PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Travis Barker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nate Carson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barker
vs
Carson

188 cm
23
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

187 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Travis Barker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nate Carson!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Carson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Barker tries to score a body lock takedown but Carson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Carson slowing the pace effectively.
Carson misses with an elbow strike.
Barker blocking some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Carson.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Carson.
A short uppercut from Carson.
Carson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Carson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Carson lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Travis Barker has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carson misses with some punches.
Carson misses with the head strike.
Barker has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Carson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Carson presses Barker against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carson misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Carson.
Barker throws a head punch that misses.
Barker looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Travis Barker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carson stalling.
Barker is trying to drag Carson to the mat but Carson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Barker tries to pull guard but Carson holds him up against the cage and eventually Barker drops back down to his feet.
Barker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right from Barker on the inside.
Carson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Barker jumps guard but Carson stands there with Barker around his waist. Barker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Carson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Carson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Barker can't get the takedown.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Carson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A short uppercut from Carson.
Barker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Carson is pressed up against the cage. Barker has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Carson down to the mat. Carson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Carson lands a jab-cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Carson.
Carson tries to clinch up but Barker circles away and keeps his distance.
No joy there for Carson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Carson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Carson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Carson as Barker tries to tie him up.
Barker wants a takedown but no success here.
Carson misses with an elbow strike.
Carson stops a takedown attempt from Barker.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Carson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Barker goes for a takedown attempt but Carson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Carson wants to clinch.
Carson wants to clinch up but Barker keeps it at a distance.

Barker closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Carson did well to prevent Barker getting side control.

Barker is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Barker stops Carson from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Carson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Travis Barker's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Carson swinging wildly here.
Carson tries a low kick but Barker avoids it.
Barker steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Carson.
Carson throws a leg kick but Barker sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Barker tries to close the distance and clinch but Carson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Carson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Carson throws a right and a left that Barker avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Carson darts in and clinches Barker up against the cage.
Carson prevents the takedown attempt.
Carson swings wildly with an uppercut but Barker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Carson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carson misses with a knee to the head.
Carson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Carson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Barker backwards.

Barker is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Carson can't fight it off and eventually Barker manages to take the fight to the floor. Carson looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Barker won't allow Carson to sweep him here.
Carson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barker. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Barker drops back looking for a leg! Carson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Carson manages to kick Barker off! Barker jumps back into Carson's guard.
Barker trying to control the position from guard on top but Carson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barker drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Barker jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Barker stops Carson from standing up.

Barker thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Barker drops back looking for a leg! Carson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Carson manages to kick Barker off! Barker jumps back into Carson's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Barker shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Carson defends it nicely.
Nate Carson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carson misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from Carson.
Barker doesn't manage to clinch there - Carson circles away.
Barker is looking to clinch but Carson is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Carson misses with a two punch combination.
Carson throws a series of punches but Barker moves out of range.
Carson throws a series of punches but Barker avoids them all with ease.
Some wild striking there from Carson.
Carson closes the distance but Barker moves to the side

and Barker decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Carson's guard.
Barker trying to control but Carson is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Carson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Barker looking to sit in guard and control but Carson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barker looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Barker dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Travis Barker's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Barker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Carson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Barker counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Carson's guard now.

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

Barker is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Barker postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Carson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Barker, into his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carson tries to stand but Barker is controlling from the bottom.
Carson content to stall in guard here.

Barker throws his legs up looking for a submission but Carson uses it to pass to side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's two 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.
Barker bucks up and tries to throw Carson off but instead Carson has got his back!
Barker is trying to get back to his feet but Carson has full control of the position and if anything, Barker has just worked his way into a worse spot.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Carson controlling the positon.
Carson is hanging on to Barker's back as he tries to escape.
Barker is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Carson.
Carson is trying to stick to Barker's back but Barker is turning into Carson. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Carson's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Barker.

Barker drops back, looking for a kneebar! Carson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Carson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Carson!
Barker is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker seems a little lost for a moment, as Carson dominates the positioning.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carson wants to stand but Barker has his arm trapped.
Barker tries to improve position but can't.

Carson stands up and beckons Barker to his feet.
Carson misses with a double jab

and Barker counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Carson's guard now.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barker working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Carson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Carson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Barker looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Carson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Barker showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Barker has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Barker!