PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Micah Barber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charlie Cannings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barber
vs
Cannings

188 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Micah Barber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Charlie Cannings!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barber misses with a double jab.
Cannings throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cannings dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Barber misses with a series of wild punches.
Barber throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cannings fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cannings fails with the takedown
and Barber counters with a three punch combo that has Cannings backing up. Cannings nods at Barber to acknowledge the strikes.
Cannings with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cannings misses with a takedown attempt - Barber sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Micah Barber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charlie Cannings.
Cannings shoots in for a double leg but Barber sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barber is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cannings's half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Cannings trying to hold on to Barber's head to control him but Barber postures up.

Barber wants to work for an arm triangle but Cannings is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Cannings gets back to full guard.
Cannings wants to sweep here but Barber controlling him for the moment.
Barber with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barber with a flurry of punches that miss.

Cannings is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Barber presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Cannings managing to block the knees to the body from Barber.
A frustrated look appears on Cannings's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Barber keeps control of Cannings as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Barber misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barber is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cannings is defending well for now.
Cannings has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Barber is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cannings is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barber's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cannings dives in and grabs Barber's left leg, looking for a takedown. Barber pushes down on Cannings's head and hops out.
Cannings takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cannings misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Barber throws a series of punches but Cannings avoids them all with ease.
Barber misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cannings.
Barber shoots in for a takedown but Cannings shows good takedown defense.
Cannings throws a lazy head kick
and Barber counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cannings.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barber fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barber scores with a one two! Cannings had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Barber checks the leg kick nicely there.
Cannings throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Barber's waist but Barber gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cannings off to one side.
Cannings misses with a wild combination.
Cannings looks winded!
Cannings shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barber as he jumps to the side.

Cannings forces Barber back against the cage and clinches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Barber breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Micah Barber will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Barber clinches with his opponent.
Barber wants to get back to striking at distance but Cannings won't allow it.
Barber is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cannings is defending well for now.
Barber missing with knees to the body.
Barber lands an elbow just above Cannings 's eye.
Cannings wants to break free but Barber has control.
Cannings keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Barber's efforts to push away.
Cannings jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Barber walks away with a smile on his face. Cannings gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cannings wants to clinch.
Barber with a nice cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cannings doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Barber counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cannings shoots in for a takedown but Barber shows good takedown defense.
Micah Barber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charlie Cannings.
Barber displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cannings.

Cannings moves into range and clinches up with Barber.
Barber landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Barber is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Cannings has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Barber avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cannings tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Barber smiles and moves away.
Cannings is breathing heavily.
Barber is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cannings fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cannings fails with the takedown.
Cannings tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barber swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Charlie Cannings seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barber misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Barber fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cannings misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Barber counters with a left to the body.

Cannings closes the distance and pushes Barber back into the cage.
Barber really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Barber tries to land knees in the clinch but Cannings avoids the damage to the body.
Barber missing with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Barber.
Barber can't find room to land a body shot as Cannings controls the action.
Cannings tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cannings is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Barber to keep the fight standing.
Cannings can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cannings wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Barber has him pressed against the cage.
Barber unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Cannings jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Barber walks away with a smile on his face. Cannings gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Barber dives in for a single leg takedown but Cannings sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cannings has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cannings tries to score a body lock takedown but Barber shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Barber lands a damaging elbow.
Barber throws a punch but it's blocked by Cannings.
Cannings wants to break the clinch but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Barber is looking to break free of the clinch but Cannings has double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Micah Barber will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cannings closes the distance and clinches.
Cannings tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A head punch on the inside from Barber fails to land.
Cannings jumps guard but Barber stands there with Cannings around his waist. Cannings gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Cannings blocks a body shot from Barber.
Cannings missing with knees to the body.

Cannings pulls Barber into guard.
Cannings utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Barber postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cannings is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barber is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cannings pushes Barber off and gets back to his feet.
Cannings takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barber blocks a head kick by Cannings.
Cannings swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cannings wants to clinch.
Cannings displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barber.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barber misses with a two punch combination.
Cannings changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barber tries to avoid it but Cannings manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barber to the ground. Barber escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Micah Barber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Charlie Cannings.
Cannings closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barber circles away.
Barber connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cannings. Cannings circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Barber has a takedown stuffed.
Barber misses with a wild combination.
Barber tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cannings manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Micah Barber is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barber slips a jab and a cross from Cannings.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cannings misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Barber tries to bum rush Cannings with a series of wild strikes but Cannings uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Barber gets a takedown into half guard.
Cannings wants to get back to full guard but Barber has passed into side control.

Barber is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cannings has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cannings can't do much from the bottom here.

Barber swings around for an armbar but Cannings sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Barber's guard.
Cannings throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cannings slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cannings looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Barber is avoiding damage well.
Charlie Cannings has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Micah Barber is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barber struggling a bit here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Charlie Cannings.
I think Barber has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!