PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bull Bantum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hannabil Barka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hannabil Barka has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bantum
vs
Barka

160 cm
31
164 lbs
10 - 14 - 0

182 cm
21
150 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Bull Bantum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Hannabil Barka!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, William Gold and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barka shoots in and gets a takedown into Bantum's guard.
Barka tries to free his leg and advance position but Bantum is retaining full guard.

Bantum 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.
Bantum might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Barka controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bantum looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Barka sitting in guard here, content to control.
Barka lands a couple of digs.
Bantum trying to control the position here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bantum keeping moving, preventing Barka from controlling successfully.
Barka stays in close to Bantum's body and controls the position.

Bantum 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 throwing strikes from guard but Bantum blocks nicely.
Barka really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bantum. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Barka postures up in Bantum's guard and throws a big left but Bantum blocks it.
Barka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Bantum throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bantum looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Barka slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Barka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bantum being controlled here, momentarily.
Barka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bantum swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barka wants to control from the top but Bantum keeps moving.
Barka stays in close to Bantum's body and controls the position.

Hannabil Barka has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Bantum scores with a decent looking hook.
Barka swinging wildly here.

Barka looking to score a takedown here. Bantum is defending well but Barka drives through and ends up in Bantum's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Bantum escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barka gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barka's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barka content to stall in guard here.

Bantum is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barka is aware though and is defending well.
Bantum keeping moving, preventing Barka from controlling successfully.
Bantum is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barka is controlling him.
Bantum can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Barka controls the pace.
Barka wants to pass the guard but Bantum is keeping the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bantum wants to sweep here but Barka controlling him for the moment.

Bantum working for a triangle but Barka defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bantum is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barka is aware though and is defending well.
Barka wants to control from the top but Bantum keeps moving.
Bantum trying to control the position.
Barka slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Hannabil Barka has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sloppy strikes from Bantum. Those never looked like landing.

Barka shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bantum is trying to defend but Barka finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Barka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bantum keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barka slips a nice elbow through Bantum's hands, connecting with Bantum's forehead.
Barka wants to control but Bantum is keeping him busy.
Barka seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bantum regains full guard. Nicely done.
Barka must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Bantum looking for a guillotine here but Barka defends easily.
Bantum wants to stand and escape but Barka is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bantum working a defensive guard here.
Barka postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
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 Bull Bantum will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bantum scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Barka feints and as Bantum raises his hands in defense, Barka changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Bantum has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barka can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Barka controls from within his opponent's guard.
Barka trying to control but Bantum is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bantum is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Bantum working for a triangle but Barka defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bantum controls Barka momentarily but Barka frees himself.
Barka working some strikes from top position.
Barka wants to control from the top but Bantum keeps moving.
Bantum working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barka.
Barka looking to sit in guard and control but Bantum gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Barka is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bantum won't allow Barka to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bantum with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bantum stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
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.
Bantum throwing strikes but missing.
Bantum stops Barka from standing up.
Bantum lands a couple of decent looking shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bantum wants to get up but he can't break Barka's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Barka has his feet on Bantum's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Bantum shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barka but Barka pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barka bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Bantum tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Check out the look on Barka's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Bantum is looking to regain half guard here but Barka keeps moving and retains side control.
Barka landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Bantum taking punishment in the form of punches.
Bantum is trying to control Barka's posture but Barka avoids it.
Bantum tries to buck Barka off but Barka is having none of it.
Barka throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Bantum works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Bantum is trying to maintain the position but Barka is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barka landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Bantum looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bantum wants to get back to his feet.
Bantum wants to control but Barka is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Barka is looking to take a break and control but Bantum is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Bantum actively working from the bottom here.
Barka controlling the action here.
Barka throwing shots but Bantum is blocking nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barka seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Bantum keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Barka lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hannabil Barka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Bantum's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

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

Bantum has hold of Barka's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Barka manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Barka is trying to stand up.

Bantum looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Barka trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bantum lands with some strikes.

Bantum stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Bull Bantum is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bantum moves into the clinch successfully.

Bantum has Barka pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Bantum pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Barka tumbling to the mat - Bantum dives into Barka's guard.

Bantum drops back looking for a leg! Barka is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Barka manages to kick Bantum off! Bantum jumps back into Barka's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bantum is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Bull Bantum overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Bantum is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Barka is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Barka has escaped and now he's on top!
Bantum trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barka with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bantum is trying to keep Barka in close.
Barka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bantum is keeping the position for now.
Barka throws a big elbow that misses.
Barka prevents Bantum from getting back to his feet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bantum trying to control the position here.
Barka wants to control from the top but Bantum keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Barka closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Barka lands in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bantum manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Barka manages to get himself to full guard.

Bantum drops back looking for a leg! Barka is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Barka manages to kick Bantum off! Bantum jumps back into Barka's guard.

Bantum stands and steps away. Barka gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bantum gets caught flat footed, as Barka shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Bantum working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Barka doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Barka manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Barka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bantum swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bull Bantum showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bantum 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!