PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Avon Barksdale (ranked 4283 p4p, 3066 weight class) and Slick Sanchez (ranked 259 p4p, 192 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Barksdale
vs
Sanchez

165 cm
20
140
1 - 4 - 0

161 cm
22
135
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Avon Barksdale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Slick Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barksdale changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sanchez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Barksdale working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Check out the look on Barksdale's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Barksdale goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Sanchez has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Barksdale but great work by Sanchez.
Barksdale is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Sanchez decides to stand up.
Barksdale tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sanchez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barksdale somewhat.
Barksdale shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sanchez defends it nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barksdale shoots in for a takedown but Sanchez shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Avon Barksdale. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sanchez.
Barksdale shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanchez as he avoids it easily.
Barksdale shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Some wild striking there from Sanchez.
Barksdale looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sanchez let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Barksdale looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Barksdale prevents Sanchez from standing back up.
Barksdale tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sanchez knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Sanchez is trying to stand up here but Barksdale is controlling him well.
Sanchez is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Sanchez is refusing to be controlled, as Barksdale sits in half guard.
Sanchez is trying to stand up here but Barksdale is controlling him well.
Sanchez felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Barksdale is trying to control the action in half guard but Sanchez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Barksdale scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez pushes Barksdale off and gets back to his feet.
Sanchez leaves Barksdale with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sanchez is looking for the big counter here.
Slick Sanchez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barksdale slips a jab and a cross from Sanchez.
Barksdale fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Barksdale looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sanchez is fending him off so far but Barksdale persists. Nope, Sanchez circles away and we're back to standing.

Barksdale drives through with a takedown into Sanchez's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Barksdale throws a big elbow that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet but Barksdale is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Barksdale scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sanchez wants to stand but Barksdale is controlling the position.
We've been hearing that Barksdale has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Barksdale looking to sit in guard and control but Sanchez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sanchez is looking to stand up but Barksdale won't let him.

Barksdale working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sanchez has passed into half guard!
Barksdale is looking for a sweep. Sanchez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Barksdale actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Barksdale manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sanchez wants to get up but he can't break Barksdale's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Sanchez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barksdale has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sanchez has managed to get both his arms back between Barksdale's legs - danger averted.
Sanchez wanted to stand there but Barksdale had control of the position.

Sanchez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Barksdale looking for a guillotine here but Sanchez defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barksdale is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sanchez defends well.
Sanchez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Barksdale's guard.
Barksdale 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.

Barksdale working for a triangle but Sanchez defends it easily.
Sanchez tries to stand but Barksdale is controlling from the bottom.

Sanchez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Slick Sanchez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

A combination from Sanchez does no damage.
Sanchez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barksdale circles away quickly and effectively.
Slick Sanchez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sanchez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Barksdale.

Sanchez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Barksdale to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Barksdale stops Sanchez from standing up.
Barksdale working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sanchez's head.
Sanchez keeping moving, preventing Barksdale from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barksdale throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanchez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Barksdale stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanchez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sanchez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barksdale is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sanchez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barksdale is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Barksdale prevents Sanchez from getting back to his feet.
Barksdale works over Sanchez with some ground and pound from guard.

Barksdale is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sanchez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sanchez has escaped and now he's on top!

Sanchez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sanchez wants to stand but Barksdale is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sanchez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barksdale looking for a guillotine here but Sanchez defends easily.

Barksdale is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Sanchez rolls with it to try and escape but Barksdale cranks on the arm and Sanchez is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Avon Barksdale!
During a confident post fight interview, Avon Barksdale thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.