PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between William Barker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Virgil Beck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barker's entrance music is The Way of the Fist - Five Finger Death Punch. A fine choice. Beck has chosen Cell Therapy by Goodie Mob as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barker
vs
Beck

180 cm
26
182 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

182 cm
25
182 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc
BioPharm Nutrition

White Gorilla Nutrition
White Gorilla Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, William Barker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Virgil Beck!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Chad Campbell and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barker throws a body punch but Beck moves out of range.
Beck tries to clinch but Barker moves out of range.
Barker fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barker misses with a hook.
Good standup being displayed there by Barker as he connects with a hook.
Beck fails with the takedown.

Beck drives through and clinches with Barker against the cage.
Good body shot from Barker.

Beck works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Barker keeping moving, preventing Beck from controlling successfully.

Barker is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Beck is aware though and is defending well.
Beck tries to free his leg and advance position but Barker is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beck trying to control the position from guard on top but Barker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Beck tries to free his leg and advance position but Barker is retaining full guard.
Beck stopping the sweep attempt from Barker.

Barker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Beck throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barker works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Barker has his foot on Beck's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Beck works his way back into a safe position though.
Beck works over Barker with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beck postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Beck is working Barker over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Barker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Beck passes into half guard.
Beck is nestled in close to Barker, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Beck looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Beck missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Beck is trying to control the action in half guard but Barker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Barker blocking the ground and pound attempt from Beck.
Barker manages to get to full guard.
Beck makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beck working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Beck scoring with some ground and pound.
Beck stopping the sweep attempt from Barker.
Beck postures up in Barker's guard and throws a big left but Barker blocks it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Beck's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barker looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Beck stands and throws Barker's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Beck scores with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beck throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Beck lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Beck sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Barker is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Beck throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Barker tries to buck Beck off but Beck is having none of it.
Beck advances to mount.
Barker is working to get back to half guard.
Beck working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Beck lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Virgil Beck dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Barker. No joy for Beck on that attempt.
Barker misses with a jab, cross combination.
Beck misses with a straight right.
Barker lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Beck is looking to clinch.
Barker jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Beck on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Barker shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Beck sprawls well. Beck wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barker gets slowly back to his feet.
Beck wants to clinch.
Beck lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barker's sensitive parts.
Beck lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A good leg kick by Barker.

Beck closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Barker to the mat! Barker manages to get full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beck landing some decent shots from guard.

Barker working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Beck doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Beck manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Virgil Beck has got the better of the ground game so far.
Beck lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Beck trying to control but Barker is working from the bottom.

Barker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Beck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Beck trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Barker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Beck lands a couple of digs.

Barker has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Beck can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Beck controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker can't keep his opponent in guard - Beck advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Beck is trying to control. Barker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Beck working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Beck stands up and beckons Barker to join him on the feet.
Beck tries to clinch but Barker is having none of it.
Beck ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Beck swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Barker decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Beck's guard.
Barker preventing the sweep.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Beck looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Barker cracks Beck with a solid left hand.
Barker working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker postures up in Beck's guard and throws a big left but Beck blocks it.
Barker trying to control the position from guard on top but Beck is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barker scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Barker lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Beck looking for a sweep. Not yet Beck, not yet.
Barker throwing strikes but missing.
Beck 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.
Beck bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barker's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Beck wants to control from the top but Barker keeps moving.
Beck slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Virgil Beck will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Barker scores with a nice body kick.
Barker throws a shot to the body.
William Barker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Beck misses with a hook.
Beck blocks a low kick nicely.
Beck stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barker.
Beck throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Beck scores with a body shot.

Barker shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Barker showed some decent athleticism there.
Barker thows a huge punch but Beck dodges it nicely.
Beck is trying to control but can't.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Barker connects with a nice short shot to Beck's temple.
Beck trying to control but Barker postures up.
Beck is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barker is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Beck defends it well.
Barker trying to control from half guard but Beck is working away.
Beck wants to improve his position but Barker is controlling well.

Barker is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Barker is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Beck doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Barker.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barker with the ground and pound but Beck uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Beck is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Beck seems to be working for a kimura but Barker defends the submission attempt.

Barker actively working from the bottom here.
William Barker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ground and pound from Beck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beck working the head and body with strikes.
Beck tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Barker.
Barker blocking the ground and pound attempt from Beck.
Beck looks to land a strike but Barker avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Beck looking to sit in guard and control but Barker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Beck avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Beck is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Barker looking to pass the guard.
Beck wants to sweep here but Barker controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker postures up.
Barker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Barker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Beck tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Virgil Beck is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Barker throwing strikes but missing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Beck working a defensive guard here.
Barker passes into half guard.

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 William Barker.
I think Beck has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Virgil Beck!
Virgil Beck made sure to mention his sponsor, White Gorilla Nutrition in his post fight interview.