PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Darwin Kane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Barko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darwin Kane has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kane
vs
Barko

183 cm
24
194 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Darwin Kane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tony Barko!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barko shoots in and bounces Kane off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Barko throws a strike but Kane rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Barko looking for a sweep. Not yet Barko, not yet.
Kane throws a big right hand that misses.
Barko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barko wants to sweep here but Kane controlling him for the moment.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tony Barko wasn't active enough on the ground.
Kane with a poor takedown

and Barko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kane tries to kick Barko off but Barko keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Barko looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Barko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kane is trying to stand.
Barko landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barko is looking to stall here but Kane recovers full guard.
Barko is working Kane over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barko looking to sit in guard and control but Kane gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kane postures up.
Kane throws a big elbow that misses.
Barko looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kane puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barko trying to control from the bottom.
Barko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Barko trying to hold on to Kane's head to control him but Kane postures up.

Tony Barko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Some bone on bone action there as Kane checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barko misses with a low kick.
Barko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kane shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Barko defends it nicely.
Barko throws a body punch but Kane moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Barko dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Nice sprawl there from Barko as Kane shoots in.
Kane fails with the takedown.
Kane wants to clinch.

Barko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kane's guard.
Barko trying to control the position from guard on top but Kane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kane wants to sweep here but Barko controlling him for the moment.
Barko cracks Kane with a solid left hand.
Barko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kane works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Barko scoring with some ground and pound.
Kane keeping moving, preventing Barko from controlling successfully.
Barko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barko wants to control from the top but Kane keeps moving.
Barko postures up in Kane's guard and throws a big left but Kane blocks it.
Barko wants to control from the top but Kane keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Tony Barko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kane tries to score a power double leg takedown but Barko sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kane somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darwin Kane. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kane shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Barko as he jumps to the side.
Kane uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barko.

Barko darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Barko working the head and body with strikes.
Barko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kane keeps working.
Barko might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kane haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Kane taking some punishment here, with Barko in his half guard.
Barko wants to take a breather but Kane is having none of it.
Barko takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Barko with the ground and pound but Kane uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Barko content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Barko engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Barko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kane is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barko trying to control the position from guard on top but Kane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kane keeping moving, preventing Barko from controlling successfully.
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!

Tony Barko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Barko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kane's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kane is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Barko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kane's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kane will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kane with a lazy takedown attempt

and Barko counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kane's guard now.
Barko trying to control the position from guard on top but Kane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barko looking to pass the guard.
Barko wants to control from the top but Kane keeps moving.
Kane bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barko's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kane is one step ahead there.

Tony Barko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kane shoots and misses

and Barko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barko.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darwin Kane. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barko won't allow Kane to get back to his feet.
Barko landing with the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barko trying to control but Kane is working from the bottom.
Barko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barko wants to control from the top but Kane keeps moving.
Barko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barko is working Kane over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Barko trying to control but Kane is working from the bottom.
Kane is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Barko is controlling him.
Barko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kane has his hands on Barko's head, controlling the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Barko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kane's guard.

Kane is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Oh Kane is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barko trying to control but Kane is working from the bottom.
Barko controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Barko works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kane on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Barko looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Barko working the head and body with strikes.
Barko lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Kane! More strikes land and this one is all over! Barko jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tony Barko!