PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Bar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and High Low (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Bar
vs
Low

197 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Samuel Bar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, High Low!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shirou Masuda and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Low shoots in for a takedown but Bar shows good takedown defense.
Bar looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Low looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Low dives in and grabs Bar's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bar pushes down on Low's head and hops out.
Samuel Bar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of High Low.

Bar gets tackled into the cage by Low. Low maintains the clinch.

Low breaks from the clinch.
Bar throws a right and a left that Low avoids nicely.
Bar shoots in and drives through. Low sprawls well.
Low throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bar.
Low shoots in for a takedown but Bar shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bar tries to close the distance and clinch up but Low swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Low shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bar sprawls well. Bar wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Low gets slowly back to his feet.

Low rushes Bar and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Low is looking for a takedown.

Low drags the fight down to the ground.
Low should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Bar preventing the sweep.

Low scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Bar tries for a takedown but Low sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Low rushes Bar and presses him up against the cage.

Low jumps into guard, dragging Bar to the mat.
Low seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Low wants to sweep here but Bar controlling him for the moment.

Low working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bar doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bar manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Low manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bar manages to get himself to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Low engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Low sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bar's guard.
Bar is trying to control but can't.
Low with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Low is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bar is just riding it out for now. Low eventually gives up the hold.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Low thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bar's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Low is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Low throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Low takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

High Low dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A combination from Low does no damage.
Bar has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Low.

Low takes the fight into the clinch.
Low lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Bar.
Low is looking for a takedown.

Low pulls guard successfully.
Low is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Low manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bar manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Low is stalling in the full guard.
Low pushing down on Bar's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Low perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Low's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Low looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bar avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Low.

Low seems to be working for a kimura but Bar defends the submission attempt.
Low is taking a breather. Bar says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. High Low hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bar displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Low.

Low has taken the fight to the clinch.

Low jumps into guard, dragging Bar to the mat.

Low is looking for a triangle but Bar pushes his legs off easily.
Bar has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Low is pulling down on Bar's head. It's preventing any offense from Bar, at least for the moment.
Low keeping moving, preventing Bar from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bar got a little sloppy there for a moment and Low has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bar has managed to get both his arms back between Low's legs - danger averted.

Low working for a triangle but Bar defends it easily.

Low has his foot on Bar's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bar works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

High Low showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Low closes the distance and clinches.
Low drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bar pulls his leg out and moves away.
Low tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bar swivels and escapes.
Low wants to clinch up but Bar keeps it at a distance.
A right-left combo lands from Low.
Low is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bar sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Samuel Bar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of High Low.
Low has his takedown stuffed
and Bar counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No luck for Low with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Low wants to clinch up but Bar keeps it at a distance.
Bar tries to clinch up.
Nice sprawl there from Bar as Low shoots in.

Bar shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Low is trying to defend but Bar finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Low is trying is best to control the position here.
Low slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bar trying to control but Low is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Low is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Low keeps control of Bar as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bar trying to control the position but instead, Low has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bar into the cage.

Low manages to break the clinch.
Samuel Bar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Low shoots in and drives through. Bar sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Low throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bar defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Low.
Bar tries to clinch up but Low circles away and keeps his distance.
High Low seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Low clinches.
Bar taking a breather.
Low changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bar fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Low with a poor takedown

and Bar counters by moving into the clinch.
Bar is trying to push Low away but Low has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Low jumps guard.
Bar knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Low on the ground.
Low looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bar trying to control the position from guard on top but Low is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
High Low has got the better of the ground game so far.
Low is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bar wants to control from the top but Low keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Samuel Bar.

Low clinches up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Low manages to pull guard.
Samuel Bar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
High Low is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Low has Bar pulled in close to control his posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
High Low comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Low 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... High Low!