PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renan Barao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Renan Barao told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Black
vs
Barao

175 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

170 cm
25
136 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Global Empire MMA Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, James Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Renan Barao!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Barao drives through with a takedown into guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Black has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barao can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Barao showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Black looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Black can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Barao controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barao's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Renan Barao.
Barao shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A good leg kick by Black.

Barao moves into the clinch successfully.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Barao wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Black is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Barao pulls guard effortlessly.
Black pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barao is keeping the position for now.

Black 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.
Black looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barao 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.
Black being controlled here momentarily.

Barao has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Black can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Barao not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Black sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Barao's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barao is pressing down on Black's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Barao is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barao not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barao wants to get back to his feet but Black is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Black postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Barao is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Black, into his guard.

Black has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barao can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Black keeping full guard, as Barao tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Barao throws an elbow that misses. Black uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Barao's guard. Nice move by Black!

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

Black 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.
Barao is trying to control the position but Black postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Black looking to pass the guard.

Black drops back, looking for a kneebar! Barao looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Barao looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Barao!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renan Barao dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Black fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barao jabs at Black's body.
Barao fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barao misses with a body kick.

Black tries to keep at a distance but Barao has taken the fight into the clinch.
Black lands a hook that snaps the head of Barao backwards.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Barao as Black tries to tie him up.
Black can't get the takedown.
Barao fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Black throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Black pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Black throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barao takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Renan Barao has been cut.
Barao lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like James Black has been cut.
Black pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Black really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Barao wants a takedown.
Black lands an elbow that stopped Barao in his tracks for a moment.
Barao looking for a takedown.
James Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Renan Barao.
Barao fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Barao has had enough of the clinch but Black keeps him there for the moment.
Barao is working for takedown but Black is calmly controlling the position for now.
Barao lands a good knee to the midsection. Black won't want to take too many of those.

Barao successfully pulls guard.
Black pushing down on Barao's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Black has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Barao defend it? Black steps over the head and cranks it - Barao is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Black!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). James Black!