PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Petjka Durak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabe Barletta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gabe Barletta is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Durak
vs
Barletta

184 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Petjka Durak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gabe Barletta!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Bruno Lombardi and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barletta rushes Durak and presses him up against the cage.

Barletta turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Barletta manages to end up in side control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
A lull in the action here as Barletta stalls from top position.
Durak can't do much from the bottom here.
Durak manages to get back to half guard.
Barletta slows the pace down in half guard.
Barletta is nestled in close to Durak, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Barletta drops an elbow to the side of Durak's head.
Barletta is controlling the pace.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barletta is nestled in close to Durak, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durak wants to improve his position but Barletta is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Barletta is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Durak defends it well.
Barletta trying to control the pace.
Barletta trying to mount his opponent but Durak defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barletta seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Durak is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barletta content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Barletta works his way into side control.
Barletta works to advance to full mount. Durak defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Barletta takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Barletta is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Durak can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The referee warns Durak that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Durak is in all sorts of trouble here.
Barletta controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barletta landing shots from mount.

Barletta is working for a guillotine from mount but Durak frees his head quite easily.
Barletta controlling his opponent.
Durak wants to hold on but Barletta pushes him away.
Barletta controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durak is trying to escape the mount.
Durak in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Barletta has hold of Durak's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Durak manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Barletta lands with some strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barletta controlling from mount.
Durak tries to hold on but Barletta postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabe Barletta dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Durak closes the distance but Barletta moves to the side

and Barletta counters with a nice double leg into side control. Durak won't be happy with that.
Barletta takes a little break here. Durak wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Durak is looking for a sweep.
Barletta in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Check out the look on Barletta's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barletta scoring with punches from side control.
Durak defending against the ground and pound.
Barletta is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Durak's shoulder. That is not cool.
Durak is trying to improve his position.
Durak is working hard here to advance position.
Durak trying to remain calm as Barletta controls from the top position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Gabe Barletta wasn't active enough on the ground.
Durak looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barletta tries a head kick but it misses.
Petjka Durak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Barletta tries to keep at a distance but Durak has taken the fight into the clinch.
Durak tries to circle away but Barletta has him pinned against the cage.

Barletta gets control of Durak's arms and successfully pulls guard. Barletta will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Barletta wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Durak wants to control from the top but Barletta keeps moving.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barletta seems keen to control Durak's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gabe Barletta has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Barletta avoids the head kick by Durak.
Barletta displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Durak.

Durak gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Durak wants to sweep here but Barletta controlling him for the moment.
Barletta is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Let's hope that Barletta has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gabe Barletta has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Durak shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Petjka Durak. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Durak gets tackled into the cage by Barletta. Barletta maintains the clinch.

Durak breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A nice inside leg kick there by Durak. That's going to slow Barletta down.

Barletta darts in and clinches Durak up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Durak is trying to push Barletta away but Barletta has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Durak is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barletta is trying to drag Durak to the mat but Durak just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A bit of stalling here from Durak.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabe Barletta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Barletta closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Durak did well to prevent Barletta getting side control.
Durak blocking the ground and pound attempt from Barletta.
Barletta controlling the action here.
Barletta is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Barletta is taking a breather. Durak says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Durak is looking to improve his position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Barletta stalling.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Gabe Barletta wasn't active enough on the ground.
Barletta rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Durak moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durak closes the distance and clinches up with Barletta, looking for a takedown. Durak pushes Barletta against the cage but Barletta circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Barletta decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Barletta sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Barletta slips a nice elbow through Durak's hands, connecting with Durak's forehead.
Durak is looking to escape.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Durak trying to hold on to Barletta's head to control him but Barletta postures up.
Durak is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barletta controlling the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gabe Barletta.

Barletta shoots in and bounces Durak off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Durak tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barletta not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Barletta postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Durak being controlled here, momentarily.

Barletta 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.
Durak is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barletta working some strikes from top position.
Barletta looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Barletta has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Gabe Barletta has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Durak tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durak shoots in looking for a takedown but Barletta manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Durak's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Barletta shoots in and bounces Durak off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Barletta content to stall in guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Durak is trying to control the position but Barletta postures up.
Petjka Durak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gabe Barletta is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Gabe Barletta hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Barletta 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabe Barletta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barletta has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabe Barletta!