PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sharven Sheven (ranked 3210 p4p, 363 weight class) and Patrick Cleary (ranked 4394 p4p, 436 weight class). 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.

Sheven
vs
Cleary

187 cm
26
185 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

172 cm
35
183 lbs
16 - 14 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sharven Sheven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 14 - 2, fighting out of New York, Patrick Cleary!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cleary looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cleary wants to clinch.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Cleary has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Cleary connects with a solid leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cleary has taken the fight to the clinch.

Cleary breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cleary looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cleary tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sheven manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sheven is looking to counter with a body kick.
Cleary tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sheven counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cleary tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sheven counters with a good low kick that Cleary was not able to check.
Cleary shoots in for a takedown but Sheven shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sheven tried to counter with a leg kick but Cleary avoided it.
Sheven defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cleary.
Sharven Sheven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Cleary.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cleary throws a nice inside leg kick.

Cleary moves into the clinch successfully.

Cleary has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Sheven regains guard immediately.

Sheven had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cleary defends it easily.
Cleary stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sheven swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Sheven escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cleary gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheven utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sheven is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sheven works his foot free and advances to mount.
Cleary gets back to half guard.
Sheven is looking to take a break and control but Cleary is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sheven performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cleary tries to kick Sheven off but Sheven keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Cleary is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cleary works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Patrick Cleary will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cleary walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sheven checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sheven attempts a counter takedown but Cleary avoids it well and moves away.
Cleary tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sheven counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Patrick Cleary has been cut.
Sharven Sheven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cleary tries to clinch but Sheven moves out of range.
Cleary swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Cleary or perhaps it was just good defense by Sheven, which made it look bad.
Sheven half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Cleary with that takedown attempt.
Sheven drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cleary sprawls and moves away.
Cleary is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sheven sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sharven Sheven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Cleary.
Cleary misses with a takedown attempt
and Sheven counters with a stiff right hand.
Cleary shoots in for a takedown but Sheven shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sheven appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

Cleary closes the distance and clinches.
Cleary tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Cleary manages to break the clinch.
Cleary tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sheven manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cleary drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sheven keeping moving, preventing Cleary from controlling successfully.
Sheven lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sheven looking to sit in guard and control but Cleary gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cleary stays in close to Sheven's body and controls the position.
Cleary pushes down on Sheven's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleary trying to control the action but Sheven is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cleary tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sheven knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Sheven looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sheven gets back to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sheven is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sheven working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cleary's head.
Sheven trying to control the position from guard on top but Cleary is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sheven showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sheven tries to free his leg and advance position but Cleary is retaining full guard.
Cleary keeping moving, preventing Sheven from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cleary wants to sweep but no luck.
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 Sharven Sheven will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Patrick Cleary's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Cleary doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sheven counters with a nice uppercut.
Cleary wants to clinch up but Sheven keeps it at a distance.
Sheven stuffs the takedown attempt from Cleary. Cleary gets slowly back to his feet.
Sheven drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cleary sprawls and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cleary.
It appears Sheven was looking to counter with a kick there.
Sharven Sheven has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Cleary.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cleary shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sheven but Sheven pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sheven throwing a counter right hand but Cleary manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleary tries to close the distance and clinch but Sheven swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cleary looks for a takedown but Sheven sprawls well.
Sheven thinks about countering with a body kick.

Cleary looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Sheven!

Cleary stands up.
Patrick Cleary seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cleary closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheven is not content to let Cleary control the position.
Sheven is looking for a sweep. Cleary is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Patrick Cleary has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sheven holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Cleary slows the pace down in half guard.
Cleary wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sheven keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sheven is looking to control Cleary's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sheven avoid being mounted?
Cleary controlling the action here.
Cleary is looking to advance position but Sheven won't allow it.
Sheven trying to control from the bottom.

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.
Sheven wants to get back to full guard.
Cleary throwing shots but Sheven is blocking nicely.
Cleary is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sheven stuffs the takedown.
Cleary darts in looking for a takedown but Sheven gets double underhooks and turns Cleary into the cage.
Sheven attempts a counter takedown but Cleary avoids it well and moves away.
Cleary shoots in and drives through. Sheven sprawls well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cleary has a takedown stuffed.

And that's the end of the fight!
Patrick Cleary comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cleary has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Patrick Cleary!
A less than humble Patrick Cleary misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.