PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kev Barlow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James McCorcke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McCorcke has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barlow
vs
McCorcke

155 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kev Barlow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, James McCorcke!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Richard Clark and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barlow looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
McCorcke looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
McCorcke misses with a combination
and Barlow counters with a two punch combo.
Barlow misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
McCorcke slaps away a takedown attempt from Barlow, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kev Barlow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCorcke leaves Barlow with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Barlow really is a fat lump.
A head kick misses from Barlow.

Barlow closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into McCorcke's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barlow looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Kev Barlow wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Barlow slips a jab and a cross from McCorcke.

Barlow instigates a clinch.
McCorcke keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Barlow's efforts to push away.

Barlow jumps guard and drags McCorcke to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Barlow pushes McCorcke off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barlow shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McCorcke as he jumps to the side.

Barlow rushes McCorcke and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Barlow wants to get back to striking at distance but McCorcke won't allow it.

Barlow manages to break the clinch.

Barlow gets in close and instigates a clinch.
McCorcke blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barlow is trying to break the clinch but McCorcke has him pressed against the cage.
McCorcke has had enough of the clinch but Barlow keeps him there for the moment.
Barlow taking a breather.

Barlow successfully pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCorcke preventing the sweep.
Barlow is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McCorcke checks a leg kick.
McCorcke tries a head kick but it misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barlow is defended easily by McCorcke.

Barlow has McCorcke up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barlow drags the fight down to the ground.
Barlow pulls McCorcke in to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kev Barlow wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Barlow clinches up against the cage.
McCorcke is trying to break the clinch but Barlow has him pressed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McCorcke wants to get back to striking at distance but Barlow won't allow it.
McCorcke is trying to break the clinch but Barlow is controlling him.

Barlow pulls McCorcke into guard.
Barlow trying to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barlow blocks a head kick by McCorcke.
Barlow tries a head kick but it misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barlow lands a head shot.
Barlow tries to score a power double leg takedown but McCorcke sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barlow somewhat.

Barlow clinches with his opponent.
Barlow is trying to force a seperation but McCorcke has the dominant position.

Barlow pulls McCorcke into guard.
Barlow trying to strike off his back.
McCorcke is breathing heavily.
Barlow pulls McCorcke in close to his closed guard and prevents McCorcke from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barlow looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barlow shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McCorcke as he avoids it easily.
Barlow changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McCorcke tries to avoid it but Barlow manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McCorcke to the ground. McCorcke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kev Barlow. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCorcke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barlow pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barlow misses with a head kick.
Barlow shoots in but McCorcke avoids the takedown attempt easily.
McCorcke moves out of range as Barlow throws a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCorcke misses with a double jab.

Barlow drives through with a takedown into guard.

Barlow decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
McCorcke tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Barlow.
McCorcke misses with a double jab.
McCorcke misses with a two punch combination.
McCorcke misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barlow shoots in but no luck this time.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McCorcke throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barlow.
James McCorcke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Barlow shoots in but McCorcke avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from McCorcke.
McCorcke stuffs the takedown attempt from Barlow. Barlow gets slowly back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from McCorcke.
Kev Barlow is winning the standup battle so far.
McCorcke throws a right and a left that both miss.

Barlow rushes McCorcke and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McCorcke is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Barlow drags the fight down to the ground.
Barlow knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McCorcke on the ground.
McCorcke preventing the sweep.
McCorcke wants to get up but he can't break Barlow's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. James McCorcke wasn't active enough on the ground.
Barlow shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McCorcke defends it nicely.
McCorcke misses with a double jab.
Kev Barlow is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barlow fails to land the takedown.
Barlow shoots in but no luck this time.
Barlow dodges the punch combination from McCorcke.

Barlow closes the distance and clinches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McCorcke prevents Barlow from breaking the clinch.
Barlow prevents McCorcke from breaking the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kev Barlow dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Barlow tries for a takedown but McCorcke sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McCorcke can't break the clinch.
Barlow wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Barlow pulls guard successfully.
Barlow might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Barlow seems keen to control McCorcke's posture.
Barlow throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Barlow closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Barlow manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barlow working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McCorcke doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McCorcke manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
McCorcke would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Barlow has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McCorcke can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Barlow scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Barlow shoots in but McCorcke avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Barlow connects with the punch.
Barlow blocks a head kick by McCorcke.
Barlow fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kev Barlow. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Barlow takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCorcke tries to break free but Barlow pushes him back against the cage.

Barlow gets control of McCorcke's arms and successfully pulls guard. Barlow will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Barlow is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Barlow pushes McCorcke off and scrambles back to his feet.
Barlow wants to land a leg kick but McCorcke is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barlow fails with the takedown.
McCorcke fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McCorcke avoids the head kick by Barlow.
McCorcke scores with a head kick.
Barlow throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McCorcke's waist but McCorcke gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barlow off to one side.
McCorcke scores with a three punch combo!
Sloppy strikes from McCorcke. Those never looked like landing.

Barlow clinches up with McCorcke and pushes him back against the cage.
McCorcke prevents Barlow from breaking the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McCorcke prevents the takedown attempt.
A frustrated look appears on McCorcke's face as he tries to break the clinch.
James McCorcke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kev Barlow is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McCorcke is trying to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kev Barlow showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Barlow 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kev Barlow!