PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael O Leary (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomark Barker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). O Leary comes to the cage accompanied by B.o.B - I'll Be In The Sky. Tomark Barker told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

O Leary
vs
Barker

172 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
162 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Win Nutritional - proof of quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael O Leary!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tomark Barker!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barker tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but O Leary swivels and escapes.

O Leary shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
O Leary with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Barker looks like he's trying to stand up.

Barker kicks off O Leary and gets to his feet.
Tomark Barker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Barker.
Barker fails with the takedown
and O Leary counters with a head kick.

O Leary closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Barker to the mat! Barker manages to get full guard.
O Leary wants to get up but he can't break Barker's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Barker wants to get back to his feet but O Leary is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
O Leary stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barker swivels though and keeps the full guard.

O Leary gets to his feet - Barker follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barker fails with the takedown
and O Leary counters with a good low kick that Barker was not able to check.
Michael O Leary has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomark Barker.
O Leary scores with a jab.
O Leary tries to clinch but Barker moves out of range.
Barker doesn't succeed with the takedown

and O Leary moves into the clinch.
Barker looks gassed!
O Leary prevents a takedown attempt there.
O Leary tries to break the clinch but Barker is controlling the position.

O Leary pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Barker.

Barker gets caught flat footed, as O Leary shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
O Leary stops Barker from standing up.
O Leary pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barker is keeping the position for now.
Barker wants to stand up but O Leary is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker being controlled here, momentarily.
O Leary has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
O Leary slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
O Leary controls the position.
Barker stops O Leary from passing to mount.
Barker is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, O Leary asserts his dominance and retains side control.

O Leary stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael O Leary dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Barker feints and as O Leary raises his hands in defense, Barker changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Barker drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and O Leary dives on top into guard.

O Leary stands up from Barker's guard - O Leary perhaps looking for a knockout.

Barker gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows O Leary to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Barker is working an open guard so O Leary takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Barker is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Leary scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
O Leary misses with a double jab.
O Leary throws a head kick but Barker moves out of range.
Barker misses with a takedown

and O Leary counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Barker goes for a takedown in the clinch but O Leary prevents it.

O Leary is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Barker can't fight it off and eventually O Leary manages to take the fight to the floor. Barker looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
O Leary trying to control the position from guard on top but Barker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barker wants to get back to his feet but O Leary is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Leary is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

O Leary gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Michael O Leary is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for O Leary, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Barker with a lazy takedown attempt

and O Leary moves into the clinch.
Michael O Leary has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomark Barker.

O Leary breaks from the clinch.
O Leary throws a sloppy head kick and Barker moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker is looking to clinch.
Some wild striking there from O Leary.
O Leary tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
O Leary buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
O Leary misses with a few strikes there.
O Leary swinging wilding here.
Barker doesn't succeed with the takedown
and O Leary counters with a straight right hand.
Barker tries for a takedown but O Leary circles away easily
and O Leary counters with a two punch combo.
Barker shoots in for a double leg but O Leary sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Barker shoots for a takedown but O Leary saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Barker with a lazy takedown attempt
and O Leary counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

O Leary clinches up with Barker and pushes him back against the cage.

Barker turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Barker manages to end up in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barker is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but O Leary is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
O Leary is trying to buck Barker off.

Barker tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Barker has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
What's O Leary going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
O Leary is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael O Leary dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Barker with a poor takedown

and O Leary counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Barker wants to get back to his feet.
Barker has hold of O Leary's hands but O Leary slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Barker looks like he's trying to stand up.

O Leary escapes and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barker misses with a takedown attempt

and O Leary counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by O Leary.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
O Leary tries to free his leg and advance position but Barker is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

O Leary stands and steps away. Barker gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Barker misses with a takedown attempt

and O Leary decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barker's guard.
Michael O Leary has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomark Barker.
O Leary wants to control from the top but Barker keeps moving.

Barker scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Barker wants to clinch but O Leary slips to the side

and O Leary counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
O Leary slows the pace down.
Tomark Barker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barker is pushing O Leary's head away, looking to escape. O Leary manages to hold on to the position though.
Barker gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
A nice elbow there by O Leary.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Leary moves to back control.
A bit of a pause in the action here. O Leary controlling the positon.
Barker trying to get back to his feet but O Leary is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Oooh a big shot gets through from O Leary. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Barker takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Michael O Leary is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
O Leary really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Barker.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barker looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael O Leary showed his dominance in that final round.
Well O Leary has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:26
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:26
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael O Leary!