PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frank Barba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anton Mikhailov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Barba
vs
Mikhailov

188 cm
27
203 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

185 cm
25
195 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Barba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anton Mikhailov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Viktor Lagutenko and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mikhailov misses with a wild combination.
Mikhailov swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Barba moves into the clinch.
Mikhailov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Mikhailov is trying to break the clinch but Barba has him pressed against the cage.
Mikhailov has a couple of punches blocked by Barba.
Barba is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Barba tries for a takedown. No joy.
Barba tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Barba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mikhailov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mikhailov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Barba backwards.
Mikhailov managing to block the knees to the body from Barba.
Barba is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mikhailov pulls him back up using the underhooks.

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

Mikhailov tries to keep at a distance but Barba has taken the fight into the clinch.
Barba wants a takedown.
Mikhailov gets underhooks to prevent Barba's takedown attempt.
Mikhailov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Barba is defending well for now.

Barba gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
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!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Barba wants to control but Mikhailov is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barba missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mikhailov controlling the position for now.
Barba thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mikhailov's head.

Barba is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mikhailov sees it coming and defends easily.
Mikhailov is looking for a sweep. Barba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barba missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mikhailov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Barba throwing strikes from guard but Mikhailov blocks nicely.
Mikhailov working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barba wants to control from the top but Mikhailov keeps moving.
Mikhailov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mikhailov can do anything to dispel that myth.

Barba drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Barba seems to have locked his on tight now - Mikhailov screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Barba, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Frank Barba!