PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Barber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jilted Royalty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jilted Royalty has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Barber
vs
Royalty

193 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
198 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Barber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jilted Royalty!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Royalty throws a half hearted mid kick.
Barber slips under a jab from Royalty.
Barber tries to counter by clinching up but Royalty breaks away and moves out of range.

Royalty feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Barber sprawling to the canvas! Barber rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Royalty finish him?!

It looks like James Barber has been cut.
Royalty misses with a combination

and Barber counters by clinching up.

Royalty jumps guard and drags Barber to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Royalty looking for a sweep. Not yet Royalty, not yet.

Royalty is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barber defends well.
Royalty is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Barber trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barber in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barber throwing strikes but missing.

Barber drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Barber jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Royalty throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Royalty digs a good body shot into Barber's ribs.

Royalty closes the distance and clinches.

Barber gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barber wants to stand up but Royalty has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Royalty is trying to get back to full guard.
Barber is thwarting Royalty's attempts to control the position.
Barber wants to get back to his feet.

Barber is working for a kimura but Royalty is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barber is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Barber prevents Royalty from improving his position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Royalty cracks a nice hook into Barber's ribs.

Royalty clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Royalty content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Barber changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Royalty fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Royalty shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Barber manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Royalty working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Royalty stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Barber tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Royalty paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Royalty misses with a few strikes there.
Barber shoots in but no luck this time.
It seemed like Royalty was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jilted Royalty dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Barber's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Royalty drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Royalty missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Royalty wants to pass the guard but Barber is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barber is on top in guard.

Royalty looking to control but Barber passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Royalty avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Barber.

Barber is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Royalty is just riding it out for now. Barber eventually gives up the hold.
Royalty is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Barber's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Barber's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barber showing good submission defense here.
Royalty is trying to stick to Barber's back but Barber is turning into Royalty. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Royalty's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Barber.

Barber drops back, looking for a kneebar! Royalty looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Royalty looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Royalty!

Barber bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barber gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Barber will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Barber wants to sweep here but Royalty controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barber trying to keep a closed guard but Royalty is proving a slippery customer.
Royalty slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Royalty sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Royalty is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Royalty is looking to advance position but Barber won't allow it.
Barber is trying to stand back up but Royalty is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Royalty gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Royalty drops Barber with a beautiful combination! Barber stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Royalty is looking for the KO!

Barber is rocked!
Barber leaves his chin hanging out and Royalty seizes the opportunity with an uppercut! Barber crumbles to the floor in a heap, and the referee steps in and tends to the downed fighter! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jilted Royalty!
After winning the bout, Jilted Royalty thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.