PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leif Nygard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Barker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nygard comes to the cage accompanied by Dread Zeppelin - Immigrant Song. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nygard
vs
Barker

182 cm
24
200 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

186 cm
25
190 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

MMA ANIMAL

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leif Nygard!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Travis Barker!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Winston Howard and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barker throws a chopping leg kick but Nygard manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Barker tries to keep at a distance but Nygard has taken the fight into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Barker.
Barker misses with a body punch.
Barker misses with a body punch.
Barker trying to control the position but instead, Nygard has worked for underhooks and has pushed Barker into the cage.
Barker has a couple of punches blocked by Nygard.
Barker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nygard's elbow.
Barker avoids the elbow strike from Nygard, against the cage.
Barker blocks the elbow strike.
Barker misses with some punches.
Barker is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Barker misses with a body punch.
Barker scores with a shoulder strike.
The referee calls for Barker to work.
Barker takes an elbow to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nygard can't find room to land a body shot as Barker controls the action.
Barker throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Barker blocks an elbow strike.
Barker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nygard throws an elbow but it misses.
Nygard looking to throw knees to the head but Barker is blocking nicely.
Barker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nygard's elbow.
Nygard scores with a shoulder strike.
Barker working aggressively here.

Barker manages to break the clinch.
Barker looks for the body kick but Nygard saw that one coming.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nygard.
Nygard takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Barker misses with a double jab.
Barker looks to score with a jab to the body but Nygard is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nygard.
Nygard avoids the head kick by Barker.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nygard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barker.
Barker scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Leif Nygard has been cut.
Nygard cracks the inside of Barker's front leg.
Nygard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barker.
Barker looks to land a combination but Nygard avoids it well.
Barker throws a shot from downtown. Nygard moves away and avoids it.
No joy there for Barker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Barker scores with a body shot.

Barker gets tackled into the cage by Nygard. Nygard maintains the clinch.
Nygard lands a knee to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Nygard.
Barker tries to circle away but Nygard has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Nygards head.
Nygard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Barker avoids it.
Nygard blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nygard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barker blocks it with crossed arms.
Nygard lands an elbow just above Barker 's eye.

It looks like Travis Barker has been cut.
Nygard missing with knees to the body.
Barker blocks the elbow strike.
Barker lands with a right to the head.
Nygard throws an elbow that misses.
Barker misses with a body punch.
Barker stalling in the clinch but Nygard improves position.
Barker tries to throw a body punch but Nygard avoids it by throwing Barker back against the cage.
Nygard blocks a body shot from Barker.
With the fighters up against the cage, Nygard throws an elbow but misses.
Barker blocks an elbow strike.
Barker misses with a punch to the body.
Barker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nygard is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nygard lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Barker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nygard throws a body kick that misses.
Nygard swings widly with a right hand
and Barker counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nygard scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Nygard instigates a clinch.
Barker avoids the elbow strike from Nygard, against the cage.
Nygard prevents Barker from breaking the clinch.
Barker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Barker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nygard is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Barker is defending well for now.
Nygard blocking some punches.
Barker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Travis Barker will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Barker moves in looking to clinch but Nygard pushes him off.
Barker gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Barker tries to bum rush Nygard with a series of wild strikes but Nygard uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nygard moves away.
Barker scores with a head kick.
Barker checks a leg kick.
Barker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nygard manages to avoid it.
Leif Nygard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nygard throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nygard misses with a straight right.
Travis Barker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barker tries to bum rush Nygard with a series of wild strikes but Nygard uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barker throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barker swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Nygard counters with a leg kick.
Nygard thumps Barker with a low kick.
Barker throws out a leg kick but Nygard moves out of range and Barker only half commits.
Travis Barker seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nygard throws a sloppy body shot
and Barker counters with a left and a right that stings Nygard.
Nygard wants to slow Barker down by chopping away at his legs.
Barker displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barker. Nygard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nygard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barker avoids a kick to the body.

Nygard drives through and clinches with Barker against the cage.
Barker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nygard crunches a lovely knee into Barker's ribcage.
Barker can't find room to land a body shot as Nygard controls the action.
Barker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Barker working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Barker misses with a body punch.
Nygard looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nygard lands an elbow that stopped Barker in his tracks for a moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Nygard just misses with a elbow thrown towards Barker's brow.
Leif Nygard has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Barker is looking to control Nygard's arms but Nygard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Barker has his back to the cage.
A hook to the body from Barker.
Nygard's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Nygard putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Barker in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nygard lands a nice elbow.
With the fighters up against the cage, Nygard throws an elbow but misses.
Nygard misses with an elbow over the top.
Barker taking a breather.
Nygard scores a nice knee to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barker.
Nygard lands a damaging elbow.
Nygard has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A short right from Nygard on the inside.
Barker blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nygard blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker avoids the elbow strike from Nygard, against the cage.
Barker is trying to stall.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Nygard.
Barker scores with a shoulder strike.
Barker is trying to maintain a safe position but Nygard gets an underhook and turns Barker into the cage.
Nygard unloads a knee to the mid-section. Barker lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Barker is breathing heavily.
Nygard lands a hook that snaps the head of Barker backwards.
Nygard missing with knees to the body.
Nygard lands a left hand that snaps the head of Barker backwards.
Nygard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Barker avoids it.
Nygard lands a left hand that snaps the head of Barker backwards.
Barker is looking to control Nygard's arms but Nygard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Barker has his back to the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nygard misses with an elbow strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nygard lands a right hand that snaps the head of Barker backwards.

Barker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nygard chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nygard throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barker misses with a low kick.
Nygard misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barker.
Nygard lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nygard misses with a straight right.

Nygard has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Nygard obliges.
Nygard is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barker dodges an elbow strike from Nygard.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nygard.
Nygard throws an elbow but it misses.
Nygard throws an elbow but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leif Nygard dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Barker takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nygard lands a nice looking body kick.
Nygard misses the shot to the body.
Barker closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nygard scores with a hook.
Nygard looks to score with a jab to the body but Barker is just out of range.
Nygard lands a lovely overhand right.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Nygard moves into the clinch.
Barker misses with a punch on the inside.
Nygard comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Barker dodges an elbow strike from Nygard.
Barker blocks an elbow strike.
Nygard utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Barker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nygard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Barker avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nygard lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Barker blocks the elbow strike.
Nygard keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Barker's efforts to push away.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Barker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Nygard.
Nygard landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nygard utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nygard lands an elbow inside that Barker shrugs off.
Nygard is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Barker is defending well for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nygard lands a hook to the side of the head.
Barker blocks an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nygard lands an elbow inside that Barker shrugs off.
Barker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nygard putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Barker in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nygard landing knees to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Nygard.
Nygard putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Barker in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Nygard.
Nygard lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Barker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nygard landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Barker blocks the elbow strike.
Nygard misses with a punch to the body.
Knees to the body from Nygard.
Nygard is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Barker is defending well for now.
Nygard throws an elbow but it misses.
Barker takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nygard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barker can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nygard lands an elbow just above Barker 's eye.
Nygard landing knees to the body.
Barker blocks the elbow strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Nygard lands an elbow just above Barker 's eye.
Nygard throws an elbow but it misses.
Nygard pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Nice elbow from Nygard.
A right hook to the body lands for Nygard.
Nygard works on Barker's body with a couple of short punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nygard lands an elbow inside.
Nygard lands a good knee to the midsection. Barker won't want to take too many of those.
Nygard lands a right hand.
Nygard looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Nygard comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nygard working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Nygard prevents a body shot from Barker.
Barker blocks the elbow strike.
Nygard lands a right hand.
Barker trying to stall but Nygard improves his position.
Nygard misses with a knee strike.
Nygard tries to land knees in the clinch but Barker avoids the damage to the body.
Barker misses with a body punch.
Barker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nygard's elbow.
Nygard softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Barker tries to throw a body punch but Nygard avoids it by throwing Barker back against the cage.
Barker misses with some punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nygard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Barker avoids it.
Barker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barker misses with a body punch.
Nygard misses with an elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leif Nygard clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Nygard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nygard wants to slow Barker down by chopping away at his legs.
Nygard looks to land a left hand but Barker moved out of range nicely.
Nygard jabs Barker right on the nose. Barker blinks but takes it well.
Barker pushes Nygard away with a front kick.
Barker swings widly with a right hand
and Nygard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barker is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Nygard rather than just go for the knockout.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Nygard.
Nygard goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nygard misses with a left hand
and Barker counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Nygard is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Nygard looks to land a left hand but Barker moved out of range nicely.
Barker checks a leg kick.
Nygard's jab looks to have found its range, popping Barker under the eye.
Nygard throws an overhand right that lands on Barker's shoulder, as Barker tries to avoid the shot.
Nygard lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nygard jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Barker lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Nygard circles away quickly and effectively.

Nygard forces Barker back against the cage and clinches.
Nice body punch from Barker - that landed with a thud.
Nygard working aggressively here.
Nygard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nygard creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Barker looking to stall.
Barker avoids the elbow strike from Nygard, against the cage.
Barker softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Barker takes an elbow to the forehead.
Barker working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Barker working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nygard landing knees to the head.
Barker lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Nygard backwards.
Barker tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Barker misses with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nygard throws an elbow but it misses.
Barker leaning against his opponent.
Nygard lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Barker struggles to land a body shot inside as Nygard controls his hands.
Barker is trying to stall.
Barker managing to block the knees to the body from Nygard.
Barker dodges an elbow strike from Nygard.
Barker has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Barker lands with a right to the head.
Nygard lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Barker avoids a wild elbow strike from Nygard.
Barker can't find room to land a body shot as Nygard controls the action.
Barker softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nygard lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nygard lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nygard creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Barker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nygard works on Barker's body with a couple of short punches.
Barker effectively controlling the action here.
Barker is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Nygard tries to land a knee to the head but Barker blocks with his arms.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Barker.
A head punch on the inside from Barker fails to land.
Nygard lands with a short shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker avoiding damage as Nygard throws knees to the body.
Nygard lands an elbow just above Barker 's eye.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barker leaning against his opponent.
A head punch on the inside from Barker fails to land.
Barker tries to throw a body punch but Nygard avoids it by throwing Barker back against the cage.
Barker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Barker struggles to land a body shot inside as Nygard controls his hands.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Barker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short left from Nygard.
Barker stalling in the clinch but Nygard improves position.
Nygard blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nygard throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Barkers head.
Barker looking to slow down the pace here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Leif Nygard will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nygard scores with a push kick.
Nygard throws a head kick but Barker moves out of range.
Nygard throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Nygard has Barker up against the cage in a clinch.
Nygard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barker.
Nygard lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nygard unloads a knee to the mid-section. Barker lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Barker is trying to maintain a safe position but Nygard gets an underhook and turns Barker into the cage.
Barker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nygard's elbow.
Barker can't find room to land a body shot as Nygard controls the action.
Barker misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nygard can't find room to land a body shot as Barker controls the action.
Barker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nygard struggles to land a body shot inside as Barker controls his hands.
Barker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Barker misses with the head strike.
Nygard misses with an elbow strike.
Nygard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barker.
Barker takes a shot to the head.
Come on Barker - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Barker struggles to land a body shot inside as Nygard controls his hands.
Barker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nygard's elbow.
Barker swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Barker is trying to break free.
Barker struggles to land a body shot inside as Nygard controls his hands.
The referee calls for Barker to work.
Nygard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Barker.
Leif Nygard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Barker on the inside.
Barker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Barker working hard to break the clinch.
Barker misses with a body punch.
Barker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Barker is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barker.
Barker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Barker throws a punch but it's blocked by Nygard.
Barker blocks an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker misses with a punch to the body.
Barker can't find room to land a body shot as Nygard controls the action.
Barker misses with a punch to the body.
Barker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nygard's elbow.
Nygard blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nygard gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Barker misses with the head strike.
Nygard trying to land knees to the body.
Come on Barker - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Travis Barker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker misses with a hook from the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Nygard.
Nygard blocking some punches.
Barker misses with the head strike.
Barker struggles to land a body shot inside as Nygard controls his hands.
Nygard blocking some punches.
Barker tries a body shot but Nygard blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barker stalling in the clinch but Nygard improves position.
Barker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nygard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Barker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nygard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 48:46
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 48:48
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Leif Nygard!
Leif Nygard retains his middleweight title!
Our winner, Leif Nygard, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.