PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Haggar (ranked 1259 p4p, 1164 weight class) and Tu Barrels (ranked 166 p4p, 157 weight class). Mike Haggar could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Tu Barrels's chin.

Haggar
vs
Barrels

202 cm
29
266
18 - 14 - 0

195 cm
29
265
11 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Haggar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Tu Barrels!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Steven Brown and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barrels throws an off balance right hand
and Haggar counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Barrels throws the left hand but Haggar avoids the punch easily.
Haggar connects with a single shot there.

It looks like Tu Barrels has been cut.
Haggar has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Crapollas Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Barrels fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Haggar manages to avoid it.
Haggar takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A decent looking cross lands there for Barrels.
Barrels misses with a straight left.

Haggar bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Barrels! He dives into his guard looking to finish!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barrels looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Haggar puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Barrels moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Haggar throws a strike but Barrels rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Haggar has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Barrels trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barrels scoring with some ground and pound.
Barrels stands and throws Haggar's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haggar is trying to get back to half guard.
Haggar manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Barrels tries to pass to full mount but Haggar defends it.
Barrels scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Haggar is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Barrels lands a nice short elbow.
Barrels thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Barrels looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Haggar makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Haggar.
Haggar wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrels landing with the ground and pound.
My spies in The Jungle Room inform me that Barrels has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Haggar keeping full guard, as Barrels tries to pass.
Haggar striking off his back.
Barrels won't allow Haggar to sweep him here.
Barrels works over Haggar with some ground and pound from guard.
Barrels tries to free his leg and advance position but Haggar is retaining full guard.
Haggar striking from his own guard.
Haggar manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Barrels manages to get himself to full guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barrels is on top in guard.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barrels scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrels with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barrels stands up over Haggar, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Barrels wants to pass the guard but Haggar is keeping the position.
Barrels must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Haggar 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.
Barrels stands up over Haggar, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Haggar throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Haggar 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.
Barrels works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Barrels thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Barrels lands a nice short elbow.
Haggar works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haggar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Haggar scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Haggar connects with a nice short shot to Barrels's temple.
Haggar lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Barrels is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Barrels tries to roll over but Haggar keeps him under control.
Haggar working over Barrels with some ground and pound. Barrels looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Haggar is trying to control the action in half guard but Barrels is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Barrels makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Barrels.

Barrels is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mike Haggar will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tu Barrels's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Barrels thuds a left hand into Haggar's body.
Barrels throws a hook to the side of Haggar's head but Haggar sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
It looked like Haggar wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mike Haggar is winning the standup battle so far.
Barrels staying out of range there.
Haggar defending well as Barrels loads up on a big left hand.
Haggar was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Barrels closes the distance and pushes Haggar back into the cage.
Haggar tries to pull guard but Barrels forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Barrels tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Barrels.
Haggar tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barrels smiles and moves away.
Barrels wants to clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Haggar misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haggar looks to land a right hand but Barrels moved out of range.
Haggar throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barrels tries to counter with a clinch but Haggar shakes him off and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrels jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A jab from Haggar misses.
Barrels steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Haggar.
Barrels throws a jab but it's blocked by Haggar.
An attempted straight right counter from Haggar misses the target.
Barrels misses with a right hand
and Haggar counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Barrels thinking.
Barrels rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Haggar counters with a stiff right hand.
Barrels scores with a jab to the body.
Barrels misses the shot to the body.
Haggar throwing a counter right hand but Barrels manages to avoid it.
The crowd cheers as Barrels lands an impressive looking overhand right. Haggar doesn't seem phased though.
Barrels throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Haggar on the side of the head.
Barrels throws a lazy right hand but Haggar sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Barrels lands a jab to the head.

Barrels closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Haggar fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Haggar. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Barrels throws an elbow but misses.
Haggar has a couple of punches blocked by Barrels.
Barrels lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Haggar backwards.
Haggar goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barrels is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Haggar is defending well for now.

Haggar gets control of Barrels's arms and successfully pulls guard. Haggar will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Barrels passes into half guard.
Tu Barrels has got the better of the ground game so far.
Barrels thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Haggar's head.
Barrels scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Barrels working the head and body with strikes.
Barrels thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Haggar's head.
Barrels not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Barrels trying to mount his opponent but Haggar defends it.
Haggar moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haggar looking for a sweep. Not yet Haggar, not yet.
Barrels content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Barrels pushes down on Haggar's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Barrels slips a nice elbow through Haggar's hands, connecting with Haggar's forehead.
Haggar tries to roll over but Barrels keeps him under control.
Barrels works his foot free and advances to mount.
Haggar tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A nice elbow there by Barrels.

Haggar is rocked!
Barrels lands a big shot to the head and Haggar winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Tu Barrels!
Tu Barrels seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.