PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jd Almanez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jermaine Barksdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Almanez might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Rock Hood by Shinobi Ninja. Barksdale has chosen Drop The World- Lil Wayne ft. Eminem as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Almanez
vs
Barksdale

190 cm
28
190 lbs
17 - 15 - 1

190 cm
27
202 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sparta Fightware

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 15 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jd Almanez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jermaine Barksdale!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, David Schapiro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Almanez misses with a straight left.
Almanez cracks Barksdale with an open hand slap.
A slow jab from Barksdale misses its intended target.
Almanez slips a straight right by Barksdale.
Almanez throws an overhand right that lands on Barksdale's shoulder, as Barksdale tries to avoid the shot.
Barksdale just misses with a punch to the body.
Barksdale throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Almanez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barksdale throws a looping overhand right but Almanez ducks down to avoid it.
Almanez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barksdale.
Barksdale bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Almanez tries to bum rush Barksdale with a series of wild strikes but Barksdale uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barksdale connects with an inside leg kick.
Barksdale lands a nice looking body shot.
Barksdale misses with a hook.
Almanez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Almanez missing with a left hand there. Barksdale was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Almanez misses the jab.
Almanez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barksdale.
Almanez misses with a hook. Barksdale ducked under it nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barksdale. Almanez does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almanez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barksdale.
Almanez misses with a takedown attempt - Barksdale sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Barksdale jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Barksdale takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Almanez misses with a hook. Barksdale ducked under it nicely.
Barksdale will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A slow jab from Barksdale misses its intended target.
Barksdale getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Almanez takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Almanez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barksdale.
Barksdale slips a jab and a cross from Almanez.
Almanez throws an overhand right that lands on Barksdale's shoulder, as Barksdale tries to avoid the shot.
A big right from Barksdale misses.
Almanez defending well as Barksdale loads up on a big left hand.
Jermaine Barksdale is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Almanez scores with a jab. Barksdale acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Barksdale on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barksdale misses with a left hand
and Almanez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barksdale connects with a body shot that sends Almanez's belly button to the back.
Barksdale punishes Almanez's body with a nice straight punch.
Almanez is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Almanez connects with a nice looking jab.
A slow jab from Barksdale misses its intended target.
Barksdale showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Almanez.
Barksdale scores with a leg kick.
Barksdale misses with a looping right.
Almanez fails to land with a series of punches.
Barksdale throws out a loose jab but Almanez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Almanez loads up on a big right hand but Barksdale slips the punch.
Barksdale throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barksdale misses with an uppercut.
Barksdale looks to land a right hand but Almanez moved out of range.
Almanez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Almanez misses the target.
Almanez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Almanez finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Almanez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barksdale.
Barksdale throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Almanez stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Almanez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Barksdale.
Barksdale moves out of range of the strikes.
Barksdale listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Almanez.
Almanez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barksdale misses with a straight left.
Barksdale slips a jab from Almanez.
Barksdale looks to land a right hand but Almanez moved out of range.
A swing and a miss from Almanez.
Barksdale ducks right into an uppercut from Almanez.
Barksdale swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Almanez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale throws a right hand that Almanez ducks under and follows up with a left that Almanez also avoids with ease.
Almanez takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Almanez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barksdale.
Almanez lands a glancing blow to the side of Barksdale's head.
Almanez throws the left hand but Barksdale avoids the punch easily.
Barksdale waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Almanez.
Almanez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Almanez throws a lazy right hand but Barksdale sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Almanez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Barksdale misses with a straight right.
Almanez clobbers Barksdale with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barksdale misses with a straight left.
Almanez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Barksdale.
A clash of legs there as Almanez blocks the low kick.
Barksdale throws a series of punches but Almanez avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jermaine Barksdale will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Almanez missing with a left hand there. Barksdale was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Barksdale jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A clash of legs there as Almanez blocks the low kick.
Almanez lands a head kick!
Almanez lands a jab to the nose.
Almanez misses with an uppercut
letting Barksdale counter with a right hand.
A swing and a miss from Barksdale.
Almanez feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Barksdales jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Barksdale lunges at Almanez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Almanez's hand.
A big right from Almanez misses.
Barksdale slips a jab from Almanez.
Barksdale lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Almanez circles away quickly and effectively.
Barksdale throws a shot from downtown. Almanez moves away and avoids it.
Barksdale throws a right hand that misses
and Almanez counters with a two punch combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barksdale cracks Almanez with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Barksdale jabs Almanez right on the nose. Almanez blinks but takes it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Almanez. Those never looked like landing.
Jermaine Barksdale seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Almanez misses with a lunging right hand
and Barksdale counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Almanez shoots in for a takedown but Barksdale shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Almanez drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Barksdale throws a jab but it's blocked by Almanez.
Almanez buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Barksdale misses the target.
Barksdale fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Almanez manages to avoid it.

Almanez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Barksdale did well to prevent Almanez getting side control.
Barksdale moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Barksdale keeping full guard, as Almanez tries to pass.
Almanez wants to control from the top but Barksdale keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Almanez won't allow Barksdale to sweep him here.
Almanez landing with the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almanez is fighting to break Barksdale's control of his arms but Barksdale is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Barksdale looking to hit a scissor sweep but Almanez is one step ahead there.
Barksdale pulls Almanez in close to prevent any damage.
Barksdale tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barksdale bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Almanez's guard.

Almanez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barksdale gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Almanez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Almanez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale connects with a couple of short punches.
Barksdale trying to control but Almanez is working from the bottom.
Barksdale is looking to stand up but Almanez won't let him.
Barksdale cracks Almanez with a solid left hand.
Barksdale's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barksdale trying to control the position from guard on top but Almanez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barksdale must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Jermaine Barksdale has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nice defenses there by Barksdale.
Barksdale throws a low kick but Almanez avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale misses with a hook. Almanez ducked under it nicely.
Almanez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Barksdale keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Almanez.
Almanez takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Barksdale looks for the body kick but Almanez saw that one coming.
Almanez tries a head kick but it misses.
Almanez takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Almanez tests Barksdale's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barksdale throws a body punch but Almanez moves out of range.
Barksdale moves out of range of the strikes.
Almanez misses with a lunging right hand
and Barksdale counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Almanez lands with a cross.
Barksdale on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Almanez slips a jab and a cross from Barksdale.
Barksdale bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jermaine Barksdale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Barksdale uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Almanez.
Almanez's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Barksdale connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Almanez scrambles back to his feet.
Barksdale slips a jab from Almanez.
Almanez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barksdale.
Barksdale ducks under a wild hook from Almanez.
Almanez slips under a jab from Barksdale.
Almanez throws a sloppy head kick and Barksdale moves out of range easily.
Almanez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Barksdale.
Barksdale misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Almanez.
Barksdale waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Almanez.
Barksdale throws out a loose jab but Almanez uses good head movement to avoid it.
That kick from Barksdale tenderised Almanez's leg. Almanez is trying to keep his angry face on.
Almanez throws a hook but Barksdale avoids it easily.
Almanez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barksdale avoids it really well and circles away.
Barksdale misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almanez moves out of range as Barksdale strikes.
Barksdale slips a jab and a cross from Almanez.
Barksdale takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Almanez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Almanez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Almanez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barksdale is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Almanez.
Almanez takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Decent striking displayed by Barksdale there.
Barksdale clobbers Almanez with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Almanez throws an overhand right that lands on Barksdale's shoulder, as Barksdale tries to avoid the shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Almanez throws a looping overhand right but Barksdale ducks down to avoid it.
Barksdale scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Barksdale loads up on a big right hand but Almanez slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Almanez was well out of range. Poor timing from Barksdale.
Almanez throws an overhand right that lands on Barksdale's shoulder, as Barksdale tries to avoid the shot.
Barksdale fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barksdale displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Almanez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jd Almanez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barksdale swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Barksdale dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Barksdale slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Barksdale throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Almanez.
Barksdale misses with a body shot.
Barksdale throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Almanez throws a right hand that Barksdale ducks under and follows up with a left that Barksdale also avoids with ease.
Barksdale throws a sloppy body shot

and Almanez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barksdale's guard.
Almanez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Almanez wants to control from the top but Barksdale keeps moving.
Jd Almanez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Almanez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Jd Almanez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Barksdale tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Barksdale bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Almanez's guard.
Barksdale is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Jermaine Barksdale is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Almanez keeping moving, preventing Barksdale from controlling successfully.
Barksdale not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Almanez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Barksdale defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale throwing strikes but missing.
Barksdale is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jermaine Barksdale wasn't active enough on the ground.
Almanez ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Barksdale scores with a jab to the jaw.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Almanez rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Barksdale cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barksdale slips a straight right by Almanez.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big right from Almanez misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Barksdale.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jermaine Barksdale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barksdale has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jermaine Barksdale!
Jermaine Barksdale gave a mention to Fenrir Fightgear in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).