PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hard Puncher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Barker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Puncher comes to the cage accompanied by Let's go dancing. Barker is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by The Way of the Fist - Five Finger Death Punch. Hard Puncher had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Puncher
vs
Barker

179 cm
32
178 lbs
22 - 4 - 0

180 cm
29
182 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class MT
Good gas tank

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hard Puncher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, William Barker!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barker throws a combination that misses
and Puncher counters with a good low kick that Barker was not able to check.
Puncher wants to land a leg kick but Barker is out of range.
Barker uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Puncher.
Puncher throws an off balance right hand
and Barker counters with a nice low kick that buckles Puncher's knee momentarily.
A lazy body kick from Puncher
and Barker counters with a nice leg kick.
Barker slips a straight right by Puncher.
Puncher misses the shot to the body.
Puncher connects with an inside leg kick.
Barker is looking to score with low kicks.

Barker closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Barker lands in his opponent's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Barker trying to control the position from guard on top but Puncher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barker is looking to work some ground and pound but Puncher has wrist control.
Barker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Puncher is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barker throwing strikes from guard but Puncher blocks nicely.
Puncher keeping moving, preventing Barker from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barker trying to move into half guard but instead Puncher has managed to sweep!
Barker has momentary wrist control but Puncher slips an elbow through the middle.
Puncher postures up.

Barker is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Puncher defends well.
Puncher 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Barker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Puncher defends it easily.
Puncher trying to control but Barker is working from the bottom.
Barker looking for a sweep. Not yet Barker, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Puncher gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Barker bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Puncher's guard.
Puncher preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Puncher not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barker trying to control but Puncher is working from the bottom.
Barker looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker throws a big right hand that misses.
Puncher wants to sweep here but Barker controlling him for the moment.
Puncher is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barker is in close to Puncher's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Barker trying to control but Puncher is working from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barker works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Barker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Puncher keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Barker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Puncher is trying to control but can't.

Barker wants to work for an arm triangle but Puncher is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Barker dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Barker misses the shot to the body.
Barker jabs Puncher right on the nose. Puncher blinks but takes it well.
Barker connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Barker misses with a low kick.
Barker avoids the body shot from Puncher.
Puncher lands a jab to Barker's midsection.
Barker misses with a looping left.
Puncher cracks Barker with an open hand slap.
An inside leg kick lands from Barker.
Barker throws a nice outside leg kick.
Barker misses the body punch
and Puncher counters with a stiff right hand.
Puncher looks to score with a jab to the body but Barker is just out of range.
Puncher looks for the body kick but Barker saw that one coming.

Barker shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Barker was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Barker cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Puncher defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Barker.
Puncher really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Barker looking to secure an arm triangle but Puncher defends it well.
Puncher wants to hold on but Barker pushes him away.
Puncher takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Barker scoring with strikes but Puncher is staying in there.
Puncher working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puncher taking shots to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barker tries to control but Puncher wriggling away.
Barker is landing with some decent strikes but Puncher is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Barker putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
BOOM! Barker connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Barker with good strikes from the mount here!
Barker can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Puncher is looking to escape.
Barker landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puncher is looking to get to half guard.
Barker cracks Puncher with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Puncher is rocked!
Barker loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Puncher scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Barker land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Barker stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). William Barker!
After the fight, William Barker was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.