PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lawson Sharp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Langham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lawson Sharp has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sharp
vs
Langham

180 cm
28
160 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

172 cm
28
169 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Lawson Sharp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Chris Langham!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sharp circles away from the clinch attempt.

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

Langham escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sharp gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sharp wants to pass the guard but Langham is keeping the position.
Langham is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sharp missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sharp pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Langham is keeping the position for now.
Sharp wants to control from the top but Langham keeps moving.

Langham looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sharp sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Langham looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Langham throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sharp preventing the sweep.
Sharp is stalling in the full guard.
Sharp wants to control from the top but Langham keeps moving.
Sharp pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Langham is keeping the position for now.

Langham is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sharp defends well.
Sharp wants to control from the top but Langham keeps moving.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sharp working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharp trying to control the position from guard on top but Langham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Langham looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Langham is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sharp pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Langham is keeping the position for now.
Langham manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sharp manages to get himself to full guard.
Sharp working a defensive guard here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Langham drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Langham jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sharp looking for a sweep. Not yet Sharp, not yet.
Langham keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sharp's head.
Sharp keeping moving, preventing Langham from controlling successfully.
Sharp tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sharp is on top in guard.
Sharp trying to control the position from guard on top but Langham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Langham had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sharp defends it easily.
Langham is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Langham is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sharp is looking for a sweep. Langham is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharp gets full guard.

Langham is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sharp is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sharp has escaped and now he's on top!
Sharp wants to control from the top but Langham keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sharp postures up in Langham's guard and throws a big left but Langham blocks it.
Sharp works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Langham manages to get to full guard.
Langham is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sharp throwing strikes but missing.
Langham manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chris Langham will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Langham shoots in for a takedown but Sharp shows good takedown defense.

Langham gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sharp to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Langham throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sharp trying to control the position from guard on top but Langham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Langham controls Sharp momentarily but Sharp frees himself.
Sharp is looking to work some ground and pound but Langham has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Langham has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sharp can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Sharp passes Langham's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Langham is not content to let Sharp control the position.
Sharp not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sharp wants to lay and pray for a moment but Langham keeps working.
Sharp throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sharp is keen to just control but Langham is a slippery customer.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Sharp wants to work for an arm triangle but Langham is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Langham gets full guard.
Sharp trying to control but Langham is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sharp got a little sloppy there for a moment and Langham has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sharp has managed to get both his arms back between Langham's legs - danger averted.
Sharp trying to control but Langham is working from the bottom.
Sharp is pushing down on Langham's leg trying to pass to half guard. Langham is fighting to maintain full guard but Sharp has managed to sneak the leg through.
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!
Langham wants to improve his position but Sharp is controlling well.
Sharp is trying to control. Langham wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Langham works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sharp postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sharp passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Lawson Sharp overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sharp sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Langham is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Langham is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharp tries to move to mount but Langham blocks the move with his legs.
Langham tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Langham sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sharp not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Langham wants to get back to full guard.
Sharp is trying to control. Langham wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sharp not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Langham kicks off Sharp and gets to his feet.

Langham gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sharp to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Langham looking for a sweep. Not yet Langham, not yet.
Langham is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharp slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Langham prevents Sharp from moving into mount.
Langham tries to improve position but can't.
You can see the frustration on Langham's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sharp trying to control the action but Langham is working from the bottom.
Langham tries to improve position but can't.
Sharp is working Langham over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sharp wants to control but Langham is keeping him busy.
Sharp working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Langham gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Sharp is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Langham sees it coming and defends easily.
Sharp is keen to just control but Langham is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lawson Sharp dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sharp drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Langham is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Langham looking for a guillotine here but Sharp defends easily.
Sharp scoring with punches to the head and body.
Langham looking to control.
Langham can't keep his opponent in guard - Sharp advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sharp wants to take a breather but Langham is having none of it.
Sharp wants to stand but Langham has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Langham tries to get to full guard but Sharp has control of the leg.
Sharp is keen to just control but Langham is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharp is really struggling to control Langham but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Sharp looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sharp is trying to control the action in half guard but Langham is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Langham works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sharp would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Langham is trying to keep Sharp in close.
Langham keeping full guard, as Sharp tries to pass.
Langham looking for a sweep. Not yet Langham, not yet.
Langham keeping full guard, as Sharp tries to pass.
Langham manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sharp manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Langham trying to control but Sharp is working from the bottom.
Sharp looking for a sweep. Not yet Sharp, not yet.

Langham stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Sharp swats away the attempt to clinch by Langham.
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!
Langham is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sharp sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Langham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Sharp darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Langham landing strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Langham works his way to full guard. Good work.

Sharp avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sharp working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sharp sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Langham's guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Langham manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Langham is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sharp passes into half guard.
Langham is staying active underneath Sharp, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Langham gets full guard.

Langham throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sharp trying to control the position from guard on top but Langham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharp pushing down on Langham's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sharp is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Langham is just riding it out for now. Sharp eventually gives up the hold.
Sharp missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Langham avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sharp.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Langham tries to roll over but Sharp keeps him under control.
Langham moves into full guard.
Sharp looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lawson Sharp showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sharp has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lawson Sharp!