherman is rocked!
Short throws a body punch but Sherman moves out of range.
Oh Sherman is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Short scores with a nice head shot.
No joy there for Sherman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sherman seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sherman misses with a shot to the body
and Short connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Damien Short is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sherman takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damien Short comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Short 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Damien Short!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Damien Short!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Damien Short!

Damien Short wins by unanimous decision!