PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dutch Dream (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eli Barden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Dream
vs
Barden

176 cm
28
180 lbs
17 - 2 - 0

191 cm
27
185 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dutch Dream!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eli Barden!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Wagner Zegers and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dream throws a hook but Barden blocks it.
Barden lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Dream chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Barden can pounce on him.
Barden jabs Dream to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Barden explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Barden scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Barden scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nice shot by Barden.
Barden slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Dream fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barden manages to avoid it.
Barden swings for the body but Dream moves out of range.
Barden stuns Dream with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Barden ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dream tries to clinch there but Barden circles away.
Barden scores with a decent looking hook.
A punch combination from Dream misses.
Barden misses with a leg kick
and Dream counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Barden fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Barden tests Dream's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Barden.
Barden has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Barden avoids the head kick by Dream.
Barden misses the shot to the body.
Barden lands a nice hook to Dream's body. Dream takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dream pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barden throws a body punch but Dream moves out of range.
Barden fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Dream on the side of the head.
Barden misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dream.
Barden lands with a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dream throws a jab when Barden was well out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Barden!
Barden scores with a leg kick.
A low kick from Barden misses
and Dream counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Barden is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Barden throws a quick inside leg kick.
Barden looks to land a left hand but Dream moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dream showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barden.
Barden lands a slapping body shot.
Barden is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Dream rather than just go for the knockout.
Barden lands a jab to Dream's midsection.
Dream walks into a stiff left hand from Barden.
Barden stuns Dream with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Dream takes one on the button.
Barden keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Dream is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Dream ducks under a wild hook from Barden.
A thudding body kick lands there by Barden!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barden throws a solid leg kick but Dream takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Barden.
Dream gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
An inside leg kick lands from Barden.
Barden fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Dream tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Barden counters with a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice shot lands for Barden.
Dream throws a head kick but Barden moves out of range.
Barden is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Dream had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Dream throws a hook to the side of Barden's head but Barden sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Barden dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dream takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A solid body kick from Barden.
Barden fails to land with a series of punches.
Barden turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Dream throws a nice looking combination but Barden bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barden scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Dream doesn't seem bothered though.
Barden scores with a decent looking hook.
Barden lands with a hook. Dream tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Barden looks to land a combination. Dream sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Dream throws a head kick that misses
enabling Barden to counter with a crisp jab.
Dream misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dream throws a sloppy head kick and Barden moves out of range easily.
Dream throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Eli Barden seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dream tries to close the distance and clinch but Barden swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barden scores with a body shot.
Barden misses with a wild body shot.

Dream gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Barden blocks a body shot from Dream.

Barden pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barden scores with a crisp jab that stopped Dream in his tracks.
Dream on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barden. Barden obviously looking to wear him down.
Barden falls off balance throwing a combination
and Dream counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A good leg kick by Barden.
Dream ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Barden scoring well with a low kick there.
Barden swings for the body but Dream moves out of range.
Barden works Dream's body with a nice hook.
Eli Barden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dream looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barden connects with a right hand. Dream shakes it off.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Barden.
Dream throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barden is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barden throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Dream stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Barden lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Donk. Barden catches Dream right on the button with a cross.
Barden dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Dream. That did some damage!
Dream looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Dream throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dream is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Barden's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Barden connects with a leg kick. Dream looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Dream throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barden throws a body kick the misses
and Barden takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A right-left combo lands from Barden.
Barden rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dream moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barden jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barden throws an overhand right that lands on Dream's shoulder, as Dream tries to avoid the shot.
Barden cracks Dream with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Barden pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Dream back to the cage. Barden follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dream tries to clinch but Barden is having none of it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barden.
Barden throws a body punch but Dream moves out of range.
Barden throws a right hand that Dream ducks under and follows up with a left that Dream also avoids with ease.
Barden lands with an overhand left.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barden works Dream's body with a nice hook.
Dream slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Barden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Dream's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Barden blocks the body kick.
Dream takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Barden throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Dream sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A jab from Barden finds it's way through Dream's defenses.
A low kick from Barden misses
letting Dream counter with a right hand.
Dream tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Barden manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Barden throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Barden swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Dream tries to clinch but Barden is having none of it.
Barden is looking to chop away at Dream's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dream takes a swing at Barden's ribcage but misses.
Dream throws the kick towards the body but Barden avoids it.
Dream is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A decent looking cross lands there for Barden.
Dutch Dream is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barden lands a head shot.
Nice shot by Barden.
Dream throws out a loose jab but Barden uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barden looks to score with a jab to the body but Dream is just out of range.
Good exchange - Barden coming out on top.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Dream, as that shot connected.
Barden wants to land a leg kick but Dream is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dream takes one on the button.
Barden connects with a body shot that sends Dream's belly button to the back.
A jab from Barden misses.
Dream throws a jab when Barden was well out of range.
Barden ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Barden lands a nice looking body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barden scores with a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Barden throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Barden uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Dream uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barden.
Dream takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barden lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Dream steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barden.
Barden blocks a head kick by Dream.
That kick from Barden tenderised Dream's leg. Dream is trying to keep his angry face on.
Barden throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dream throws a shot from downtown. Barden moves away and avoids it.
Barden throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Barden cracks Dream with a right hand to the side of the head.
Barden misses with a few strikes there.
Barden throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Dream stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barden falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Dream to counter with a crisp jab.
Barden slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Dream takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Barden misses with a body shot.
Barden thows a body shot but no joy.
Dream slips a jab from Barden.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A clash of legs there as Dream blocks the low kick.
Barden moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Barden connects with a leg kick. Dream looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Barden really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Barden slips a jab from Dream.
Barden moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Barden misses with a leg kick.
Barden missing with a left hand there. Dream was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dream connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Dream has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barden.
Dream defending well as Barden loads up on a big left hand.
Barden throws a right and a left that Dream avoids nicely.
Dream throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barden wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Barden finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barden dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Dream. That did some damage!
Nice shot lands for Barden.
A nice leg kick lands there from Barden.
Barden lands with a hook. Dream tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A head kick by Dream misses
and Barden makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Dream moves out of range of the leg kick from Barden.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barden.
Dream staying out of range there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Barden.
Barden throws a hook but Dream avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barden.
A cross from Barden lands.
Barden throws a jab but it's blocked by Dream.
Dream is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barden misses with a straight right.
Barden throws a hook to the side of Dream's head but Dream sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barden attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Barden fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Dream is out of range.
Barden lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dream moves away from the strike by Barden.
Dream throws a head kick but Barden moves out of range.
Dream walks into a stiff left hand from Barden.
Dream chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Barden can pounce on him.
Barden throws a nice outside leg kick.
Dream stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barden.
Barden with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Barden throws a sloppy head kick
and Dream connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dream misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Barden counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Barden fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barden misses with a leg kick.
A good leg kick by Barden.
Barden connects with a good right hand that stumbles Dream. Dream circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Dream connects with a single shot there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barden swings for the body but Dream moves out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Barden.
Barden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barden scores with a one two! Dream had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dream throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Barden is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Barden misses with a jab to the body
enabling Dream to counter with a crisp jab.

Barden is rocked!
Barden thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Barden dominated that fourth round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Barden scores with a body shot.
Dream tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barden thuds his right hand into Dream's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Dream avoids the body shot from Barden.
Barden misses with a body shot.
A slow jab from Dream misses its intended target.

Dream instigates a clinch.
Barden tries to circle away but Dream has him pinned against the cage.
Barden wants to get back to striking at distance but Dream won't allow it.
Dream lands a right hand that snaps the head of Barden backwards.

Barden escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dream gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dream swings widly with a right hand
and Barden makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Barden tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barden tries to land a leg kick but Dream saw it coming and moves away.
Dream lands a big head kick that sends Barden to the canvas! Dream follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:29 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dutch Dream!
Dutch Dream retains his welterweight title!
An out of breath Dutch Dream thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.