PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Bruny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pavel Sherbo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sherbo is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Take Back the Power/ The Interrupters . The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Bruny
vs
Sherbo

163 cm
20
155 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

177 cm
33
162 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jerome Bruny!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pavel Sherbo!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Reed Andrews and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sherbo cracks Bruny with a right hand to the side of the head.
Bruny misses with the combination.
A big right from Sherbo misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sherbo. Bruny does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bruny moves out of range as Sherbo strikes.
Sherbo has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Bruny slips under a jab from Sherbo.
A telegraphed right hand from Bruny misses the target.
Sherbo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bruny.
Sherbo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bruny.
Sherbo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sherbo lands a jab.
A punch combination from Sherbo misses.
Pavel Sherbo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bruny throws a body shot but no joy.
Bruny ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sherbo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bruny.
Sherbo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bruny throws a shot from downtown. Sherbo moves away and avoids it.
Pavel Sherbo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherbo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bruny.
Sherbo throws a combination that misses

and Bruny counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Sherbo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bruny is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bruny seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bruny has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Bruny trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherbo trying to control the position from guard on top but Bruny is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bruny is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Bruny is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sherbo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sherbo trying to control the position from guard on top but Bruny is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruny keeping full guard, as Sherbo tries to pass.
Bruny has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Sherbo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sherbo is looking to work some ground and pound but Bruny has wrist control.
Sherbo postures up.

Sherbo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bruny dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruny trying to control the position from guard on top but Sherbo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sherbo throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Bruny postures up.
Sherbo wants to stand up but Bruny is controlling him.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bruny works over Sherbo with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bruny throwing strikes from guard but Sherbo blocks nicely.
Bruny scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jerome Bruny will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sherbo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sherbo.
Sherbo throws the left hand but Bruny avoids the punch easily.
Sherbo moves out of range of the body kick from Bruny.
Bruny takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sherbo throws a jab when Bruny was well out of range.
Sherbo misses with a combination

and Bruny counters with a single leg into guard. Sherbo didn't expect that.
Bruny passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bruny is looking to take a break and control but Sherbo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sherbo gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruny throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sherbo to regain full guard.
Bruny throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sherbo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sherbo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bruny wants to pass the guard but Sherbo is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sherbo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Jerome Bruny overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sherbo tries to stand but can't do so whilst Bruny controls his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bruny looking for submissions off his back.

Sherbo is trying to work for a kimura but Bruny is defending well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Bruny is staying active underneath Sherbo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bruny is looking to improve his position.
Sherbo is trying to control. Bruny wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruny wants to control but Sherbo is keeping busy.
Bruny is refusing to be controlled, as Sherbo sits in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Sherbo as Bruny shoots in.
Bruny keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sherbo misses with a double jab

and Bruny counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bruny trying to control from Sherbo's half guard. Sherbo has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Sherbo keeping moving, preventing Bruny from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruny controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bruny wants to control from the top but Sherbo keeps moving.
Bruny preventing the sweep.
Bruny with a nice head shot there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bruny throws a big right hand that misses.
Bruny is looking to work some ground and pound but Sherbo has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jerome Bruny will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sherbo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sherbo is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Sherbo looks to score with a jab to the body but Bruny is just out of range.
Bruny lands a jab to Sherbo's midsection.
Sherbo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bruny.
Sherbo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bruny was well out of range. Poor timing from Sherbo.
Sherbo throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Bruny on the side of the head.
Sherbo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bruny's hands.
Sherbo tries to move into range but Bruny moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sherbo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bruny moves away.
Sherbo swings for the body but Bruny moves out of range.
Pavel Sherbo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sherbo stuns Bruny with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sherbo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Bruny tries to bum rush Sherbo with a series of wild strikes but Sherbo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bruny throws a hook but Sherbo avoids it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bruny dodges the punch combination from Sherbo.
Bruny swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherbo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A big right from Sherbo misses.
Bruny moves out of range of the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Sherbo misses the target.
Sherbo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sherbo on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bruny shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sherbo sprawls well. Sherbo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bruny gets slowly back to his feet.
Sherbo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Bruny to counter with a crisp jab.
Bruny misses with a wild body shot.
Sherbo slips a straight right by Bruny.
Bruny misses with a looping left.
Sherbo throws a hook to the side of Bruny's head but Bruny sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sherbo with a nice cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherbo swings widly with a right hand

and Bruny counters with a shoot takedown. Sherbo fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sherbo is trying to keep Bruny in close.

Sherbo kicks Bruny off and gets to his feet.
Bruny tries to move into range but Sherbo moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bruny.
A right-left combo lands from Sherbo.
Sherbo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bruny manages to avoid it.
Bruny thuds a left hand into Sherbo's body.
Sherbo moves out of range of the body kick.
A swing and a miss from Bruny.
Sherbo throws a jab when Bruny was well out of range.
Bruny throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruny looks to land a left hand but Sherbo moved out of range nicely.
Bruny on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Sherbo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sherbo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bruny shoots in looking for a takedown. Sherbo tries to sprawl out of it but Bruny keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sherbo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Bruny. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bruny shoots in but Sherbo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sherbo scores with a crisp jab that stopped Bruny in his tracks.
Sherbo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A big right from Sherbo misses.
Bruny throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sherbo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bruny has closed the distance and engaged Sherbo in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Bruny fails to land.
Bruny lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sherbo backwards.
Sherbo is looking to break free of the clinch but Bruny has double underhooks.
Bruny has Sherbo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sherbo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bruny is trying to stall.
Sherbo lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bruny is working for takedown but Sherbo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Bruny looking to throw knees to the head but Sherbo is blocking nicely.
Bruny lands a knee to the body.
Bruny misses with a knee to the head.
Sherbo wants to get back to striking at distance but Bruny won't allow it.
Sherbo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short left from Bruny.
Bruny lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Bruny blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Sherbo really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bruny connects with an inside leg kick.
Bruny uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sherbo.
Sherbo lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Bruny misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sherbo.
Sherbo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bruny was well out of range. Poor timing from Sherbo.
Bruny lands a jab to Sherbo's midsection.
Sherbo misses with a wild body shot.
Sherbo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sherbo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bruny ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sherbo moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Sherbo.
Bruny moves forwards but Sherbo connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sherbo slips under a jab.
Bruny looks for the body kick but Sherbo saw that one coming.
The fighters circling - Sherbo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherbo swats away the attempt to clinch by Bruny.
Sherbo takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bruny on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sherbo looks to land a left hand but Bruny moved out of range nicely.
Bruny staying out of range there.
Bruny slips a straight right by Sherbo.
Bruny pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bruny throws a right hand that Sherbo ducks under and follows up with a left that Sherbo also avoids with ease.
Sherbo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sherbo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bruny moves away.
Sherbo lands a glancing blow to the side of Bruny's head.
Sherbo cracks Bruny with a good jab.
Sherbo throws a body shot but no joy.
The fighters circling - Sherbo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherbo ducks under a wild hook from Bruny.

Bruny feints and as Sherbo raises his hands in defense, Bruny changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sherbo is looking to stand back up but Bruny counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Sherbo.
Sherbo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bruny.
Sherbo is looking for a sweep. Bruny is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sherbo is not content to let Bruny control the position.
Bruny is looking to advance position but Sherbo won't allow it.

Bruny looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruny slips a nice elbow through Sherbo's hands, connecting with Sherbo's forehead.
Sherbo has his hands clasped together around Bruny's back. He's all about the action.
Bruny trying to control from half guard but Sherbo is working away.

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.
Bruny scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bruny scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sherbo is trying to get back to full guard.
Bruny working the head and body with strikes.
Bruny is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sherbo is looking for a sweep. Bruny is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Jerome Bruny will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sherbo misses the shot to the body.
Sherbo misses with a body shot.
Sherbo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sherbo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bruny looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Sherbo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bruny.
Sherbo misses the shot to the body.
Bruny misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sherbo.
Sherbo lands a nice looking body shot.
Bruny throws out a leg kick but Sherbo moves out of range and Bruny only half commits.
Bruny throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sherbo misses with a body shot.
Sherbo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bruny was well out of range. Poor timing from Sherbo.
Sherbo misses with a hook. Bruny ducked under it nicely.
Bruny slips a jab from Sherbo.
Bruny on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruny shoots in looking for a takedown. Sherbo tries to sprawl out of it but Bruny keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sherbo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bruny wants to clinch up but Sherbo keeps it at a distance.
Bruny misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bruny keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bruny moves away from the strike by Sherbo.
Bruny lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sherbo misses with a body shot.
Bruny swings for the body but Sherbo moves out of range.
Bruny misses with a left hand
and Sherbo counters with a straight right hand.
Sherbo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bruny.
Bruny drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sherbo looks to score with a jab to the body but Bruny is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherbo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bruny.
Sherbo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sherbo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sherbo dodges the punch combination from Bruny.
Sherbo cracks Bruny with an open hand slap.
Sherbo misses with a body shot.
Sherbo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bruny throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sherbo looks to score with a jab to the body but Bruny is just out of range.
Sherbo throws a body punch but Bruny moves out of range.
Bruny dodges the punch combination from Sherbo.
Sherbo with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Sherbo.
Sherbo blocks a jab.
Sherbo punishes Bruny's body with a nice straight punch.
Bruny drops his hands momentarily and Sherbo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Bruny misses with a wild body shot.
Sherbo lands an overhand right.
Sherbo misses with a wild body shot.
Sherbo throws a combination that misses

and Bruny counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bruny trying to control from half guard but Sherbo is working away.
Bruny content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruny passes to side control.
Sherbo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bruny wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pavel Sherbo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bruny works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Bruny connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Sherbo some visible discomfort.
Sherbo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pavel Sherbo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bruny 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 48:47
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 48:47
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 48:47

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