PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ngaio Bealum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Sherpard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sherpard comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Webs We Weave kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bealum
vs
Sherpard

175 cm
22
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ngaio Bealum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Sherpard!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bealum shoots in and bounces Sherpard off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Bealum working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sherpard's head.

Sherpard looking for a guillotine here but Bealum defends easily.
Sherpard preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bealum has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bealum with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bealum trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sherpard's guard.
Bealum lands a couple of elbows.
Bealum working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bealum throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sherpard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bealum postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sherpard manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bealum is squirming around, avoiding Sherpard's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bealum throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Sherpard blocks Bealum's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Bealum keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bealum is squirming around, avoiding Sherpard's attempts to control the action.
Bealum tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherpard can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bealum is looking to escape.
Bealum on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bealum tries to get out of the position.
A nice elbow there by Sherpard.
Sherpard won't let Bealum get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bealum keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sherpard looking to control but Bealum is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bealum throwing hammer fists to the chest of Sherpard. What's that going to do exactly?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bealum tries to reverse the position but Sherpard maintains control.
Bealum is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Bealum blocking the ground and pound.
Bealum throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Bealum is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sherpard blocks Bealum's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Bealum is working to get back to half guard.

That's four 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.
Bealum throwing hammer fists to the chest of Sherpard. What's that going to do exactly?
Sherpard working Bealum over with strikes here.
Sherpard lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Bealum is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sherpard tries to control but Bealum wriggling away.
Bealum swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Bealum is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Bealum is looking to improve his position but Sherpard isn't that keen on the idea.
Bealum slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ngaio Bealum dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sherpard doesn't manage to clinch there - Bealum circles away.
Bealum throws a front kick aimed at Sherpard's knee but Sherpard avoids it well.
Bealum tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sherpard swivels and escapes.

Sherpard closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sherpard is looking to take a break and control but Bealum is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Bealum has one foot on Sherpard's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Bealum closes the distance and clinches up with Sherpard, looking for a takedown. Bealum pushes Sherpard against the cage but Sherpard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Bealum fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sherpard, pushing him back against the cage.
Sherpard tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bealum smiles and moves away.
Bealum misses with a takedown attempt

and Sherpard counters with a shoot takedown. Bealum fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ngaio Bealum. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sherpard gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bealum rushes Sherpard and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherpard trying to control the position from guard on top but Bealum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bealum throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Bealum tries to strike from the bottom.
Sherpard 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.
Bealum is looking to stand up but Sherpard isn't so interested in that idea.
Sherpard slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Bealum.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bealum is trying to stand back up but Sherpard is controlling him
Bealum missing with punches from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bealum tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Sherpard counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sherpard trying to control the position from guard on top but Bealum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sherpard works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bealum flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Bealum punching from the bottom.

Bealum is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Sherpard pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherpard is trying to control the action in half guard but Bealum is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bealum throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Sherpard is trying to control. Bealum wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bealum lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Bealum throws a sloppy head kick

and Sherpard counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sherpard.
Bealum wants to stand up but Sherpard is controlling him.
Chris Sherpard has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bealum keeping moving, preventing Sherpard from controlling successfully.
Bealum throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sherpard throws a strike but Bealum rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bealum is working Sherpard over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bealum throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sherpard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Bealum scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Sherpard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bealum scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Bealum is thwarting Sherpard's attempts to control the position.
Bealum looks to land a strike but Sherpard avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Bealum wants to stand and escape but instead Sherpard has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Bealum keeping full guard, as Sherpard tries to pass.
Bealum wants to get back to his feet but Sherpard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Bealum is looking for a triangle here but Sherpard uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee asks Sherpard politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Sherpard prefers to stall for the moment though.

Bealum bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Bealum looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sherpard manages to get to full guard.

Sherpard pushes Bealum off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherpard misses with a takedown

and Bealum counters with a single leg into guard. Sherpard didn't expect that.
Sherpard wants to sweep but no luck.
Bealum scoring with some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bealum working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sherpard wants to sweep but no luck.
Sherpard is trying to keep Bealum in close.
Bealum working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bealum in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherpard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sherpard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bealum scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bealum throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Bealum shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Bealum is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Sherpard can't escape the position.
Bealum scores with a couple of good head shots there.
BOOM! Bealum connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherpard tries to lock up and control but Bealum gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Bealum cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sherpard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bealum scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Bealum lands a big elbow.
Sherpard tries to reverse the position but Bealum maintains control.
Bealum postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sherpard looks a forlorn figure.
Sherpard takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice elbow there by Bealum.
Bealum lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ngaio Bealum showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bealum 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ngaio Bealum!