PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Arlen Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Barybin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Barybin's choice of entrance music: Primus - My Name is Mud. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Henderson
vs
Barybin

204 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite 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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Arlen Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Barybin!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Illya Tyunina and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barybin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Barybin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Barybin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Henderson keeps working.

Barybin tries for a kimura but Henderson is defending well.
Barybin tries to stand but Henderson is controlling his head.
Henderson is trying to control Barybin's posture but Barybin avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barybin looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Henderson is avoiding damage well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Barybin has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Henderson is not content to let Barybin control the position.
Barybin lands a decent elbow from side control.
You can see the frustration on Henderson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Barybin goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Henderson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Barybin's guard! Nice work there by Henderson!
Barybin looking to control but Henderson passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Henderson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Barybin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Barybin is looking to improve his position.

Henderson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Henderson is looking to take a break and control but Barybin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is thwarting Barybin's attempts to control the position.
Barybin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Henderson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Barybin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Henderson.
Barybin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Henderson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Henderson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Barybin trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Henderson manages to pass to mount!
Henderson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Barybin gets back to half guard.
Henderson is controlling the pace.
Barybin is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Henderson jumps into side control!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Henderson lands some shots froms side control.
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 Arlen Henderson will probably get the nod.
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.

Barybin drives through with a takedown into Henderson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Henderson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Henderson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Barybin controls the pace.
Henderson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Henderson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Barybin passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson is looking to escape.
Henderson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Barybin scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson is trying to stand up here but Barybin is controlling him well.
Alexander Barybin has got the better of the ground game so far.

Barybin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Henderson sees it coming and defends easily.
Barybin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Henderson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Henderson has his hands clasped together around Barybin's back. He's all about the action.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Henderson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Barybin to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Henderson looking for a guillotine here but Barybin defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barybin won't allow Henderson to get back to his feet.
Henderson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Henderson wriggles free and stands up.

Barybin closes the distance and clinches.
Henderson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Barybin is looking to break free of the clinch but Henderson has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barybin jumps guard and drags Henderson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Barybin is trying to control the position but Henderson postures up.

Barybin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Henderson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Barybin is breathing heavily.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Barybin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henderson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Barybin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barybin throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Henderson lands a couple of digs.
Henderson throws a big right hand that misses.

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

Barybin closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Henderson is trying to stand up here but Barybin is controlling him well.

Henderson pushes Barybin off and gets back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Henderson tries to keep at a distance but Barybin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Barybin can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Barybin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Henderson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Barybin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Henderson somewhat.

Barybin shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Henderson is trying to defend but Barybin finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Barybin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Henderson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Barybin is keen to just control but Henderson is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Henderson pushes Barybin off and gets back to his feet.
Alexander Barybin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henderson fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson closes the distance and clinches up with Barybin, looking for a takedown. Henderson pushes Barybin against the cage but Barybin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Barybin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Barybin wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.

Henderson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barybin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Henderson controls Barybin momentarily but Barybin frees himself.
Barybin trying to control the position from guard on top but Henderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Barybin from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Barybin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Henderson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Barybin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Barybin is trying to get an arm triangle but Henderson is defending well.
Barybin wants to stand but Henderson has his arm trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries to escape but Barybin is in control.
Henderson is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Barybin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Henderson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Barybin working away.

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

Barybin throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Henderson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Barybin is in Henderson's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barybin.
Henderson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Henderson is looking for a triangle but Barybin pushes his legs off easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barybin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Henderson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Barybin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Barybin 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Barybin!
Alexander Barybin bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.