PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Benito Vasquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abhidi Sharma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Vasquez might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Linkin Park- Numb. Sharma has chosen Meditation as his entrance music. 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.

Vasquez
vs
Sharma

173 cm
22
144 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

160 cm
24
145 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Benito Vasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Abhidi Sharma!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasquez throws a chopping leg kick but Sharma manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sharma tries to clinch but Vasquez moves out of range.
Sharma slips under a jab from Vasquez.
Vasquez throws a body punch but Sharma moves out of range.
Sharma moves out of range of the leg kick from Vasquez.
Vasquez tries to bum rush Sharma with a series of wild strikes but Sharma uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vasquez connects with a single shot there.
Sharma dodges the punch combination from Vasquez.
Vasquez comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez misses with an uppercut.
Sharma ducks under a wild hook from Vasquez.
Vasquez motions for Sharma to come forward. Vasquez throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Vasquez misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sharma takes the fight into the clinch.
Vasquez struggles to land a body shot inside as Sharma controls his hands.
Sharma blocks a body shot from Vasquez.
Sharma blocks an uppercut.
Vasquez misses with some punches.
Sharma blocks an uppercut.
Sharma blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sharma.
Vasquez takes a shot to the head.
Vasquez swings wildly with an uppercut but Sharma uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vasquez is trying to break the clinch but Sharma is controlling him.
Sharma blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Vasquez fails to land.
Vasquez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Come on Sharma - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Vasquez has a couple of punches blocked by Sharma.
Vasquez can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Vasquez throws a punch but it's blocked by Sharma.
Sharma prevents Vasquez from breaking the clinch.
Vasquez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sharma taking a breather.
Sharma continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Vasquez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sharma is struggling to control the position.
Vasquez misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vasquez.
Vasquez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sharma stalling the fight.
Vasquez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vasquez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sharma - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharma receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Abhidi Sharma.
Sharma steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vasquez.
Sharma avoids the body shot from Vasquez.
Sharma moves away from the strike by Vasquez.
Vasquez scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Vasquez throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sharma uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vasquez.
Sharma avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sharma moves forwards but Vasquez connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Vasquez misses with an uppercut. Sharma saw that one coming.
Vasquez throws a front kick aimed at Sharma's knee but Sharma avoids it well.
Vasquez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sharma manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Vasquez does no damage.
Sharma checks a leg kick nicely.
Vasquez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sharma staying out of range there.
Vasquez misses with a straight left.
Vasquez connects with a single shot there.
Vasquez tries to land a leg kick but Sharma saw it coming and moves away.
A combination from Vasquez does no damage.
Vasquez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vasquez connects with a body shot.
Sharma takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Vasquez throws a low kick, looking for Sharma's leg but Sharma calmly moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benito Vasquez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Vasquez misses with a straight right.
Sharma bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sharma tries to close the distance and clinch but Vasquez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vasquez is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Vasquez looks to land a right hand but Sharma moved out of range.
The fighters circling - Vasquez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sharma moves out of range of the leg kick from Vasquez.
Sharma moves out of range of the strikes.
Vasquez misses with a hook. Sharma ducked under it nicely.
Sharma wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sharma has Vasquez up against the cage in a clinch.
Vasquez is trying to force a seperation but Sharma has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sharma displaying some good clinch control by pressing Vasquez up against the cage.
Vasquez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sharma blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sharma blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sharma blocks a body shot from Vasquez.
Vasquez misses with some punches.
Vasquez swings wildly with an uppercut but Sharma uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vasquez misses with the head strike.
Sharma taking a breather.
Vasquez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vasquez throws a punch but it's blocked by Sharma.
A bit of stalling here from Sharma.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Vasquez misses with a body punch.
Sharma has Vasquez pressed against the cage, preventing Vasquez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vasquez can't find room to land a body shot as Sharma controls the action.
Vasquez tries to circle away but Sharma has him pinned against the cage.
Sharma has Vasquez pushed against the cage.
Vasquez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vasquez misses with a punch on the inside.
Sharma gets through Vasquez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Vasquez misses with some punches.
Sharma taking a breather.
The crowd are getting on Sharma's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Vasquez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vasquez tries a body shot but Sharma blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sharma.
Sharma has Vasquez pressed against the cage.
Sharma lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Vasquez or not.
Sharma effectively controlling the action here.
Vasquez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vasquez is trying to break the clinch but Sharma has him pressed against the cage.
Sharma blocking some punches.
Sharma keeps control of Vasquez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sharma manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Vasquez throws a head punch that misses.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Vasquez misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sharma has Vasquez pressed against the cage.
A body shot lands from Vasquez.
Vasquez throws a head punch that misses.
Vasquez struggles to land a body shot inside as Sharma controls his hands.
Vasquez is trying to force a seperation but Sharma has the dominant position.
Vasquez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sharma has Vasquez pressed against the cage.
Vasquez tries to work over Sharma's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vasquez wants to get back to striking at distance but Sharma won't allow it.
Vasquez tries to circle away but Sharma has him pinned against the cage.
Vasquez throws a head punch that misses.
Vasquez digs a right hand into Sharma's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sharma's gas tank.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vasquez has a couple of punches blocked by Sharma.
Sharma dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Vasquez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sharma blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Abhidi Sharma will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Vasquez throws a lazy right hand but Sharma sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vasquez tries to bum rush Sharma with a series of wild strikes but Sharma uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sharma has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sharma there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sharma takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sharma steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vasquez.
Sharma takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Vasquez throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sharma on the side of the head.
Benito Vasquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vasquez scores with a hook.
Vasquez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sharma uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vasquez.
Sharma ducks under a wild hook from Vasquez.
Vasquez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sharma.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez misses with an attempted mid kick.
Vasquez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sharma.
Sharma uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vasquez.
Vasquez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sharma was well out of range. Poor timing from Vasquez.
Good work by Sharma as he checks the leg kick.
Vasquez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Vasquez misses with a straight left.
Vasquez missing with a left hand there. Sharma was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Some bone on bone action there as Sharma checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Vasquez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sharma avoids the body shot from Vasquez.
A big left from Vasquez misses.

That's two 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.
Sharma blocks the body kick.
Vasquez misses with a hook.
Sharma ducks under a wild hook from Vasquez.
Sharma avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Vasquez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Vasquez misses with a hook from the clinch.
The referee calls for Sharma to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Abhidi Sharma.
Vasquez finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Vasquez misses with a straight right.
Sharma uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vasquez.
Abhidi Sharma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big right from Vasquez misses.
Sharma displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vasquez throws out the jab.
Vasquez moves into range and connects with a jab.
Nice body punch from Vasquez.
Vasquez throws a head kick that misses.
Vasquez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Vasquez swings for the body but Sharma moves out of range.
Sharma uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vasquez.

Sharma takes the fight into the clinch.
Vasquez is trying to break the clinch but Sharma is controlling him.
Vasquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Vasquez is trying to break free.
Vasquez is looking to break free of the clinch but Sharma has double underhooks.
Vasquez working aggressively here.
Vasquez throws a punch but it's blocked by Sharma.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sharma.
Sharma blocking some punches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vasquez swings wildly with an uppercut but Sharma uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vasquez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sharma's elbow.
Sharma slowing the pace effectively.
Vasquez throws a punch but it's blocked by Sharma.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benito Vasquez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vasquez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benito Vasquez!