PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Newton Barlow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Irving (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Irving has chosen Reach For The Sky as his entrance music. Anthony Irving has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Barlow
vs
Irving

181 cm
21
215 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

197 cm
24
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Newton Barlow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Irving!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Lou da Vinci and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Irving scores with a takedown into Barlow's guard.
Irving showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Irving wants to control from the top but Barlow keeps moving.
Irving controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Irving wants to stand but Barlow has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barlow wants to stand up but Irving is controlling him.
Irving controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barlow is looking to stand up but Irving isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Irving drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Irving controlling the position from side mount.
Irving wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barlow keeps working.
Irving is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barlow is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Irving asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Irving wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barlow keeps working.
Irving just content to control the position.
Barlow is looking to reverse the position.
Barlow is trying to escape the position but Irving is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irving's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Irving is looking to take a break and control but Barlow is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barlow is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Barlow could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Barlow will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Irving fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Barlow sprawls well initially but Irving persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Irving seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Barlow does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irving might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Barlow haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Barlow has a hand on Irving's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Irving takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Irving trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Irving controlling the pace for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Irving looking to control but Barlow is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Irving dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Irving scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Barlow wants to improve his position but Irving is controlling well.
Irving is keen to just control but Barlow is a slippery customer.
Irving prevents Barlow from standing back up.
Irving trying to mount his opponent but Barlow defends it.
Barlow is not content to let Irving control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barlow tries to kick Irving off but Irving keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Barlow might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Irving shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Barlow's guard.
Barlow wants to sweep but no luck.
Irving is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Irving is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Irving has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Irving tries to free his leg and advance position but Barlow is retaining full guard.
Irving sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
More stalling from Irving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Barlow keeping moving, preventing Irving from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Barlow closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Barlow lands in his opponent's guard.
Irving is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irving looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Barlow stopping the sweep attempt from Irving.
Irving keeping full guard, as Barlow tries to pass.
Irving is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Irving performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Barlow trying to control but Irving postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Irving wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barlow keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Irving showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Barlow has a takedown stuffed.
Barlow fails in his attempt to clinch.

Irving closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Barlow did well to prevent Irving getting side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irving trying to control the action but Barlow is working from the bottom.
Barlow trying to control from the bottom.
Irving sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Irving wants to work for an arm triangle but Barlow is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Irving is controlling the pace.
Barlow wants to improve his position but Irving is controlling well.
Barlow wants to control but Irving is keeping busy.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Irving wants to control but Barlow is keeping him busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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.
Barlow looks for a takedown but Irving sprawls well.

Irving closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Barlow's guard.
Barlow keeping moving, preventing Irving from controlling successfully.
Irving wants to pass the guard but Barlow is keeping the position.
Irving trying to control but Barlow is working from the bottom.
Irving is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irving trying to control but Barlow is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Irving feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Barlow looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Irving sitting in guard here, content to control.
Irving wants to control from the top but Barlow keeps moving.
Irving stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Barlow swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Irving is stalling in the full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Irving trying to control but Barlow is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Irving comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Irving 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 John Roberts scores the fight 25:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Irving!
A victorious Anthony Irving thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.