PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steven Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barry Barrow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barrow has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Barry Barrow has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Steven Lewis's chin.

Lewis
vs
Barrow

160 cm
25
191 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

180 cm
25
184 lbs
7 - 13 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steven Lewis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Barry Barrow!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Alyssa Summers and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Barrow dives in and grabs Lewis's left leg, looking for a takedown. Lewis pushes down on Barrow's head and hops out.
Lewis looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Barrow shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lewis as he jumps to the side.
Lewis slaps away a takedown attempt from Barrow, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Steven Lewis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barry Barrow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barrow with a poor takedown

and Lewis holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Barrow is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Barrow is trying to break free.
Barrow looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Barrow stops a takedown attempt from Lewis.
Lewis has Barrow pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Barrow manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lewis is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Barrow is defending well.
Barrow wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lewis has him pressed against the cage.
Barrow stops a takedown attempt from Lewis.
Lewis is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis goes for a takedown attempt but Barrow pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Lewis definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Barrow wants to clinch up but Lewis keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lewis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lewis wants it to stay on the feet.
Barrow wants to clinch but Lewis slips to the side

and Lewis counters with a single leg into guard. Barrow didn't expect that.
Lewis stops Barrow from standing up.
Lewis is in close to Barrow's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Barrow utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lewis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lewis throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Lewis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Barry Barrow's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lewis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Barrow looks for a takedown but Lewis sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Lewis as Barrow shoots in.
Steven Lewis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Barry Barrow.
Barrow wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Barrow closes the distance looking to clinch

and Lewis counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Barrow's guard now.
Barrow is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lewis postures up and lands a big shot to Barrow's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

The cut above Barry Barrow's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Barrow working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lewis.
Lewis keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Barrow's head.
Lewis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barrow works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lewis stops Barrow from standing up.
Lewis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lewis stops Barrow from standing up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Barrow can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lewis makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lewis is looking to work some ground and pound but Barrow has wrist control.
Barrow utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Barrow wants to stand up but Lewis is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lewis lands a couple of digs.
Barrow wants to stand and escape but Lewis is having none of it.
Lewis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Barrow manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barrow with a lazy takedown attempt

and Lewis counters with a shoot takedown. Barrow fights it but they end up in guard.
Lewis throwing strikes but missing.
Barrow wants to stand but Lewis is controlling the position.
Lewis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Barrow's head.
Barrow is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lewis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barrow has momentary wrist control but Lewis slips an elbow through the middle.
Barrow is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lewis is controlling him.
Lewis is looking to work some ground and pound but Barrow has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Lewis dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Barry Barrow's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Barrow darts in and clinches Lewis up against the cage.
Barrow is trying to force a seperation but Lewis has the dominant position.

Barrow is trying to trip Lewis. He has hold of a leg but Lewis is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Barrow persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lewis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Lewis throws his legs up looking for a submission but Barrow uses it to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis is trying to get back to half guard.
Lewis manages to work his way to half guard, despite Barrow's best efforts.
Barrow wants to stand up but Lewis is controlling the position.

Lewis actively working from the bottom here.

Lewis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barrow pulls his head out easily.
Barrow trying to control the action but Lewis is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Barrow is taking a breather. Lewis 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.
Lewis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Barrow's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Barrow's back!
Barrow is trying to get back to his feet but Lewis has full control of the position and if anything, Barrow has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Barrow is taking damage to the body and head.

Lewis has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Barrow! Can he survive? No! He's out! Lewis gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Steven Lewis!
Steven Lewis gave a mention to Reggieland in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).
The defeated Barry Barrow had this to say: 'Say What!'.