PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Barnham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toto Kotunjo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Barnham
vs
Kotunjo

196 cm
18
216 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Boomerang! Fight Costumes

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Barnham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Toto Kotunjo!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Damien Edna and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnham stuffs the takedown attempt from Kotunjo. Kotunjo gets slowly back to his feet.
Barnham misses with a double jab.
Kotunjo attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kotunjo walks into a straight right hand from Barnham.
Barnham swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barnham fails to land with a series of punches.
A left and a right from Barnham both land. Nice combination.
Kotunjo doesn't manage to clinch there - Barnham circles away.
Kotunjo fails with a takedown attempt.
Barnham scores with a hook.
Barnham darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kotunjo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Barnham!
Kotunjo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Barnham on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Barnham tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnham is working to get back to half guard.
Barnham is working hard here to advance position.
Kotunjo thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Barnham really wants to buck Kotunjo off and get back to his feet.
Barnham takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kotunjo working the ground and pound effectively.
Kotunjo misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Kotunjo misses with a head shot.
Kotunjo lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnham is bucking up trying to escape but Kotunjo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Kotunjo wants to control the pace but Barnham is squirming around nicely.
Kotunjo looks gassed!
Barnham keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kotunjo landing strikes, looking to finish!
Barnham knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kotunjo on the ground.
Kotunjo pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Barnham holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kotunjo tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Barnham is squirming around, avoiding Kotunjo's attempts to control the action.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kotunjo has hold of Barnham's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Barnham manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Kotunjo won't let Barnham get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnham is working to get back to half guard.
Kotunjo looking to control but Barnham is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Barnham is wriggling around trying to escape.
Barnham is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Barnham is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Barnham slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

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.
Barnham is refusing to be controlled, as Kotunjo sits in half guard.
Kotunjo is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Barnham is trying to stand.
Barnham works his way to full guard. Good work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kotunjo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Barnham uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Barnham scores with a nice strike.
Ben Barnham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kotunjo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kotunjo is defended easily by Barnham.
Ben Barnham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toto Kotunjo.
Barnham throws out a powerful jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Barnham dominated that round.
That's time! Barnham's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Barnham rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kotunjo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barnham lands a jab.
Barnham moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ben Barnham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kotunjo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barnham circles away.
Barnham stalks Kotunjo and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kotunjo's face. Kotunjo staggers backwards, shaken.
Barnham scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Nice shot lands for Barnham.
Ben Barnham is winning the standup battle so far.
Kotunjo tries to clinch up.
Barnham looks to land a combination but Kotunjo avoids it well.
Barnham fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kotunjo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Good standup being displayed there by Barnham as he connects with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barnham lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kotunjo has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Barnham connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kotunjo. Kotunjo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Barnham lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ben Barnham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barnham scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Barnham misses with a two punch combination.
Barnham throws a low kick but Kotunjo avoids it.
Kotunjo closes the distance and clinches up with Barnham, looking for a takedown. Kotunjo pushes Barnham against the cage but Barnham circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Good exchange - Barnham coming out on top.
Barnham fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kotunjo on the side of the head.
Barnham throws a good cross that connects.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kotunjo.
Ben Barnham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toto Kotunjo.
Barnham lands an overhand right.
Kotunjo has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnham tests Kotunjo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Barnham lands with a cross.
Kotunjo tries to close the distance and clinch but Barnham swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barnham misses with a wild combination.
Left hook, right uppercut from Barnham.
Kotunjo avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Barnham punishes Kotunjo's body with a nice straight punch.
Barnham misses with a looping right.
Barnham connects with a jab.
Barnham keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kotunjo moves forwards but Barnham connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Barnham cracks Kotunjo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Barnham.
Barnham misses with a few strikes there.
Kotunjo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barnham is fending him off so far but Kotunjo persists. Nope, Barnham circles away and we're back to standing.
Barnham moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Jab, jab by Barnham - just one landing.
Barnham stuffs the takedown attempt from Kotunjo. Kotunjo gets slowly back to his feet.
Kotunjo takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A left lands for Barnham.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnham connects with a right hand. Kotunjo shakes it off.
Barnham misses with a few strikes there.
Barnham slaps away a takedown attempt from Kotunjo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Barnham scores with a punch to the head.
Kotunjo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Barnham defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kotunjo.
Barnham lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Kotunjo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Barnham looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barnham is trying to improve his position.
Kotunjo lands a decent elbow from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Barnham 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. This is the final round!

Kotunjo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kotunjo takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Barnham looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barnham scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Barnham throws a series of punches but Kotunjo moves out of range.
Kotunjo takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Kotunjo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kotunjo in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Kotunjo trying to control the position but Barnham is working away.
Kotunjo fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barnham tries to buck Kotunjo off but Kotunjo is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kotunjo decides to stand back up. Kotunjo steps back and let's Barnham get back to his feet.
Barnham misses with a series of wild punches.
Kotunjo with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Barnham to score with a decent uppercut.
Kotunjo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kotunjo moves in looking to clinch but Barnham pushes him off.
Kotunjo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barnham circles away.
Barnham will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kotunjo gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Barnham.
Kotunjo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barnham tries to avoid it but Kotunjo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barnham to the ground. Barnham escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Barnham slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Barnham throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kotunjo has a takedown stuffed.
Ben Barnham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toto Kotunjo.
Barnham throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barnham misses with a series of wild punches.
Barnham swats away the attempt to clinch by Kotunjo.
Barnham throws a combination. Kotunjo tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Barnham leaves Kotunjo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Barnham throws a leg kick that is checked

and Kotunjo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barnham's guard.
Kotunjo thows a big elbow that misses.
Barnham working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kotunjo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnham working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kotunjo.
Barnham wants to stand and escape but Kotunjo is having none of it.

Kotunjo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Barnham has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kotunjo has managed to get both his arms back between Barnham's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kotunjo postures up and lands a big shot to Barnham's brow.

Barnham is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Barnham wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barnham throws a right hand that Kotunjo ducks under and follows up with a left that Kotunjo also avoids with ease.

Kotunjo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kotunjo drops an elbow to the side of Barnham's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kotunjo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Barnham's head.
Barnham manages to get to full guard.

Barnham has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kotunjo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Barnham tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kotunjo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kotunjo trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kotunjo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Toto Kotunjo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kotunjo takes one on the chin but seems OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toto Kotunjo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barnham 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Barnham!