PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rick Sherpard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Merg Zwafigan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sherpard comes to the cage accompanied by Locust. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Sherpard
vs
Zwafigan

195 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

191 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick Sherpard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Merg Zwafigan!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sherpard drives through and clinches with Zwafigan against the cage.
Sherpard wants to break free but Zwafigan has control.
Sherpard is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zwafigan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Zwafigan is looking to break free of the clinch but Sherpard has double underhooks.
Zwafigan wants to break free but Sherpard has control.
Zwafigan is looking to break free of the clinch but Sherpard has double underhooks.

Zwafigan is trying to trip Sherpard. He has hold of a leg but Sherpard is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Zwafigan persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Zwafigan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sherpard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sherpard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zwafigan throws a strike but Sherpard rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sherpard throwing strikes from guard but Zwafigan blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zwafigan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sherpard is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherpard trying to control the position from guard on top but Zwafigan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zwafigan scores with a decent looking hook.

It looks like Rick Sherpard has been cut.
Some wild striking there from Zwafigan.
Sherpard takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sherpard is breathing heavily.

Zwafigan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zwafigan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zwafigan tries to stand but Sherpard is controlling from the bottom.
Zwafigan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Zwafigan would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Zwafigan trying to control the position from guard on top but Sherpard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sherpard tries to strike from the bottom.
Zwafigan wants to control from the top but Sherpard keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zwafigan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zwafigan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Zwafigan throws a right and a left that Sherpard avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zwafigan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sherpard.
Zwafigan lands with a nice combination. Sherpard backs away looking to recover.
Zwafigan moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Zwafigan bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sherpard's head.
Zwafigan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zwafigan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Rick Sherpard's cut is getting worse.
Zwafigan lands a nice hook to Sherpard's body. Sherpard takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Danga de danga de dang - Zwafigan scores with a four punch combination!
Zwafigan works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Zwafigan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sherpard.
Zwafigan drops Sherpard with a left and a right! Oh, Sherpard is hurt - Zwafigan dives into side control looking to finish!

Sherpard is rocked!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zwafigan is chipping away with strikes.
Oh Sherpard is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Zwafigan working the body and head with strikes.
Sherpard seems to have got his legs back now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherpard is trying to escape the position but Zwafigan is controlling the position.
Sherpard is looking to regain half guard here but Zwafigan keeps moving and retains side control.
Zwafigan wants to stand but Sherpard is controlling his arm.
Zwafigan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sherpard keeps working.
Sherpard can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zwafigan wants to stand but Sherpard is controlling his arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merg Zwafigan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rick Sherpard's cut.
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.

Zwafigan lands with a hook. Sherpard tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Rick Sherpard's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Sherpard on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Zwafigan misses with a double jab.
Zwafigan lands with a shot to the body.
Zwafigan lands a nice looking body shot.
Sherpard takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right-left combo lands from Zwafigan.
Zwafigan lands the left hand.

Jeez, Rick Sherpard's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Zwafigan throws a series of strikes that have Sherpard backpedaling.

Zwafigan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zwafigan is working Sherpard over with some ground and pound from side control.
Zwafigan working the ground and pound from side control.
Zwafigan prevents Sherpard from escaping the position.
Zwafigan tries to move to mount but Sherpard blocks the move with his legs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
You can see the frustration on Sherpard's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sherpard takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Zwafigan working the body and head with strikes.
Sherpard struggling a bit here.
Sherpard is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zwafigan is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Zwafigan wants to stand but Sherpard has his arm trapped.

Zwafigan decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Zwafigan connects with a jab.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Rick Sherpard's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:12 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Merg Zwafigan!