PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Billington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Barkley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Billington
vs
Barkley

185 cm
23
272 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

200 cm
25
270 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

The Red Eye - Q155 for $60

Grappling Pro Gear

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Billington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Charles Barkley!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Chris Edwards and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barkley shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Billington on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Billington tries to get out of the position.
Billington wants to sweep but no luck.
Barkley controls from within his opponent's guard.

Barkley drops back looking for a leg! Billington is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Billington manages to kick Barkley off! Barkley jumps back into Billington's guard.
Barkley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Billington works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Barkley passes into half guard.
Barkley is just content to waste time from the top position. Billington takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Barkley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Barkley working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Billington's head.
Billington keeping full guard, as Barkley tries to pass.
Barkley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barkley has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Billington working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barkley.
Billington might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Billington preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barkley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Billington is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Barkley thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Billington keeping moving, preventing Barkley from controlling successfully.
Barkley throws and elbow that misses. Billington uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Barkley's guard. Nice move by Billington!
Billington keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Barkley's head.

Barkley has his foot on Billington's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Billington works his way back into a safe position though.
Barkley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Billington missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Barkley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Barkley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barkley looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barkley working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Billington doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Billington manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Billington postures up and lands a big shot to Barkley's brow.
Billington cracks Barkley with a solid left hand.
Billington slips nicely into half guard.
Billington lands strikes from half guard.

Barkley is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Billington pulls his head out easily.
Billington stalling.

Barkley is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Billington pulls his head out easily.
Billington knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Barkley on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barkley is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Billington scores with a couple of nice shots.
Billington working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are battling for position here. Barkley manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Billington postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barkley utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Barkley is looking for a triangle but Billington pushes his legs off easily.

Barkley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Billington stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barkley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barkley 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.
Barkley keeping moving, preventing Billington from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barkley looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Billington doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Barkley counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barkley.
Barkley stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Billington swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barkley forces his way into half guard.
Barkley sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Billington defending well though.
Barkley not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Barkley is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Billington!
Barkley throwing strikes here but Billington is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley scoring with strikes but Billington is staying in there.
Barkley misses with a head shot.
Barkley with a couple of short strikes.
Barkley is landing with some decent strikes but Billington is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Barkley throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Barkley lands a big shot there that rocks Billington but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Barkley scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Billington?
Barkley looking to finish with strikes here!

Barkley looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Barkley with shots to the head and body - Billington looks very uncomfortable down there.
Barkley unloads with some shots from mount but Billington bucks and avoids them well.
Barkley lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Barkley lands a nice shot to the head.
Barkley scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Billington?
Barkley prevents Billington from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkley unloads with some shots from mount but Billington bucks and avoids them well.
Billington in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Barkley looking to finish Billington with some ground and pound. This is bad for Billington!
Barkley postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Billington looks a forlorn figure.
Poor strikes thrown by Barkley there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Barkley lands a heavy elbow.
Barkley with the ground and pound from mount.
Barkley throws some wild stikes that Billington manages to avoid easily.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Barkley cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Barkley is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Billington is surviving well by controlling Barkley's body position as best he can.

Barkley is going olschool here, as he tries to force Billington to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Billington shrugs it off.
Barkley scoring with strikes but Billington is staying in there.
Barkley throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barkley throws some wild stikes that Billington manages to avoid easily.
Barkley with good strikes from the mount here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Barkley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Barkley shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Billington manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Barkley thows a big elbow that misses.
Barkley looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Billington wants to get back to his feet but Barkley is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Barkley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley forces his way into half guard.
Barkley thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Billington's head.
Barkley throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Barkley swings for the body but Billington moves out of range.

Barkley fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Billington sprawls well initially but Barkley persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Barkley there.
Barkley missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Barkley is trying to control the action in half guard but Billington is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Billington blocking the ground and pound attempt from Barkley.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barkley is trying to control the action in half guard but Billington is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Barkley throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Barkley is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Billington has managed to free his arm - good work.
Barkley thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Billington's head.
Barkley is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Barkley wants to pass the guard but Billington is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkley pushing down on Billington's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Barkley sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Billington defending well though.
Billington regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Barkley.
Barkley trying to move into half guard but instead Billington has managed to sweep!
Barkley wants to sweep here but Billington controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barkley is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barkley missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Barkley has gone for a leg lock! Billington slips out almost immediately though and dives into Barkley's guard.
Tom Billington has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Billington is in close to Barkley's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Charles Barkley is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Billington in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barkley working a defensive guard here.
Barkley lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Billington!

And that's the end of the fight!
Charles Barkley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barkley has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charles Barkley!