PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jack Barkley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruben Gerolf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Barkley
vs
Gerolf

225 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
24
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jack Barkley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ruben Gerolf!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Hirohito Nitta and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gerolf misses with a kick to the body.

Barkley closes the distance and pushes Gerolf back into the cage.
Gerolf can't break the clinch.
Gerolf wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Barkley pulls guard effortlessly.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Barkley is pulling down on Gerolf's head. It's preventing any offense from Gerolf, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gerolf controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gerolf really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barkley. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Jack Barkley has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gerolf throws a sloppy head kick and Barkley moves out of range easily.
Gerolf feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Barkley's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerolf checks a low kick from Barkley.
Gerolf throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Barkley.
Barkley takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Barkley checks a leg kick.
Gerolf tries a head kick but it misses.
Horrible takedown by Barkley or perhaps it was just good defense by Gerolf which made him look bad.
Gerolf throws a low kick but Barkley avoids it.
Barkley moves out of range as Gerolf throws a body kick.
Barkley fails with a takedown attempt.
Gerolf dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Barkley. That did some damage!
Gerolf lands with a thumping leg kick.
Gerolf goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Barkley is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Crunch! Barkley slams his shin into Gerolf's torso.
Oh Barkley is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gerolf goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Barkley getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barkley shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gerolf sprawls well. Gerolf wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barkley gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Barkley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barkley sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Barkley seems to have got his legs back now.
Gerolf goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gerolf looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Barkley tries to clinch but Gerolf is having none of it.
Gerolf tries a head kick but it misses.
Gerolf looks for the body kick but Barkley saw that one coming.
Gerolf pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barkley fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gerolf avoids it really well and circles away.
Gerolf throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gerolf misses with a body kick.
Barkley really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gerolf throws the kick towards the body but Barkley avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Barkley or perhaps it was just good defense by Gerolf which made him look bad.
Barkley is breathing heavily.
Barkley blocks the body kick.
Gerolf lands with a slapping head kick.
A head kick by Gerolf misses
and Barkley finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Gerolf misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gerolf throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Barkley counters by clinching up.
Gerolf tries to break free but Barkley pushes him back against the cage.
Barkley with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gerolf wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Barkley is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Gerolf gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Gerolf throws a head punch that misses.

Barkley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barkley looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barkley looks to land a right hand but Gerolf moved out of range.
Barkley takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gerolf throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gerolf throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gerolf moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Barkley avoids the head kick by Gerolf.
Gerolf throws a sloppy head kick and Barkley moves out of range easily.
Barkley blocks a head kick by Gerolf.
A head kick by Gerolf misses

and Barkley counters by clinching up.
Gerolf is looking to break free of the clinch but Barkley has double underhooks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Barkley throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gerolf misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruben Gerolf dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gerolf lands a front kick.
Good leg kick by Gerolf there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Gerolf throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Ruben Gerolf seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gerolf misses with a kick to the body.
Gerolf pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gerolf turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Barkley misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Barkley moves into the clinch.

Barkley manages to break the clinch.
Gerolf goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Gerolf walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Barkley checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Some bone on bone action there as Barkley checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Gerolf throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gerolf throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Barkley's head.
Gerolf looks for the body kick but Barkley saw that one coming.
Barkley throws a sloppy head kick and Gerolf moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Barkley.
Jack Barkley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gerolf lands a high kick!
Gerolf throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barkley looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Barkley cracks Gerolf with a right hand to the side of the head.
Barkley throws a leg kick but Gerolf checks it.
Barkley lands a high kick!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barkley throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gerolf's waist but Gerolf gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Barkley off to one side.
Some bone on bone action there as Barkley checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A head kick by Gerolf misses
and Barkley counters with a body kick that stops Gerolf in his tracks momentarily.
Ruben Gerolf seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barkley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gerolf lands a high kick!
Gerolf throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerolf throws a push kick but Barkley slaps the foot to one side.
Gerolf checks a leg kick.
Barkley throws a nice outside 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!
Gerolf throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gerolf misses with a body kick.
Gerolf slaps away a takedown attempt from Barkley, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Barkley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gerolf tries to land a front kick but Barkley steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gerolf throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gerolf lands a nice looking body kick.
Barkley takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Barkley moves out of range of the body kick from Gerolf.
Gerolf throws a head kick that misses.
Gerolf pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkley shoots in looking for a takedown but Gerolf manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Barkley's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gerolf.
Gerolf pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Barkley takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Gerolf throws a head kick that misses.
Barkley blocks a head kick by Gerolf.
Gerolf misses with a head kick.
No luck for Barkley with that takedown attempt.
Barkley moves out of range as Gerolf throws a body kick.
Barkley tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gerolf misses with a kick to the body.
Ruben Gerolf is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gerolf throws a push kick but Barkley slaps the foot to one side.
Gerolf tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barkley looks for a takedown but Gerolf sprawls well.
Gerolf lands with a kick to the temple. Barkley shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Barkley tries to clinch but Gerolf moves out of range.
Barkley blocks a head kick by Gerolf.
Gerolf throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gerolf misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Barkley moves into the clinch successfully.
Barkley jumps guard but Gerolf turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gerolf is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gerolf has had enough of the clinch but Barkley keeps him there for the moment.
A knee to the head by Barkley.
Barkley tries for a takedown. No joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruben Gerolf showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gerolf dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Barkley. That did some damage!
Barkley on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Gerolf pulls out of a head kick attempt.
That kick from Gerolf tenderised Barkley's leg. Barkley is trying to keep his angry face on.
Barkley avoids a kick to the body.
Barkley is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Gerolf tried to score with a low kick but Barkley checks it.
Gerolf throws out a leg kick but Barkley moves out of range and Gerolf only half commits.
Gerolf leaves Barkley with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gerolf throws a body kick that misses

and Barkley counters by moving into the clinch.
Gerolf is trying to break the clinch but Barkley has him pressed against the cage.

Barkley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gerolf throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Barkley counters with a thumping low kick.
Barkley shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gerolf pinned against the cage. Gerolf gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Barkley fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gerolf avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Barkley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley moves out of range of the body kick from Gerolf.
Barkley has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gerolf.
Gerolf misses with a head kick.
Gerolf scores with a leg kick.
Gerolf throws a wild body kick that Barkley sees coming a mile off.
Gerolf lands with a kick to the temple. Barkley shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Gerolf tries a head kick but it misses.

Barkley pushes Gerolf up against the cage in a clinch.
Gerolf wants to get back to striking at distance but Barkley won't allow it.
Barkley prevents Gerolf from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barkley controlling the action here for a moment.
Barkley has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gerolf after a bit of a struggle.
Gerolf tries to break the clinch but Barkley is controlling the position.
Gerolf tries to break the clinch but Barkley is controlling the position.
Barkley manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Gerolf is trying to break the clinch but Barkley is controlling him.
Barkley keeps control of Gerolf as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gerolf wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barkley has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkley's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Gerolf is trying to force a seperation but Barkley has the dominant position.
Gerolf has a couple of punches blocked by Barkley.
Gerolf is looking to break free of the clinch but Barkley has double underhooks.
Barkley is trying to pull guard but Gerolf has him pressed against the cage.
Barkley keeps control of Gerolf as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gerolf is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Barkley jumps guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barkley wants to sweep here but Gerolf controlling him for the moment.
Barkley has a closed guard, preventing Gerolf from standing up.
Barkley can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gerolf controls the pace.
Jack Barkley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ruben Gerolf is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ruben Gerolf wasn't active enough on the ground.
Gerolf scores with a nice body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruben Gerolf comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gerolf winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Ruben Gerolf!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Ruben Gerolf!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Ruben Gerolf!

Ruben Gerolf wins by unanimous decision!
Ruben Gerolf decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.