PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between William Barker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lukasz Szymanski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barker comes into the arena with The Way of the Fist - Five Finger Death Punch blaring out of the sound system. Szymanski has chosen Wiz Khalifa - Black And Yellow as his entrance music. William Barker has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barker
vs
Szymanski

180 cm
30
182 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

179 cm
28
179 lbs
20 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry
Zentrope Fighting Universe

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, William Barker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Lukasz Szymanski!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barker dives in and grabs Szymanski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Szymanski pushes down on Barker's head and hops out.
Szymanski with a hook.
Szymanski lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barker circles away quickly and effectively.
Barker throws a jab but it's blocked by Szymanski.
Szymanski keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Szymanski loads up on a big right hand but Barker slips the punch.
Szymanski scores with a leg kick.
Barker shoots in for a takedown but Szymanski shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Barker misses with a series of wild punches.
Szymanski misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barker throws a series of punches but Szymanski moves out of range.

Szymanski pushes Barker up against the cage in a clinch.
Szymanski working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Szymanski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barker lands a nice leg kick that just misses Szymanski's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szymanski lands a right hook to the body.
Szymanski blocks a head kick by Barker.

Szymanski clinches up with Barker and pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Szymanski.
Szymanski avoiding damage as Barker throws knees to the body.
Szymanski stalling against the cage.
Szymanski blocks a body shot from Barker.
Barker misses with a punch to the body.
Szymanski prevents a body shot from Barker.
Barker lands a hook that snaps the head of Szymanski backwards.
Szymanski wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barker has him pressed against the cage.
Szymanski avoids a wild elbow strike from Barker.
Barker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Barker tries to work over Szymanski's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right hook to the body lands for Barker.

Szymanski breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barker throws a head kick that Szymanski semi-blocks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Szymanski closes the distance and clinches.
Szymanski digs a right hand underneath Barker's ribcage. Barker let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Barker keeps control of Szymanski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Szymanski can't find room to land a body shot as Barker controls the action.
Szymanski swings wildly with an uppercut but Barker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Szymanski wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Szymanski tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Barker avoids it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Szymanski - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Szymanski breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Barker throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Szymanski tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Barker is in Szymanski's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Barker postures up.
Szymanski pulls Barker in close to his closed guard and prevents Barker from doing any damage or advancing position.
Barker is pushing down on Szymanski's leg trying to pass to half guard. Szymanski is fighting to maintain full guard but Barker has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barker is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Szymanski still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Szymanski has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Szymanski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barker keeps working.
Barker is looking to regain half guard here but Szymanski keeps moving and retains side control.
Szymanski controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barker is trying to improve his position.
Szymanski is looking to take a break and control but Barker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Szymanski is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Barker will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lukasz Szymanski has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Barker tries to clinch but Szymanski is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lukasz Szymanski dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Szymanski throws a leg kick that is checked
and Barker counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Szymanski lands a head kick!

It looks like William Barker has been cut.
Szymanski throws a leg kick but Barker sees it coming and moves out of range.
Barker lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Szymanski tries to clinch up but Barker circles away and keeps his distance.
Barker throws a series of punches but Szymanski avoids them all with ease.
Szymanski misses with a body kick.
Szymanski tries to clinch up.
Barker throws a lazy head kick
and Szymanski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Szymanski takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Barker digs a good hook to Szymanski's body.
Barker scores with a nice right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Barker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szymanski swings widly with a right hand
and Barker counters with an outside leg kick.
William Barker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Szymanski takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Barker shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Szymanski but Szymanski pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Barker does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Szymanski scores with a jab. Barker acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The fighters circling - Szymanski throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lukasz Szymanski seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barker sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Szymanski thumps Barker with a low kick.
Barker misses with a body kick.
Good exchange - Barker coming out on top.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Barker fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Szymanski, pushing him back against the cage.
Barker tries to work over Szymanski's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szymanski prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Barker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Barker lands a hook that snaps the head of Szymanski backwards.
Barker managing to block the knees to the body from Szymanski.
Szymanski lands with a short shot to the head.
Szymanski blocks a body shot from Barker.

Szymanski breaks from the clinch.
Szymanski cracks the inside of Barker's front leg.
Barker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Szymanski.
Barker moves out of range as Szymanski throws a body kick.
Barker lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Szymanski fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Barker has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Szymanski forces Barker back against the cage and clinches.
Szymanski lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Barker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Szymanski is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barker tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Barker tries to pull guard but Szymanski won't allow it.
Szymanski scores with a nice hook to the head.
Szymanski pressing his opponent against the cage.
Szymanski continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

Szymanski manages to break the clinch.
Barker misses with a head kick.
Szymanski looks to land a right hand but Barker moved out of range.
Lukasz Szymanski is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Szymanski does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Barker looks to throw the jab but Szymanski is out of range.
Barker throws a leg kick
and Szymanski counters with a nice low kick that buckles Barker's knee momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szymanski connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Barker's hands.
Szymanski throws a leg kick which misses Barker's front leg but catches the back leg as Barker tries to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Barker - that will leave a mark!
Barker throws out a loose jab but Szymanski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Szymanski keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Barker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Szymanski darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Barker looks for a takedown but Szymanski sprawls well.
Szymanski scores with a nice head shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Szymanski misses with the combination.
Barker throws a combination that misses
and Szymanski counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Szymanski tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lukasz Szymanski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on William Barker's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Szymanski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barker manages to avoid it.
Szymanski missing with a left hand there. Barker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Barker decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Barker throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Szymanski slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Barker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barker sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Szymanski's guard.
Szymanski tries to get to full guard but Barker has control of the leg.
Szymanski slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Barker trying to control the position from guard on top but Szymanski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szymanski has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Szymanski wants to sweep but no luck.
Szymanski is trying to keep Barker in close.
Barker wants to control from the top but Szymanski keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

We're going to have a standup here because William Barker wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A punch combination from Szymanski misses.
Szymanski has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barker.
Szymanski swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Szymanski misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szymanski takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Szymanski thumps Barker with a low kick.
Barker connects with a body shot.
Barker throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Szymanski just misses with a punch to the body.
Szymanski slaps away a takedown attempt from Barker, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Barker closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
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!
Szymanski can't do much from the bottom here.
Szymanski takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Barker swings around for an armbar but Szymanski sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Barker's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szymanski looking to pass the guard.
Barker wants to sweep here but Szymanski controlling him for the moment.
Szymanski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Szymanski wants to control from the top but Barker keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Barker working for a triangle but Szymanski defends it easily.
Szymanski not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lukasz Szymanski was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Szymanski connects with a right hand. Barker shakes it off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barker goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Barker misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Barker clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on William Barker's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Barker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Szymanski.
Szymanski throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A solid leg kick lands there for Barker.
Nice shot by Szymanski.
Szymanski ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Szymanski steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barker.
Szymanski lands an overhand right.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Barker checks a leg kick.
Szymanski pivots, looking for a leg kick but Barker is out of range and Szymanski settles back down.
Barker throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Barker thows a leg kick but Szymanski checks it
and Szymanski counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Barker thinking.
Barker dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Szymanski. That did some damage!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szymanski throws a head kick but Barker moves out of range.
Szymanski wants to clinch up but Barker keeps it at a distance.
Szymanski looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Barker throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Szymanski counters with a series of strikes. Barker will be more careful next time no doubt.
Barker is looking to slow Szymanski down with leg kicks.
Barker lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A low kick from Barker is predictable there
and Szymanski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Barker misses with an uppercut. Szymanski saw that one coming.

Barker pushes Szymanski up against the cage in a clinch.
Barker swings wildly with an uppercut but Szymanski uses good head movement to avoid it.

Szymanski pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barker misses with a head kick.
Szymanski connects with a looping right hand.
Szymanski blocks a leg kick.
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!
Barker looks to land a body kick but Szymanski moved away.
Szymanski lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barker's sensitive parts.
Szymanski misses with a hook
and Barker counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Barker misses with a head kick.
Barker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barker walks into a straight right hand from Szymanski.
A looping hook to the body misses from Szymanski. Barker does a little dance to reset his feet.
Szymanski lands with a straight right. Barker didn't see that one coming.
Barker takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Szymanski.
Szymanski misses with a wild combination.
Barker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Szymanski was well out of range. Poor timing from Barker.
Szymanski tries to close the distance and clinch but Barker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Szymanski wants to land a leg kick but Barker is out of range.
Szymanski is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barker connects with a solid leg kick.
Barker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barker has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Szymanski.
Szymanski's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Barker scores with a nice head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szymanski ducks under a wild hook from Barker.
Barker moves out of range of the strikes.
Barker wants to clinch up but Szymanski keeps it at a distance.
Szymanski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Szymanski throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A head kick misses from Barker.
Barker lands a leg kick that knocks Szymanski off balance momentarily.

Barker gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Szymanski wants to control but Barker is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Lukasz Szymanski will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on William Barker's cut.
That's time! Barker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Barker connects with an inside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Barker. That's going to slow Szymanski down.
Barker cracks Szymanski with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Szymanski swats away the attempt to clinch by Barker.
Barker lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Barker throws a low kick but it's checked well by Szymanski.
Szymanski swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barker getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Barker connects with a leg kick. Szymanski looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Barker gets a clinch.
Szymanski misses with an elbow over the top.
Barker is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Szymanski is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Szymanski creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Barker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Szymanski.
A left hand lands to the body for Barker.
Szymanski lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Szymanski dodges an elbow strike from Barker.
Szymanski gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Szymanski blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Szymanski fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Barker lands a hook to the side of the head.
Barker working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Szymanski lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Szymanski tries to break the clinch but Barker is controlling the position.
Szymanski looking to slow down the pace here.
Barker keeps control of Szymanski as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Barker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barker misses with a hook.
Barker lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Barker throws out a leg kick but Szymanski moves out of range and Barker only half commits.
Barker moves away from the strike by Szymanski.
Barker lands a nice shot to the body.
Barker on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Barker connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
William Barker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barker throws a series of punches but Szymanski moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barker lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Barker swings for the body but Szymanski moves out of range.
Szymanski connects with a leg kick. Barker looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Szymanski lands a glancing blow to the side of Barker's head.
Szymanski lands a nice looking body shot.
Szymanski catches Barker with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Szymanski throws a head kick that misses.
Barker waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Szymanski.
Szymanski is looking to clinch.
Szymanski connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Szymanski dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Barker. That did some damage!
Barker throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szymanski scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Szymanski lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Barker checks a leg kick.
Barker bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Barker walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Szymanski checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Barker.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Barker.
Szymanski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barker was well out of range. Poor timing from Szymanski.

Barker shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Szymanski manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Szymanski can't keep his opponent in guard - Barker advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Barker is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Szymanski sees it coming and defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
William Barker showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Szymanski has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 47:48
Judge George Francis scores the fight 47:48
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lukasz Szymanski!
Our winner, Lukasz Szymanski, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.