PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bernard Blackstone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Barraclough (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barraclough is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: MGMT - Electric Feel. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Blackstone
vs
Barraclough

181 cm
24
171 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

188 cm
26
180 lbs
7 - 1 - 2

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bernard Blackstone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Barraclough!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Steve Erwin and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackstone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barraclough tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barraclough throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Blackstone sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Barraclough ducks under a wild hook from Blackstone.
Barraclough shoots in but no luck this time.
Blackstone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barraclough paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Blackstone throws a hook but Barraclough blocks it.
Blackstone lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Blackstone fails with an attempt to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barraclough. Blackstone does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blackstone is looking to clinch.
Blackstone wants to clinch up but Barraclough keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Blackstone as Barraclough shoots in.
Blackstone avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Blackstone closes the distance looking to clinch
and Barraclough counters with a good, hard body kick but Blackstone shrugs it off.
Mike Barraclough seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barraclough slips a jab from Blackstone.
Blackstone slips a jab from Barraclough.
Blackstone tries to clinch but Barraclough moves away
and Barraclough counters with a left and a right that stings Blackstone.
Barraclough moves out of range as Blackstone strikes.
Barraclough looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Blackstone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Blackstone wants to clinch
and Barraclough counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackstone misses with a hook.
Bernard Blackstone is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barraclough tries to score with a low kick but Blackstone moves his leg out of the way.
Blackstone is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Barraclough's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Barraclough throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barraclough fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barraclough closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Barraclough gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Blackstone tries a knee to the head but Barraclough blocks it.
Blackstone tries to stall but Barraclough uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Blackstone being controlled against the cage.

Blackstone's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barraclough misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Blackstone.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barraclough throws a right and a left that Blackstone avoids nicely.
Barraclough slips a jab from Blackstone.

Blackstone drives through and clinches with Barraclough against the cage.
Blackstone tries to land a knee to the head but Barraclough blocks with his arms.
Barraclough lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Blackstone misses with a knee strike.
Barraclough managing to block the knees to the body from Blackstone.
Blackstone landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Barraclough has Blackstone pressed against the cage.
Barraclough tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Blackstone avoids it.
Blackstone has had enough of the clinch but Barraclough keeps him there for the moment.
Blackstone is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Blackstone with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Blackstone has Barraclough pushed against the cage.
Blackstone tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barraclough managing to block the knees to the body from Blackstone.
Barraclough softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Barraclough effectively controlling the action here.
Barraclough tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Blackstone avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackstone is trying to break the clinch but Barraclough has him pressed against the cage.
Blackstone trying to land knees to the body.
Blackstone is trying to break the clinch but Barraclough has him pressed against the cage.
Blackstone misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barraclough.
Barraclough is trying to drag Blackstone to the mat but Blackstone just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Bernard Blackstone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Barraclough.
Barraclough scores a nice knee to the body.
Blackstone scores with a knee to the head.
Barraclough fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Barraclough digs a right hand underneath Blackstone's ribcage. Blackstone let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Barraclough blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Blackstone with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Blackstone missing with knees to the body.
Blackstone with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Barraclough with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Blackstone escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Blackstone throws a hook but Barraclough avoids it easily.
Blackstone darts in trying to clinch

and Barraclough counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Barraclough.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Barraclough will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Blackstone listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Barraclough shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Blackstone sprawls well. Blackstone wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barraclough gets slowly back to his feet.
Barraclough circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barraclough swats away the attempt to clinch by Blackstone.
A head kick misses from Barraclough.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A bone on bone clash there as Barraclough blocks the leg kick.
Blackstone tries to clinch but Barraclough moves away
and Barraclough counters with a one-two to the body.
Barraclough scores with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barraclough thows a body shot but no joy.
Blackstone tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Barraclough counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Barraclough takes a swing at Blackstone's ribcage but misses.
Blackstone tries to clinch but Barraclough moves away
and Barraclough counters with a two punch combo.
Blackstone throws a sloppy body shot
and Barraclough cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Blackstone tries to clinch up.
Barraclough lands a head kick. Blackstone smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Nice sprawl there from Blackstone as Barraclough shoots in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackstone swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Blackstone connects with a good right hand that stumbles Barraclough. Barraclough circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blackstone loads up on a big right hand but Barraclough slips the punch.
Barraclough tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blackstone swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Blackstone closes the distance looking to clinch
and Barraclough counters with a three punch combo that has Blackstone backing up. Blackstone nods at Barraclough to acknowledge the strikes.
Barraclough connects with a high kick.
Blackstone connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Barraclough's hands.
Blackstone throws out a loose jab but Barraclough uses good head movement to avoid it.
Blackstone wants to clinch
and Barraclough counters with a three punch combo that has Blackstone backing up. Blackstone nods at Barraclough to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barraclough keeps the fight on the outside.
Barraclough avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barraclough showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Blackstone.
Barraclough throws a series of strikes that have Blackstone backpedaling.
Barraclough fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A head kick misses from Blackstone.
Barraclough ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Blackstone moves away.
Barraclough fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bernard Blackstone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Barraclough.
Barraclough is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Barraclough will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bernard Blackstone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barraclough circles away from the clinch attempt

and Barraclough counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barraclough.
Barraclough throwing strikes but missing.
Barraclough stops Blackstone from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barraclough throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Barraclough showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Blackstone wants to clinch
and Barraclough counters with a leg kick.
Barraclough ducks under a wild hook from Blackstone.
Blackstone moves in looking to clinch but Barraclough pushes him off.
Barraclough shoots in for a takedown but Blackstone shows good takedown defense.
Barraclough throws a big shot that misses.
Blackstone tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Barraclough shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Barraclough was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Blackstone is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barraclough tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Barraclough unloads with some shots from mount but Blackstone bucks and avoids them well.
Barraclough throwing strikes but Blackstone recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Blackstone keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Blackstone manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Blackstone tries to clinch
and Barraclough connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barraclough misses with a combination

and Blackstone counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Blackstone.
Blackstone tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Blackstone working Barraclough over with knees to the body.
Barraclough takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barraclough fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Blackstone lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Blackstone crunches a lovely knee into Barraclough's ribcage.
Blackstone blocks a body shot from Barraclough.
Blackstone gets underhooks to prevent Barraclough's takedown attempt.
Blackstone connects with a knee to the head.
Blackstone using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Barraclough has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Barraclough throws a punch but it's blocked by Blackstone.
Blackstone tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Blackstone escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barraclough circles away from the clinch attempt
and Barraclough counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Blackstone thinking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barraclough swats away the attempt to clinch by Blackstone.
Barraclough defending well as Blackstone loads up on a big left hand.
Nice takedown defense from Blackstone. No joy for Barraclough on that attempt.
Bernard Blackstone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Barraclough.
Nice sprawl there from Blackstone as Barraclough shoots in.
Blackstone connects with a body shot.
Blackstone is looking to clinch but Barraclough is avoiding it.

Blackstone gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Blackstone utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Mike Barraclough is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackstone tries a knee to the head but Barraclough blocks it.
Blackstone misses with a knee to the head.
Blackstone connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barraclough's face.
Barraclough blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Blackstone tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Blackstone throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barraclough blocks it with crossed arms.
Barraclough missing with knees to the body.
Blackstone with a knee to the head.
Barraclough on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Blackstone prevents the takedown attempt.

Blackstone manages to break the clinch.
Barraclough looks to score with a jab to the body but Blackstone is just out of range.
Bernard Blackstone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barraclough avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mike Barraclough seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Blackstone looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Blackstone is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Blackstone has closed the distance and engaged Barraclough in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernard Blackstone showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Barraclough has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!