PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hannibal Barkas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Rowles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barkas comes to the cage accompanied by Civil war. 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.

Barkas
vs
Rowles

186 cm
22
209 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

184 cm
26
216 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Einherjer RAW Nutrition * Recovery 156 : 45$ *

SPARTAN FIGHTWARE-GTI
SPARTAN FIGHTWARE-GTI

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hannibal Barkas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Rowles!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Barkas crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Rowles - the referee stops the clock and Barkas gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Rowles. Barkas manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Hannibal Barkas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Rowles does no damage.
Rowles throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rowles throws a nice outside leg kick.

Barkas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Barkas creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rowles sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Rowles managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Barkas.
Rowles manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Barkas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rowles has hold of Barkas's hands but Barkas slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rowles tries to get to full guard but Barkas has control of the leg.
Rowles avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Barkas.
Rowles regains full guard. Nicely done.
Barkas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barkas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rowles looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rowles is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rowles pulls Barkas in close to prevent any damage.
Barkas tries to free his leg and advance position but Rowles is retaining full guard.
Rowles looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barkas looking to pass the guard.
Barkas postures up in Rowles's guard and throws a big left but Rowles blocks it.
Rowles working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barkas.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Barkas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rowles.

That's two 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.
Rowles thows a body shot but no joy.
Rowles blocks a head kick by Barkas.
Rowles scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Barkas looks to throw the jab but Rowles is out of range.
Rowles throws a lazy right hand but Barkas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Rowles shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Barkas tries to roll over but Rowles keeps him under control.
Barkas has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Barkas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rowles.
Barkas is looking for a sweep. Rowles is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowles content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Barkas is looking to improve his position.
Barkas is controlling Rowles's trapped leg to prevent Rowles from advancing to side control.
Rowles is taking a breather. Barkas says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rowles wants to pass to mount but Barkas is defending the position.

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.
Still in half guard, Rowles seems content to control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rowles is trying to control the action in half guard but Barkas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Barkas trying to hold on to Rowles's head to control him but Rowles postures up.
Rowles wants to take a breather but Barkas is having none of it.
Barkas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barkas holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Rowles is thwarting Barkas's attempts to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Some wild striking there from Rowles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Rowles dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A punch combination from Rowles misses.
Rowles swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barkas misses with a looping left.
No joy there for Barkas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rowles.
Rowles uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Barkas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barkas is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Barkas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rowles.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rowles.
Barkas moves in looking to clinch but Rowles pushes him off.
Rowles swats away the attempt to clinch by Barkas.
Rowles throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Barkas sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rowles thumps Barkas with a low kick.
Barkas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rowles digs a good body shot into Barkas's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barkas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barkas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rowles counters with a two punch combo.
Barkas is looking to clinch.
Barkas misses with a takedown

and Rowles decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barkas's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rowles trying to control the position from guard on top but Barkas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barkas being controlled here, momentarily.
Barkas keeping full guard, as Rowles tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowles trying to move into half guard but instead Barkas has managed to sweep!
Rowles trying to control the position.
Barkas postures up in Rowles's guard and throws a big left but Rowles blocks it.
Rowles is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rowles defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Barkas.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hannibal Barkas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barkas throws a head kick that Rowles semi-blocks.

It looks like Paul Rowles has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick misses from Barkas.
Barkas throws a right and a left that Rowles avoids nicely.
Barkas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rowles manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowles moves out of range as Barkas strikes.
Rowles will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A punch combination from Barkas misses.
Barkas throws the left hand but Rowles avoids the punch easily.
Rowles lands a right hook to the body.
Rowles is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Barkas rather than just go for the knockout.
Barkas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rowles paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rowles misses with a body kick.
Barkas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barkas tries to clinch but Rowles moves away

so Rowles counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Barkas wants to sweep but no luck.
Rowles controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rowles is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rowles trying to control but Barkas is working from the bottom.
Barkas is trying to control the position but Rowles postures up.
Rowles content to stall in guard here.
Barkas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Rowles showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Paul Rowles's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Barkas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Barkas darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Barkas scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Barkas is looking to clinch.
Rowles throws a wild body kick that Barkas sees coming a mile off.
Barkas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barkas. Rowles does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rowles avoids the head kick by Barkas.
Rowles fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rowles throws a series of punches but Barkas avoids them all with ease.
Rowles lands a nice hook to Barkas's body. Barkas takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Barkas fails with the takedown.
Rowles slaps away a takedown attempt from Barkas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Barkas throws out a leg kick but Rowles moves out of range and Barkas only half commits.
Rowles displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barkas throws out the jab.
Paul Rowles seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkas on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rowles takes a swing at Barkas's ribcage but misses.
Rowles gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Barkas decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rowles's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rowles looking for a sweep. Not yet Rowles, not yet.
Barkas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rowles managing to control the position.
Rowles 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.
Barkas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barkas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowles avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rowles is trying to control the position from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Barkas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rowles.
Rowles moves away from the strike by Barkas.
Barkas clinches but Rowles breaks the clinch
and Rowles counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Barkas throws a head kick but Rowles moves out of range.
Rowles stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rowles wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hannibal Barkas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barkas on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rowles. Rowles obviously looking to wear him down.
Barkas goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Barkas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barkas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rowles throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rowles is looking to slow Barkas down with leg kicks.
Barkas shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barkas clinches up with Rowles and pushes him back against the cage.
Rowles blocks an elbow strike.
Barkas working aggressively here.
Barkas throws an elbow that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Barkas creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Barkas trying to stall but Rowles improves his position.
Barkas looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rowles on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Rowles breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rowles throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rowles changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Barkas takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rowles cracks Barkas with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rowles lands a jab to the head.
Rowles connects with the punch.
Rowles looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rowles lands a body shot.
Some wild striking there from Rowles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barkas is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rowles.
Barkas takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Good exchange - Rowles coming out on top.
Barkas takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barkas is looking to clinch.
Paul Rowles is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rowles connects with a nice looking jab.
Rowles blocks a head kick by Barkas.
Barkas closes the distance but Rowles moves to the side

and Rowles counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rowles.
Rowles trying to control the position from guard on top but Barkas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hannibal Barkas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rowles showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
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.
Barkas will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Rowles comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rowles winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Rowles!