PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Barris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rajesh Koothrappali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koothrappali has chosen Punjab as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Barris
vs
Koothrappali

171 cm
21
144 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

177 cm
23
148 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Barris!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rajesh Koothrappali!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barris misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barris keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Koothrappali tries to land a leg kick but Barris saw it coming and moves away.
Koothrappali throws a head kick that misses.

Barris scores with a takedown into Koothrappali's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Koothrappali keeping moving, preventing Barris from controlling successfully.
Barris showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Barris looking to pass the guard.
Barris trying to control but Koothrappali is working from the bottom.
Koothrappali being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up because John Barris just wasn't active enough.
A low kick from Koothrappali misses

and Barris counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koothrappali is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barris pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Koothrappali is keeping the position for now.
Barris passes Koothrappali's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Koothrappali trying to control from the bottom.
Koothrappali is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Barris's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Barris's back!
Barris trying to control but not successfully.
Barris tries to break free.
A lull in the action here.

Barris defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Koothrappali's arms.
Barris is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barris covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Barris rolls, trying to escape but Koothrappali keeps control of the position.
Koothrappali just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Koothrappali trying to control momentarily.
Barris tries to escape but Koothrappali has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Koothrappali's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Koothrappali really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Barris.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali not allowing Barris to control his hands.
Barris is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Koothrappali is trying to stick to Barris's back but Barris is turning into Koothrappali. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Koothrappali's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Barris.
Barris trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rajesh Koothrappali was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A good leg kick by Barris.
Koothrappali tries to clinch there but Barris circles away.
Koothrappali throws a body kick that misses.
Koothrappali throws a leg kick

and Barris counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Koothrappali is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Koothrappali is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali is staying active underneath Barris, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Barris not doing much here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koothrappali wants to control but Barris is keeping busy.
Barris trying to pass the guard but Koothrappali defending well.

Koothrappali actively working from the bottom here.
Koothrappali wants to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Barris is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Koothrappali doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Barris.

Koothrappali looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Barris dominated that 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.

A head kick by Koothrappali misses
and Barris counters with a big head kick but Koothrappali shrugs it off.
Rajesh Koothrappali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A nice inside leg kick there by Barris. That's going to slow Koothrappali down.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Barris.

Barris thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Koothrappali can't do much from the bottom here.
Koothrappali gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Koothrappali sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barris is trying to control the action in half guard but Koothrappali is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barris missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Koothrappali gets full guard.
Barris looking to pass the guard.
Koothrappali keeping moving, preventing Barris from controlling successfully.
Barris pushing down on Koothrappali's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Barris lands a nice short elbow.
Barris throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Koothrappali tries to get to full guard but Barris has control of the leg.
Koothrappali gets back to full guard.

Koothrappali had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Barris defends it easily.
Koothrappali keeping moving, preventing Barris from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barris wants to pass the guard but Koothrappali is keeping the position.
Barris wants to control from the top but Koothrappali keeps moving.
Koothrappali is trying to keep Barris in close.
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!
Barris slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barris trying to control the position but Koothrappali is working away.
Koothrappali struggling a bit here.
Koothrappali is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koothrappali is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Barris's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Barris is thwarting Koothrappali's attempts to control the position.
Barris seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Barris moves nicely into side control.

Koothrappali is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Barris's leg. Oh but that's left an opportunity for Barris! He's got an arm triangle... it looks tight! He's rotating and Koothrappali has tapped! This one is allllll over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). John Barris!
John Barris retains his featherweight title!