PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael McCulloch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hannabil Barka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McCulloch kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Drowning Pool - Bodies. Michael McCulloch could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Hannabil Barka's chin.

McCulloch
vs
Barka

183 cm
28
160 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

182 cm
20
150 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire

GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael McCulloch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Hannabil Barka!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, William Gold and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barka throws a nice looking combination but McCulloch bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Barka gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
McCulloch is refusing to be controlled, as Barka sits in half guard.
McCulloch regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Barka.
Barka really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McCulloch. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McCulloch has Barka pulled in close to control his posture.
Barka looking to sit in guard and control but McCulloch gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

McCulloch decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Barka shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in McCulloch's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barka postures up and lands a big shot to McCulloch's brow.

McCulloch has his foot on Barka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Barka works his way back into a safe position though.
Barka trying to control the position from guard on top but McCulloch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McCulloch is keeping the position for now.
McCulloch manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Barka is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
McCulloch controlling from the full mount.
McCulloch lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McCulloch tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barka can do anything to dispel that myth.
McCulloch has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Barka's face.

McCulloch is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Barka shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
McCulloch controlling the position well.
Barka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barka is trying to control. McCulloch wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
McCulloch is looking to control Barka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McCulloch avoid being mounted?
McCulloch gets full guard.

McCulloch scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Barka closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. McCulloch quickly recovers to half guard.
McCulloch wants to control but Barka is keeping busy.
Barka prevents McCulloch from standing back up.
Barka is trying to control the action in half guard but McCulloch is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCulloch has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Barka is working away from the top position though.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
McCulloch blocking the ground and pound attempt from Barka.
Barka is trying to control the action in half guard but McCulloch is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Well, if Barka is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

McCulloch jumps guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

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

Barka shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. McCulloch manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Barka trying to control but McCulloch is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael McCulloch will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

McCulloch lands a glancing blow to the side of Barka's head.

McCulloch looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Barka!
McCulloch controlling his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A nice elbow there by McCulloch.
Barka is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
McCulloch looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barka is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
McCulloch controlling his opponent.

McCulloch stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barka shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
McCulloch seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
McCulloch wants to stand and escape but Barka is having none of it.
Barka trying to control but McCulloch is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Barka showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hannabil Barka wasn't active enough on the ground.

Barka shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Barka showed some decent athleticism there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCulloch is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Barka's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Barka's back!
McCulloch just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

McCulloch is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
McCulloch missing with strikes from the back.

McCulloch has his opponent's back but Barka is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off McCulloch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barka gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCulloch struggling a bit here.
Barka looking to control but instead McCulloch has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Barka wants to advance to full mount but McCulloch doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
McCulloch pulls Barka in close to prevent any damage.
Barka stops McCulloch from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McCulloch has control of Barka's left arm, preventing Barka from doing any damage.

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from McCulloch enables Barka to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. McCulloch manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael McCulloch dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

No luck for McCulloch with that takedown attempt.

McCulloch closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Barka's guard.
Barka is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McCulloch is controlling him.
McCulloch trying to control the position from guard on top but Barka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCulloch passes easily into side control. Nice work.
McCulloch moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barka bucks up and tries to throw McCulloch off but instead McCulloch has got his back!
Good control from McCulloch.
Barka is trying to get back to his feet but McCulloch has full control of the position and if anything, Barka has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Barka is covering up but some of the strikes from McCulloch are getting through and doing damage.
Barka is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get McCulloch off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
McCulloch biding his time, controlling Barka.

McCulloch has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
I would not like to be Barka right now.
Hannabil Barka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McCulloch throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Barka!
McCulloch trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Barka doesn't escape.

McCulloch tightening his grip on Barka, looking for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barka is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if McCulloch gets his way!
Michael McCulloch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McCulloch controlling the position well here. Barka rolled but McCulloch kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barka is trying to get back to his feet but McCulloch has full control of the position and if anything, Barka has just worked his way into a worse spot.
I would not like to be Barka right now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McCulloch has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Barka is defending well but eventually McCulloch manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Barka has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Michael McCulloch!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Michael McCulloch made sure he mentioned Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire, along with how happy he was to win his fight.