PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Barnett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Malik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barnett comes to the ring accompanied by Alaj volim kad je pomalena. The crowd seem to be enjoying Malik's choice of entrance music: Rocky Theme. 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.

Barnett
vs
Malik

188 cm
29
240 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

195 cm
24
255 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mirko Barnett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sam Malik!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnett dodges the punch combination from Malik.
Malik moves in looking to clinch but Barnett pushes him off.
Barnett scores with a spinning back kick!

Barnett gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Barnett landing knees to the body.
Malik looks gassed!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnett crunches a lovely knee into Malik's ribcage.
Barnett tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barnett lands a body punch.
Barnett is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Barnett unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Malik takes a knee right on the jaw!
Barnett unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Barnett looking to throw knees to the head but Malik is blocking nicely.
Barnett unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Barnett tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Barnett's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Malik waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barnett.
Barnett lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Malik fails to land with a series of punches.
Barnett lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Barnett.

Barnett has managed to clinch.
Barnett with a knee to the head.
Barnett using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Malik has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik is trying to break the clinch but Barnett has him pressed against the ropes.
Malik takes a knee right on the jaw!
Barnett misses with a knee strike.
Barnett misses with a knee strike.
Barnett with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Barnett with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Malik tries to circle away but Barnett has him pinned against the ropes.
Barnett trying to control the position but instead, Malik has worked for underhooks and has pushed Barnett into the ropes.
Barnett has Malik pressed against the ropes, preventing Malik from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Barnett trying to land knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Barnett keeps control of Malik as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Malik is trying to break free.
Malik on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Malik is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Malik is trying to push Barnett away but Barnett has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
A frustrated look appears on Malik's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Malik tries to break free but Barnett pushes him back against the ropes.
Barnett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Malik blocks it with crossed arms.
Malik tries to break the clinch but Barnett is controlling the position.
Malik has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Malik looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Barnett has Malik pressed against the ropes, preventing Malik from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Barnett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Malik falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barnett counters with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Barnett clinches with his opponent.
Barnett misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Malik.
Barnett with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Malik breaks the clinch.
Malik throws a looping overhand right but Barnett ducks down to avoid it.
Malik swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Barnett counters by clinching up.
Malik tries to break free but Barnett pushes him back against the ropes.
Malik managing to block the knees to the body from Barnett.
Barnett missing with knees to the body.
Malik blocks a body shot from Barnett.
Barnett is trying to stall.
Barnett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Malik blocks it with crossed arms.

Malik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barnett throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Malik tries to clinch but Barnett moves away
and Barnett counters with a slapping leg kick.
Malik tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barnett swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Malik misses with a double jab.
Barnett throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnett fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Barnett throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Barnett landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Malik is looking to break free of the clinch but Barnett has double underhooks.
Barnett tries to land a knee to the head but Malik blocks with his arms.
Malik is looking to break free of the clinch but Barnett has double underhooks.
Barnett is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Malik wants to get back to striking at distance but Barnett won't allow it.
Malik is trying to break free.
Barnett landing knees to the head.
Malik is trying to break the clinch but Barnett is controlling him.
Barnett unloads a knee to the mid-section. Malik lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Malik wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Barnett throws a knee to the head but misses.
Malik is trying to break the clinch but Barnett has him pressed against the ropes.
Malik working hard to break the clinch.
Barnett connects with a nasty looking knee right to Malik's face.
Barnett tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Malik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Barnett forces Malik back against the ropes and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Malik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Malik misses with the combination.
Malik wants to clinch but Barnett slips to the side
enabling Barnett to counter with a crisp jab.
Barnett throws a nice outside leg kick.
Malik swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Barnett counters with a nice low kick that buckles Malik's knee momentarily.
Sam Malik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Malik throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Barnett counters with a nice uppercut.
Barnett lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Malik throws a left and a right that both miss
and Barnett counters with a slapping leg kick.
Barnett scores with a push kick.
Barnett keeps Malik at a distance using the push kick.
Barnett chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Barnett swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Barnett rushes Malik and presses him up against the ropes.
A frustrated look appears on Malik's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Barnett missing with knees to the body.
Malik looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Barnett tries to land a knee to the head but Malik blocks with his arms.
Malik wants to break free but Barnett has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Barnett dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Malik tries to clinch up
and Barnett makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Malik tries to clinch up.
Barnett fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Malik misses with a double jab
and Barnett counters with an outside leg kick.
Mirko Barnett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Malik throws a nice looking combination but Barnett bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Malik tries to keep at a distance but Barnett has taken the fight into the clinch.
Barnett landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Barnett with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Barnett keeps control of Malik as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Barnett connects with a nasty looking knee right to Malik's face.
Barnett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Malik blocks it with crossed arms.
Barnett putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Malik in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barnett tries a knee to the head but Malik blocks it.
Malik wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Barnett missing with knees to the body.
Barnett keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Malik's efforts to push away.
Mirko Barnett has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Malik wants to get back to striking at distance but Barnett won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnett missing with knees to the body.

Malik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Malik has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Malik there as he acknowledges the shot.
Malik darts in trying to clinch

and Barnett moves into the clinch.
Malik wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barnett has him pressed against the ropes.
Barnett with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Barnett using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Malik has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Malik is trying to push Barnett away but Barnett has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

Malik escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Barnett misses with a head kick.
Malik scores with a body shot.
Malik throws a leg kick

and Barnett counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Barnett.
Barnett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Malik blocks it with crossed arms.
Barnett keeps control of Malik as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Barnett with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Barnett landing knees to the head.
Barnett missing with knees to the body.
Malik managing to block the knees to the body from Barnett.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malik breaks the clinch.
Barnett throws a leg kick which misses Malik's front leg but catches the back leg as Malik tries to avoid it.
Malik lands a two punch combo.
Barnett goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Malik throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Barnett counters with a one-two to the body.
Malik misses with a wild combination.
Malik throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Barnett counters with a nice leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Barnett, right into the meat.
Malik takes a kick to the side of the head.
Barnett shoots in for a takedown but Malik shows good takedown defense.
Malik works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Malik misses with a combination

and Barnett counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Barnett landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Barnett lands a knee to the head.
Barnett with a knee to the head.
Malik blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malik wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Barnett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Malik blocks it with crossed arms.
Malik wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Barnett lands a nice knee to the body.
Barnett landing knees to the head.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Barnett tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Malik tries to circle away but Barnett has him pinned against the ropes.
Barnett is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Malik is defending well for now.
Malik is trying to break free.
Malik managing to block the knees to the body from Barnett.
Malik is looking to break free of the clinch but Barnett has double underhooks.
Malik is trying to break the clinch but Barnett is controlling him.
Barnett misses with a knee strike.
Malik wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barnett has him pressed against the ropes.
Malik wants to get back to striking at distance but Barnett won't allow it.
Barnett unloads a knee to the mid-section. Malik lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Malik blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Malik is trying to break free.
Barnett tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Malik tries to circle away but Barnett has him pinned against the ropes.
Barnett working Malik over with knees to the body.
Barnett misses with a knee strike.
Barnett tries a knee to the head but Malik blocks it.
Barnett with an attempt at a knee that misses.

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.
Barnett using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Malik has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Malik is trying to force a seperation but Barnett has the dominant position.

Malik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mirko Barnett is winning the standup battle so far.
Barnett thumps Malik with a low kick.
Malik wants to clinch but Barnett slips to the side
and Barnett counters with a leg kick.
Barnett throws a head kick that misses.

Barnett moves into the clinch.
Barnett is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Malik can do to turn this around?
Malik on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Malik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Malik misses with a double jab
and Barnett connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barnett showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Malik.
Barnett avoids a punch combination nicely.
Barnett lands a jab to the head.
Barnett wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Barnett dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Barnett tries for a takedown but Malik sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Malik throws a hook to the side of Barnett's head but Barnett sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Malik throws a right and a left that both miss.
Malik swinging wildly here.
A head kick from Barnett lands but Malik takes it in his stride.
An inside leg kick lands from Barnett.

Barnett closes the distance and clinches.
Barnett using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Malik has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Barnett using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Malik has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Barnett looking to throw knees to the head but Malik is blocking nicely.
Malik has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Barnett throws a knee to the head but misses.
Malik can't break the clinch.
Malik is trying to break the clinch but Barnett has him pressed against the ropes.
Malik avoiding damage as Barnett throws knees to the body.
Malik looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Malik is looking to break free of the clinch but Barnett has double underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barnett is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Malik breaks from the clinch.
Malik misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malik throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Barnett counters with a low kick, right behind Malik 's knee.
Barnett moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Malik throws a combination that misses
and Barnett counters with a leg kick.
Barnett lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Malik misses with a combination

and Barnett counters by clinching up.
Barnett working Malik over with knees to the body.

Malik breaks from the clinch.

Barnett takes the fight into the clinch.
Barnett with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Barnett misses with a knee to the head.
Malik is trying to break free.
Barnett tries a knee to the head but Malik blocks it.
Malik wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barnett has him pressed against the ropes.
Barnett has Malik pressed against the ropes, preventing Malik from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Barnett keeps control of Malik as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Barnett with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Malik manages to break the clinch.
Malik throws a combination that misses
and Barnett counters with a good, hard body kick but Malik shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malik throws a right hand that Barnett ducks under and follows up with a left that Barnett also avoids with ease.
Nice defenses there by Barnett.
Barnett throws a head kick that Malik semi-blocks.
Malik tries to clinch up
and Barnett counters with a two punch combo.
Barnett buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Malik throws a combination that misses
and Barnett counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Malik is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Barnett.
Malik's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Malik swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Barnett counters with a nice body kick.

Barnett has closed the distance and engaged Malik in a clinch.
Malik is trying to break free.
Barnett scores with a knee to the head.
Malik looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Barnett using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Malik wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Malik has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Barnett.
Malik wants to get back to striking at distance but Barnett won't allow it.
Barnett with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sam Malik has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Barnett.
Malik can't break the clinch.
Barnett prevents Malik from breaking the clinch.
Malik blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Malik tries to break free but Barnett pushes him back against the ropes.

Malik's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Malik falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barnett makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Malik throws a left and a right that both miss
and Barnett counters with a head kick.
Barnett connects with a body shot that sends Malik's belly button to the back.

Barnett clinches with his opponent.
A knee to the head by Barnett.
Barnett using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Malik has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Malik looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Malik is trying to force a seperation but Barnett has the dominant position.
Barnett throws a knee to the head but misses.
Malik wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barnett has him pressed against the ropes.
Malik wants to break the clinch but can't.
Barnett scores with a knee to the head.
Barnett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Malik blocks it with crossed arms.
Malik wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barnett has him pressed against the ropes.
Still in the clinch, Malik scores with a nice short uppercut.
Barnett throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Barnett keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Malik's efforts to push away.
A knee to the head by Barnett.
Barnett prevents Malik from breaking the clinch.
Barnett landing knees to the head.

Malik manages to break the clinch.
Barnett throws a nice outside leg kick.
Barnett lands with a thumping leg kick.
Mirko Barnett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Malik falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barnett counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Malik swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Barnett finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Malik misses with a double jab
and Barnett connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Malik misses with a combination

and Barnett counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Barnett lands a knee to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Barnett prevents Malik from breaking the clinch.
Barnett putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Malik in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mirko Barnett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Barnett has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:26
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mirko Barnett!