PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Sharbutt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Forte El Gato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Forte El Gato struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.6lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sharbutt
vs
El Gato

177 cm
20
160 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes musicals

Master Lee's One Stop

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Sharbutt!
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, Forte El Gato!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Gwen Towbar and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
El Gato moves out of range of the body kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from El Gato is defended easily by Sharbutt.
Sharbutt fails to land the takedown.

Sharbutt shoots in and bounces El Gato off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

El Gato looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Sharbutt has picked El Gato up and slammed him! El Gato can't keep hold of the triangle and Sharbutt manages to pass to side control!
El Gato holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sharbutt tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Sharbutt prevents El Gato from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharbutt controlling the position from side mount.

Sharbutt decides to stand up, so the ref orders El Gato to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharbutt swats away the attempt to clinch by El Gato.
El Gato misses with a series of wild punches.
Sharbutt fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sharbutt has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Sharbutt. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sharbutt looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for El Gato!
El Gato is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharbutt in side control, just content to control the action for now.
El Gato tries to buck Sharbutt off but Sharbutt is having none of it.
Sharbutt wants to stand but El Gato has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Sharbutt is looking to work some ground and pound but El Gato has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharbutt wants to get up but he can't break El Gato's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
El Gato keeping moving, preventing Sharbutt from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mike Sharbutt just wasn't active enough.
El Gato throws a combination. Sharbutt tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
El Gato blocks a head kick by Sharbutt.
El Gato tries to clinch but Sharbutt is having none of it.
El Gato with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
El Gato shoots in and drives through. Sharbutt sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Sharbutt dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

El Gato throws a head kick that misses.
Sharbutt attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sharbutt shoots and misses
and El Gato counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Sharbutt shoots in and gets a takedown into El Gato's guard.
Sharbutt passes easily into side control. Nice work.
El Gato is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
El Gato really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sharbutt. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sharbutt wants to lay and pray for a moment but El Gato keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sharbutt decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

El Gato has Sharbutt up against the cage in a clinch.
Sharbutt tries to circle away but El Gato has him pinned against the cage.
El Gato is trying to force a seperation but Sharbutt has the dominant position.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sharbutt takes a knee to the side of the body.

El Gato manages to pull guard.
Sharbutt working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sharbutt throwing strikes but missing.
El Gato pulls Sharbutt in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharbutt won't allow El Gato to sweep him here.
Sharbutt tries to free his leg and advance position but El Gato is retaining full guard.
El Gato pulls Sharbutt in close to prevent any damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Forte El Gato was stalling too much, according to the referee.
El Gato throws a series of punches but Sharbutt moves out of range.
Sharbutt is trying hard to land a takedown here. El Gato sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Gato defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sharbutt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Sharbutt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
El Gato lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
El Gato tries a head kick but it misses.
Sharbutt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
El Gato lands with an overhand left.
El Gato leaves Sharbutt with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from El Gato.
Danga de danga de dang - El Gato scores with a four punch combination!
El Gato blocks a head kick by Sharbutt.
Sharbutt shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says El Gato as he avoids it easily.

Sharbutt changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. El Gato looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
El Gato wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Sharbutt wants to control but El Gato is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Gato is working to avoid the ground and pound but Sharbutt connects with a decent elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
El Gato is trying to buck Sharbutt off.
Sharbutt in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sharbutt working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Sharbutt dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sharbutt misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
El Gato misses with a jab, cross combination.
El Gato misses with a double jab.
El Gato throws a nice looking combination but Sharbutt bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sharbutt fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Forte El Gato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sharbutt shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has El Gato pinned against the cage. El Gato gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
El Gato throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

El Gato takes the fight into the clinch.

El Gato decides to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Gato keeping full guard, as Sharbutt tries to pass.
El Gato looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
El Gato wants to get back to his feet but Sharbutt passes into half guard.
El Gato has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sharbutt is working away from the top position though.
El Gato is trying to stand up here but Sharbutt is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharbutt wants to stand but El Gato has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Sharbutt sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. El Gato defending well though.
El Gato wants to get back to full guard.
Sharbutt scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sharbutt uses his free foot to push down on El Gato's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for El Gato.

Sharbutt get's back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharbutt shoots for a takedown but El Gato saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Sharbutt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sharbutt throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Sharbutt shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

El Gato clinches with his opponent.
El Gato tries to break the clinch but Sharbutt is controlling the position.
El Gato prevents Sharbutt from breaking the clinch.
Sharbutt is trying to pull guard but El Gato has him pressed against the cage.

El Gato's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
El Gato rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sharbutt moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
El Gato tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sharbutt sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten El Gato somewhat.
Mike Sharbutt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sharbutt darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sharbutt tries to stand and escape but El Gato is controlling the position.
El Gato is concentrating on defense, preventing Sharbutt from advancing position.
Sharbutt wants to stand up but El Gato is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mike Sharbutt.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sharbutt, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Sharbutt!