PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Barnham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Herod Otto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Barnham has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Barnham
vs
Otto

196 cm
24
216 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

181 cm
22
224 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 159's - $75

Milwaukee's Best 159's - $75
Milwaukee's Best 159's - $75

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Barnham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Herod Otto!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Summer Carpenter and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barnham looks to throw the jab but Otto is out of range.
Barnham throws out a powerful jab.
Barnham avoids the head kick by Otto.
No joy there for Barnham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Barnham throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barnham scores with a sloppy right hand. Otto should have avoided that one.
Otto throws a sloppy head kick and Barnham moves out of range easily.

Otto shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Otto showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Barnham wants to get back to his feet.
Barnham avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Otto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Otto wants to pass the guard but Barnham is defending well.
Otto with the ground and pound but Barnham uses the opportunity to regain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Otto seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Otto stops Barnham from standing up.
Otto looking to pass the guard.
Otto won't allow Barnham to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Otto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Otto trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Otto tries to free his leg and advance position but Barnham is retaining full guard.
Barnham wants to stand but Otto is controlling the position.
Barnham keeping full guard, as Otto tries to pass.
Otto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Barnham looks to score with a jab to the body but Otto is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnham works the jab nicely.
Otto fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Barnham checks it well.
Sloppy strikes from Barnham. Those never looked like landing.
A left and a right from Barnham both land. Nice combination.
A swing and a miss from Barnham.
Otto takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Barnham stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Otto.
That kick from Otto tenderised Barnham's leg. Barnham is trying to keep his angry face on.
Barnham looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Otto has closed the distance and engaged Barnham in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Otto keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Barnham's efforts to push away.
A knee to the head by Otto.
A nice right hand lands inside from Otto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Otto lands an elbow that stopped Barnham in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Ben Barnham has been cut.
Barnham is looking to take this one to the mat.
Barnham is breathing heavily.
Otto throws an elbow but it misses.
Otto tries to land knees in the clinch but Barnham avoids the damage to the body.
Otto misses with an elbow strike.
Otto creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Barnham escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Otto wants to clinch.
Otto takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Otto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barnham.
Otto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Otto dodges the punch combination from Barnham.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Herod Otto will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ben Barnham's cut.
That's time! Barnham's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Barnham tries to sprawl but Otto drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Barnham tries to kick Otto off but Otto keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Otto with the ground and pound but Barnham uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Otto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barnham works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Otto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barnham works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Otto trying to control the position from guard on top but Barnham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Otto prevents Barnham from getting back to his feet.
Otto landing some decent shots from guard.

Barnham has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Otto off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnham misses with an uppercut.
Barnham misses with a wild body shot.
Otto scores with a push kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barnham checks a leg kick nicely.
No joy there for Barnham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Otto lands a nice looking body kick.
Herod Otto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Otto tries to clinch but Barnham is having none of it.
Otto scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Otto moves into range and clinches up with Barnham.
Otto tries to land a knee to the head but Barnham blocks with his arms.
Otto lands a left hand that snaps the head of Barnham backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Otto with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Barnham avoids the elbow strike from Otto, against the cage.
Barnham goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barnham avoids a wild elbow strike from Otto.
Otto missing with knees to the body.
Otto looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Barnham is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Otto pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Otto looking for a takedown.
Otto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Otto blocking some punches.
Otto looking to throw knees to the head but Barnham is blocking nicely.
Otto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Otto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Knees to the body from Otto.
Otto tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Otto.
Barnham takes an elbow to the forehead.
Barnham avoids the elbow strike from Otto, against the cage.
Otto lands a left hand.
Otto lands a good knee to the midsection. Barnham won't want to take too many of those.
Barnham avoiding damage as Otto throws knees to the body.
Otto lands an elbow inside that Barnham shrugs off.
With the fighters up against the cage, Otto throws an elbow but misses.
Barnham avoiding damage as Otto throws knees to the body.
Barnham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Otto looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Otto obliges.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Otto looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Barnham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Otto with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Otto being controlled against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Otto throws a knee to the head but misses.
Otto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Barnham avoids a wild elbow strike from Otto.
Barnham takes an elbow to the forehead.
With the fighters up against the cage, Otto throws an elbow but misses.
Barnham misses with a hook to the ribs.
Barnham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Otto missing with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Otto.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barnham swings wildly with an uppercut but Otto uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barnham prevents a body shot from Otto.
Barnham takes an elbow to the temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herod Otto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ben Barnham's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Barnham throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Otto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Barnham is fending him off so far but Otto persists. Nope, Barnham circles away and we're back to standing.
Barnham comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Otto gets caught napping as Barnham dives in and scores a takedown. Otto manages to retain guard.
Herod Otto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Otto manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Barnham manages to get himself to full guard.
Otto has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Barnham is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Otto throws a big elbow that misses.
Barnham keeping moving, preventing Otto from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Otto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Otto throws a big right hand that misses.
Otto working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Otto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Otto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Otto postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Barnham preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barnham working a defensive guard but Otto manages to pass into side control anyway.
Barnham wants to get back to his feet but Otto is dominant here and he's now got Barnham's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barnham wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Otto's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Barnham has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Otto.
Otto lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Otto looking to hold on to the position here but Barnham rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Otto throws an elbow that misses. Barnham uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Otto's guard. Nice move by Barnham!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Otto looking for a sweep. Not yet Otto, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Otto controlling the position.
Otto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Otto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Otto keeping moving, preventing Barnham from controlling successfully.
Barnham postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Herod Otto is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Barnham wants to control from the top but Otto keeps moving.
Barnham won't allow Otto to get back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barnham accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Otto lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Barnham!
Otto looking to finish Barnham with some ground and pound. This is bad for Barnham!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Otto lands with some strikes.
Otto lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barnham is in all sorts of trouble here.
Otto tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barnham is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Herod Otto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Otto 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Herod Otto!