PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lonny Spiller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cleighton Barber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Spiller might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to I Wanna Chill. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Spiller
vs
Barber

175 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lonny Spiller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cleighton Barber!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, David Schapiro and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barber lands a two punch combo.
Barber misses with a takedown

and Spiller counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Barber's guard now.
Spiller trying to control but Barber is working from the bottom.

Barber is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Spiller makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Spiller trying to stand up but can't free himself from Barber's guard.
Spiller stands up over Barber, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Spiller trying to control but Barber is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Barber throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spiller content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Barber is looking for a triangle but Spiller pushes his legs off easily.
Barber not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Spiller controlling from the top position.
Barber wants to improve his position but instead Spiller has moved into half guard.
Spiller is keen to just control but Barber is a slippery customer.
Spiller performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barber trying to control from the bottom.
Spiller seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lonny Spiller just wasn't active enough.
Barber shoots in but Spiller avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Spiller misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barber with a lazy takedown attempt
and Spiller counters with a right hand to the body.
Lonny Spiller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cleighton Barber.
Barber looks gassed!
Spiller tries to clinch but Barber is having none of it.
Spiller looks for a takedown but Barber sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spiller drops his hands momentarily and Barber takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Barber moves in looking to clinch but Spiller pushes him off.
Spiller misses with a series of wild punches.
Barber fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Barber avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Spiller stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Spiller wants it to stay on the feet.
Spiller lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Barber at a distance.
Spiller shoots in for a takedown but Barber shows good takedown defense.
Barber gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Spiller counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Barber's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spiller wanted to stand there but Barber had control of the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Spiller distracts Barber with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Barber not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Spiller wants to control from the top but Barber keeps moving.
Spiller knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Barber on the ground.

Spiller stands up from Barber's guard - Spiller perhaps looking for a knockout.

Spiller shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Barber is trying to defend but Spiller finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lonny Spiller dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Spiller will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Barber tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spiller swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Spiller gets a double leg takedown into Barber's guard.

Barber has his foot on Spiller's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Spiller works his way back into a safe position though.
Spiller won't allow Barber to sweep him here.
Barber manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Spiller manages to get himself to full guard.

Spiller manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spiller drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barber wants to sweep but no luck.
Spiller has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Barber is proving hard to escape from.
Spiller wants to control from the top but Barber keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spiller wants to pass the guard but Barber is keeping the position.

Barber looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Spiller has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Spiller trying to control the position from guard on top but Barber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spiller has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Barber is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barber has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spiller can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Barber controls Spiller momentarily but Spiller frees himself.
Spiller wanted to stand there but Barber had control of the position.
Spiller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barber is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spiller accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spiller throws an elbow that misses. Barber uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Spiller's guard. Nice move by Barber!

Spiller is working an open guard so Barber takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Spiller scores a takedown into full mount!
Barber is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barber is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Barber is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Spiller is staying active.
Spiller raining down hammerfists from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spiller postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Barber looks a forlorn figure.
Spiller trying to control but Barber is having none of it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barber is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spiller is landing with some decent strikes but Barber is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lonny Spiller dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Barber wants to clinch but Spiller slips to the side
and Spiller counters with a two punch combo.
Barber tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spiller swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Spiller changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barber tries to avoid it but Spiller manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barber to the ground. Barber escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lonny Spiller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barber.

Barber clinches.
Barber tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Spiller smiles and moves away.

Barber moves into the clinch.
Spiller wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spiller can't break the clinch.
Barber wants a takedown but no success here.
Lonny Spiller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cleighton Barber.
Barber takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Spiller wants to break free but Barber has control.
Spiller lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Barber backwards.

Spiller drags the fight down to the ground.
Spiller trying to control the position here.
Lonny Spiller overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Spiller working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barber.
Barber wants to pass the guard but Spiller is keeping the position.

Barber stands and steps away. Spiller gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spiller looks to land a combination but Barber avoids it well.
Barber shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Spiller pinned against the cage. Spiller gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Barber closes the distance and clinches.
Spiller is trying to force a seperation but Barber has the dominant position.
Barber is trying to break free.

Spiller has hold of one of Barber's legs. Barber is fighting the takedown attempt but Spiller gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Barber uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Spiller tests Barber's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barber tries to clinch but Spiller moves out of range.
Barber scores with a three punch combo!
Barber tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Spiller manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Spiller misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barber.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barber.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spiller rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Barber moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barber throws a right and a left that both miss.
Spiller misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barber throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Spiller thows a body shot but no joy.
Barber tries to clinch up but Spiller circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barber tries to clinch but Spiller moves out of range.
Spiller scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Cleighton Barber has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lonny Spiller is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barber fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Spiller manages to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cleighton Barber.
I think Spiller has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lonny Spiller!
Lonny Spiller tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.