PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tom Barrows (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ather Khan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tom Barrows has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Barrows
vs
Khan

167 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
19
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tom Barrows!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ather Khan!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Khan as Barrows shoots in.
Barrows shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Khan as he avoids it easily.
Khan moves in looking to clinch but Barrows pushes him off.

Barrows has Khan up against the ropes in a clinch.
Barrows tries to pull guard but Khan holds him up against the ropes and eventually Barrows drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Barrows. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khan throws a punch but it's blocked by Barrows.
Khan scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Khan slows down the pace here.
Barrows is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Khan pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Khan has a couple of punches blocked by Barrows.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Khan.
Barrows looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Barrows is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Khan gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Khan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Barrows looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Khan working aggressively here.
Barrows is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Khan misses with a hook from the clinch.
Barrows can't find room to land a body shot as Khan controls the action.
Khan tries to stall but Barrows uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Khan throws a head punch that misses.
Barrows is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Khan has a couple of punches blocked by Barrows.
Barrows goes for a takedown attempt but Khan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Barrows is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrows looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Khan misses the target.
Barrows will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Khan pushes Barrows up against the ropes in a clinch.
Khan swings wildly with an uppercut but Barrows uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barrows changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Khan fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Khan has Barrows up against the ropes in a clinch.
Khan throws a head punch that misses.
Khan lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Khan controlling the action here for a moment.
A nice right hand lands inside from Khan.
Khan has a couple of punches blocked by Barrows.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Khan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrows blocking some punches.
Khan displaying some good clinch control by pressing Barrows up against the ropes.
A head punch on the inside from Khan fails to land.
Barrows tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Khan smiles and moves away.
Khan connects with a crisp jab.
Barrows slips under a jab.

Barrows darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Barrows stops Khan from getting back to his feet.

Khan actively working from the bottom here.
Barrows is keen to just control but Khan is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Barrows's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Barrows's back!
Khan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barrows. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Will Khan go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Good control from Khan.
Khan is trying to stick to Barrows's back but Barrows is turning into Khan. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Khan's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Barrows.

Barrows got a little sloppy there for a moment and Khan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barrows has managed to get both his arms back between Khan's legs - danger averted.

Khan working for a triangle but Barrows defends it easily.
Barrows trying to control the position from guard on top but Khan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Khan trying to control the position.

Barrows gets to his feet. Khan looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Khan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Khan misses with a hook

and Barrows counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barrows.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Khan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Khan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barrows is one step ahead there.

Khan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barrows can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Khan wants to stand up but Barrows is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Barrows dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Barrows throws a right and a left that Khan avoids nicely.
Barrows tries for a takedown but Khan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Khan tries to close the distance and clinch but Barrows swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Khan darts in and clinches Barrows up against the ropes.
Khan has a couple of punches blocked by Barrows.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Khan.
Come on Khan - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A short right from Khan.
Khan effectively controlling the action here.
Barrows misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Khan.
Khan has a couple of punches blocked by Barrows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barrows tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Khan just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Khan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Barrows has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Khan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Barrows. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khan dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Khan.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Khan throws a punch but it's blocked by Barrows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan working aggressively here.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Khan gets through Barrows's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Barrows tries for a takedown but Khan manages to get underhooks.
Khan leaning against his opponent.
Khan working aggressively here.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Khan lands a shoulder strike.
Khan wants to stall.
Khan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Khan lands a hook that snaps the head of Barrows backwards.

Barrows pulls Khan into guard.
Barrows is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Barrows kicks Khan off and gets to his feet.
Barrows shoots and misses
enabling Khan to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrows circles away from the clinch attempt

and Barrows counters with a takedown into side control.
Khan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Barrows looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Khan is avoiding damage well.
Barrows wants to lay and pray for a moment but Khan keeps working.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Barrows working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Khan tries to escape but Barrows is in control.
Khan wants to get back to his feet but Barrows is dominant here and he's now got Khan's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrows gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Barrows throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Khan!
Khan wants to escape the position.
Khan holding both Barrows 's hands and preventing any damage.
Khan trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Barrows throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Barrows throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Barrows throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Barrows somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
You can see the frustration on Khan's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

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.
Barrows connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Khan to escape the position.
Barrows lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Khan.
Khan is covering up but some of the strikes from Barrows are getting through and doing damage.
Khan is in bad spot here.
Khan avoids the strikes from Barrows.
Khan is trying to get back to his feet but Barrows has full control of the position and if anything, Khan has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Barrows tries to get the hooks in deep but Khan pushed the leg off.
I really don't envy Khan right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Barrows dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Barrows gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Khan is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Khan is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Barrows blocking some punches.
Barrows tries to score a body lock takedown but Khan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Khan misses with a hook from the clinch.
Barrows blocking some punches.
Khan lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Barrows backwards.
Khan swings wildly with an uppercut but Barrows uses good head movement to avoid it.
Khan lands a hook to the side of the head.
Khan has Barrows pressed against the ropes, preventing Barrows from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khan prevents the takedown attempt.
Khan lands with a left to the head.
The referee calls for Khan to work.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Barrows as Khan tries to tie him up.
Khan has a couple of punches blocked by Barrows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan lands a right hand that snaps the head of Barrows backwards.
Khan taking a breather.
Barrows drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Khan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Barrows. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Barrows ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Barrows no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Khan trying to control the position from guard on top but Barrows is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barrows manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Barrows 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.
Khan sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Khan slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barrows accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khan keeping moving, preventing Barrows from controlling successfully.

Khan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Barrows preventing the sweep.
Khan trying to control the position.
Barrows wants to control from the top but Khan keeps moving.
Khan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Khan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Barrows doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Barrows manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrows won't allow Khan to sweep him here.

Khan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barrows can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tom Barrows overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Barrows stands up from Khan's guard - Barrows perhaps looking for a knockout.

Khan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ather Khan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barrows tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Khan prevents a takedown attempt there.
Barrows has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Khan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Khan misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrows blocks an uppercut.
Khan is pressed up against the ropes. Barrows has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Khan down to the mat. Khan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Khan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Barrows.
Khan scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Khan throws a right hand that misses
and Barrows makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Khan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barrows swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Khan sizes up Barrows with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Barrows tries for a takedown but Khan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Barrows fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Khan avoids it really well and circles away.

Barrows feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Khan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Barrows controls the pace.

Barrows avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tom Barrows.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Barrows, 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Barrows!