PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Podarov (ranked 3487 p4p, 407 weight class) and Cole Sheerwood (ranked 5428 p4p, 601 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Podarov
vs
Sheerwood

183 cm
26
230 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

188 cm
26
263 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Podarov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cole Sheerwood!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sheerwood throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Podarov's waist but Podarov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sheerwood off to one side.
Podarov attempts a counter takedown but Sheerwood avoids it well and moves away.

Sheerwood has Podarov up against the cage in a clinch.
Sheerwood is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Podarov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sheerwood avoiding damage as Podarov throws knees to the body.
Sheerwood lands a shoulder strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Podarov is working for takedown but Sheerwood is calmly controlling the position for now.

Sheerwood's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Podarov moves in looking to clinch but Sheerwood pushes him off.

Sheerwood clinches up with Podarov and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Podarov blocks an elbow strike.
Podarov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sheerwood is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Podarov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sheerwood fails to pull guard.
Sheerwood working hard to break the clinch.
Sheerwood leaning against his opponent.
Podarov controlling the action here for a moment.

Sheerwood's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sheerwood moves into the clinch successfully.
Podarov looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Podarov avoiding damage as Sheerwood throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheerwood wants to break the clinch but can't.
Podarov trying to land knees to the body.
Podarov pressing his opponent against the cage.

Sheerwood is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Podarov can't fight it off and eventually Sheerwood manages to take the fight to the floor. Podarov looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Podarov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sheerwood wants to control from the top but Podarov keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheerwood wants to pass the guard but Podarov is keeping the position.
Sheerwood wants to control from the top but Podarov keeps moving.
Sheerwood controlling from the top position.
Sheerwood prevents Podarov from getting back to his feet.
Sheerwood trying to control the position from guard on top but Podarov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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.
Sheerwood dives in for a single leg takedown but Podarov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Podarov appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Sheerwood shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Podarov defends it nicely.
Podarov dives in and grabs Sheerwood's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sheerwood pushes down on Podarov's head and hops out.

Sheerwood closes the distance and pushes Podarov back into the cage.
Sheerwood goes for a takedown in the clinch but Podarov prevents it.
Sheerwood looks winded!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Podarov is working for takedown but Sheerwood is calmly controlling the position for now.
Podarov goes for a takedown attempt but Sheerwood pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cole Sheerwood 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.

Podarov stuffs the takedown.

Podarov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sheerwood to the ground. Podarov is now in Sheerwood's guard.
Podarov wants to control from the top but Sheerwood keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Podarov prevents Sheerwood from getting back to his feet.
Podarov stands up over Sheerwood, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sheerwood keeping moving, preventing Podarov from controlling successfully.
Sheerwood controls Podarov momentarily but Podarov frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Podarov wants to get up but he can't break Sheerwood's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Podarov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Podarov stopping the sweep attempt from Sheerwood.
Podarov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Podarov instigates a clinch.

Podarov drags the fight down to the ground.

Podarov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sheerwood defends it easily.
Sheerwood sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheerwood loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sheerwood tries to free his leg and advance position but Podarov is retaining full guard.
Podarov keeping moving, preventing Sheerwood from controlling successfully.
Podarov pulls Sheerwood in close to his closed guard and prevents Sheerwood from doing any damage or advancing position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheerwood shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Podarov sprawls well. Podarov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sheerwood gets slowly back to his feet.
Podarov fails to land the takedown.

Sheerwood closes the distance and clinches.
Podarov keeps control of Sheerwood as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sheerwood jumps guard but Podarov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Alex Podarov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cole Sheerwood.

Podarov jumps guard and drags Sheerwood to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheerwood wants to stand but Podarov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Podarov keeping moving, preventing Sheerwood from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sheerwood got a little sloppy there for a moment and Podarov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sheerwood has managed to get both his arms back between Podarov's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Podarov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Podarov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Podarov keeping moving, preventing Sheerwood from controlling successfully.
Podarov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sheerwood has Podarov pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Podarov drops back looking for a leg! Sheerwood is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sheerwood manages to kick Podarov off! Podarov jumps back into Sheerwood's guard.
Podarov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sheerwood is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sheerwood is looking for a triangle but Podarov pushes his legs off easily.
Podarov wants to stand but Sheerwood has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Podarov trying to control but Sheerwood is working from the bottom.
Podarov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sheerwood's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Podarov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sheerwood swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sheerwood thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sheerwood misses with the body kick

and Podarov counters with a takedown into side control.
Sheerwood takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sheerwood wants to control but Podarov postures up.
Podarov wants to control but Sheerwood is keeping him busy.
Sheerwood is trying to improve his position.
Sheerwood keeps trying to improve his position.
Podarov wants to control but Sheerwood is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheerwood is looking to reverse the position.
Podarov wants to control but Sheerwood is keeping him busy.
Sheerwood manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Podarov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Podarov.
Sheerwood throws a big elbow that misses.
Sheerwood slips nicely into half guard.
Podarov is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Podarov actively working from the bottom here.
Sheerwood wants to take a breather but Podarov is having none of it.
Podarov keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sheerwood is looking to take a break and control but Podarov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cole Sheerwood comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sheerwood 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cole Sheerwood!
A relieved looking Cole Sheerwood thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.