PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Monster Drink (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Avon Barksdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Avon Barksdale is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Drink
vs
Barksdale

175 cm
19
135 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

175 cm
23
140 lbs
2 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Monster Drink!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Avon Barksdale!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Eliza Hachem and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Drink avoids a punch combination nicely.
Barksdale looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Barksdale scores with a nice strike.

Drink changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Barksdale looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Drink cracks Barksdale with a big elbow.
You can see the frustration on Barksdale's face as Drink controls the position.
Drink working the ground and pound but Barksdale is defending the strikes.
Drink tries to advance to mount but Barksdale denies him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drink prevents Barksdale from escaping the position.
Drink wants to control but Barksdale is keeping him busy.
Drink tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Drink looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Drink wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barksdale keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barksdale displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Drink.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale tries to close the distance and clinch but Drink swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Drink closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Drink lands in his opponent's guard.
Drink really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Barksdale can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Drink controls the pace.
Barksdale can't keep his opponent in guard - Drink advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Drink lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Drink wants to pass the guard but Barksdale is defending well.
Drink throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Drink is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Barksdale doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Drink.
Drink trying to control from half guard but Barksdale is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drink prevents Barksdale from standing back up.
Drink performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Drink closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Barksdale is staying active underneath Drink, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Drink trying to mount his opponent but Barksdale defends it.
Drink not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barksdale tries to kick Drink off but Drink keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Drink content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drink trying to control from half guard but Barksdale is working away.
Barksdale keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Drink gets the takedown into side control.

Drink working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Barksdale's face as Drink controls the position.
Barksdale is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Drink has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Drink tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Drink has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Drink is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Barksdale knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Drink trying to control the action but Barksdale is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Barksdale swinging wildly here.

Drink shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Drink showed some decent athleticism there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monster Drink dominated that 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.

Drink changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barksdale tries to avoid it but Drink manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barksdale to the ground. Barksdale escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Drink shoots in for a takedown but Barksdale shows good takedown defense.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Drink.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Monster Drink. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drink takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Barksdale misses with a series of wild punches.
Drink tries for a takedown but Barksdale sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Barksdale gets caught flat footed, as Drink shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Drink seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barksdale keeping full guard, as Drink tries to pass.
Drink controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drink 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.
Drink trying to control the position from guard on top but Barksdale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Drink tries to free his leg and advance position but Barksdale is retaining full guard.

Barksdale kicks Drink off and gets to his feet.

Drink drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Drink controlling the position from side mount.
Monster Drink overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Barksdale wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drink is looking to take a break and control but Barksdale is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barksdale wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Barksdale is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Barksdale parries the strikes from Drink easily there. Drink is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Barksdale to escape.
Barksdale seems a little lost for a moment, as Drink dominates the positioning.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Drink is defended easily by Barksdale.
Monster Drink is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barksdale leaves Drink with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drink fails with the takedown.
Drink shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Drink fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barksdale avoids it really well and circles away.
Drink changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barksdale tries to avoid it but Drink manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barksdale to the ground. Barksdale escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Drink shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Barksdale pinned against the cage. Barksdale gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Barksdale moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Drink shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Barksdale defends it nicely.
Drink shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Drink shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Drink was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Barksdale's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Drink takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Barksdale is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Monster Drink dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Barksdale stuffs the takedown attempt from Drink. Drink gets slowly back to his feet.
Drink fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Barksdale doesn't manage to clinch there - Drink circles away.
Barksdale throws a series of punches but Drink moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Barksdale as Drink shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Monster Drink. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Barksdale gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Drink with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Drink missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Drink thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Drink thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drink distracts Barksdale with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Drink trying to control but Barksdale is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale keeping full guard, as Drink tries to pass.
Barksdale keeping moving, preventing Drink from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice takedown defense from Barksdale. No joy for Drink on that attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Barksdale.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Drink.
Avon Barksdale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drink shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Barksdale sprawls well. Barksdale wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Drink gets slowly back to his feet.
Barksdale connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Drink's hands.
Drink shoots in but no luck this time.
Avon Barksdale is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Drink decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Monster Drink is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale is trying to stand.
Drink controlling the pace.
Drink prevents Barksdale from standing back up.

Drink is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Barksdale pushes Drink off looking to stand but Drink dives back in and keeps control.
Drink is looking to advance position but Barksdale won't allow it.
Still in half guard, Drink seems content to control.

Barksdale has one foot on Drink's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Barksdale rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Drink moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barksdale keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Drink scores with a takedown into Barksdale's guard.
Barksdale is looking to stand up but Drink isn't so interested in that idea.
Drink wants to control from the top but Barksdale keeps moving.
Drink is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Drink drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Drink jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Barksdale is looking to stand up but Drink isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Drink feints and as Barksdale raises his hands in defense, Drink changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Drink slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Drink decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Barksdale, up you get!
Avon Barksdale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Barksdale gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Drink has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Barksdale being controlled here, momentarily.
Drink passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Monster Drink showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Drink, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Monster Drink!