PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Preston Barksdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Berdo Haaasik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barksdale
vs
Haaasik

187 cm
25
191 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

183 cm
23
185 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Preston Barksdale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Berdo Haaasik!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, John Kavanagh and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barksdale throws a series of punches but Haaasik moves out of range.
Haaasik will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Barksdale fails with the takedown

and Haaasik counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barksdale won't be happy with that.
Haaasik with the ground and pound but Barksdale regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Barksdale won't allow Haaasik to pass to mount.
Barksdale trying to control from the bottom.
Haaasik is looking to take a break and control but Barksdale is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barksdale wants to improve his position but Haaasik is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haaasik not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Haaasik wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barksdale keeps working.
Haaasik is looking to advance position but Barksdale won't allow it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Barksdale doesn't manage to clinch there - Haaasik circles away.
Barksdale doesn't manage to clinch there - Haaasik circles away.
Haaasik misses with a straight right.
Haaasik doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Barksdale counters with a shoot takedown. Haaasik fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale pushing down on Haaasik's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Barksdale works his way into side control.
Haaasik is looking to regain half guard here but Barksdale keeps moving and retains side control.

Barksdale is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Haaasik has escaped the position, nice work there.
Haaasik is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Haaasik's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Haaasik sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale wants to stand up but Haaasik has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Haaasik won't allow Barksdale to pass to mount.
Haaasik trying to control from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A right-left combo lands from Barksdale.

Barksdale takes the fight into the clinch.

Barksdale breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barksdale finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Haaasik has a takedown stuffed.
Preston Barksdale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Berdo Haaasik.
Haaasik misses with the combination.
Barksdale throws a predictable looking body shot
and Haaasik counters with a two punch combo.
Haaasik looks gassed!
Haaasik will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Haaasik clinches up with Barksdale and pushes him back against the cage.

Barksdale has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Haaasik uses from the top position.

Barksdale is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Barksdale keeping full guard, as Haaasik tries to pass.

Haaasik drops back looking for a leg! Barksdale is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Barksdale manages to kick Haaasik off! Haaasik jumps back into Barksdale's guard.

Barksdale pushes Haaasik off and gets back to his feet.
Barksdale tries to close the distance and clinch up but Haaasik swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Barksdale is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Haaasik's half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haaasik is concentrating on defense, preventing Barksdale from advancing position.
Barksdale is looking to take a break and control but Haaasik is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Barksdale is working for a kimura but Haaasik is defending it quite comfortably.

Haaasik is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barksdale pulls his head out easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Haaasik is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Barksdale's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Barksdale's back!
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 Preston Barksdale will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Haaasik throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Haaasik throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Haaasik fails with a takedown attempt.
Barksdale throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Haaasik connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barksdale shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Haaasik counters with a single leg into guard. Barksdale didn't expect that.
Barksdale wants to get back to his feet but Haaasik is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Haaasik wants to control from the top but Barksdale keeps moving.
Haaasik postures up.
Barksdale keeping moving, preventing Haaasik from controlling successfully.
Haaasik pushes down on Barksdale's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Haaasik is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Barksdale won't allow Haaasik to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haaasik wants to take a breather but Barksdale is having none of it.
Haaasik with the ground and pound but Barksdale uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Barksdale looking for a sweep. Not yet Barksdale, not yet.
Haaasik pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barksdale is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Haaasik fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barksdale slaps away a takedown attempt from Haaasik, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Barksdale clinches.

Barksdale gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Barksdale trying to control the action but Haaasik is working from the bottom.
Barksdale with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barksdale wants to work for an arm triangle but Haaasik is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Haaasik trying to hold on to Barksdale's head to control him but Barksdale postures up.
Haaasik moves into full guard.
Haaasik controls Barksdale momentarily but Barksdale frees himself.

Haaasik working for a triangle but Barksdale defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Haaasik's head.
Barksdale wants to stand and escape but instead Haaasik has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Barksdale wants to get back to his feet but Haaasik is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Haaasik passes Barksdale's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Haaasik is trying to control. Barksdale wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Haaasik wants to free his trapped foot but Barksdale is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Barksdale is in trouble now - Haaasik has advanced to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haaasik trying to control but Barksdale is having none of it.
Barksdale is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Haaasik controlling from the full mount.
Barksdale holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Haaasik tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Barksdale slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Haaasik looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Barksdale tries to roll over but Haaasik keeps him under control.
Haaasik trying to control from half guard but Barksdale is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Berdo Haaasik showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Barksdale shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Haaasik manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Barksdale stopping the sweep attempt from Haaasik.
Barksdale looking to pass the guard.
Haaasik manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Barksdale manages to get himself to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Haaasik stands up over Barksdale, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Haaasik slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Barksdale is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Barksdale wants to control but Haaasik passes into side.

Haaasik is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Barksdale has escaped the position, nice work there.

Haaasik wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Barksdale, who protects the arm well.
Barksdale manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Haaasik works his way to full guard. Good work.
Haaasik keeping moving, preventing Barksdale from controlling successfully.
Barksdale is really struggling to control Haaasik but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Haaasik is trying to keep Barksdale in close.
Haaasik managing to control the position.
Barksdale controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Haaasik working for a triangle but Barksdale defends it easily.
Barksdale postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Haaasik looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barksdale is one step ahead there.
Barksdale trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Barksdale has gone for a leg lock! Haaasik slips out almost immediately though and dives into Barksdale's guard.

Haaasik got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barksdale has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Haaasik has managed to get both his arms back between Barksdale's legs - danger averted.
Haaasik passes into half guard.
Haaasik passes the guard and advances to mount!

Haaasik working for a submission here. He's tucked his head under his opponent's arm, looking for an arm triangle. He's hopped off into side control, looking to tighten the submission... is it going to work? He's given up a good position looking for it. Barksdale looks OK. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's out! That must have been tighter than I thought! Excellent work there by Haaasik! Submission of the night perhaps?

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Berdo Haaasik!