PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hannibal Barca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raijin Kage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barca comes to the cage accompanied by Carthage. Kage has chosen Ride the Lightning as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barca
vs
Kage

175 cm
24
165 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

165 cm
30
162 lbs
18 - 9 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

AnonymouS
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hannibal Barca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 1, fighting out of London, Raijin Kage!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Elvis Blanc and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barca throws a body punch but Kage moves out of range.
Kage buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Barca chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kage can pounce on him.
Barca looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Barca changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kage looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Barca wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kage, who protects the arm well.
Kage manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Barca avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kage.
Barca is looking for a sweep. Kage is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kage has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Kage wants to pass to mount but Barca is defending the position.
Kage trying to control from half guard but Barca is working away.
Barca makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Barca.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kage trying to control but Barca is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barca is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kage is aware though and is defending well.
Barca looking to control.
Kage working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Barca's head.
Kage working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Barca's head.
Kage is looking to work some ground and pound but Barca has wrist control.
Barca has momentary wrist control but Kage slips an elbow through the middle.

Barca is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kage is aware though and is defending well.
Barca looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
My spies in Thirteenth Legion MMA inform me that Kage has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Kage is looking to work some ground and pound but Barca has wrist control.
Kage passes Barca's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Kage is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kage wants to take a breather but Barca is having none of it.
Kage tries to pass to full mount but Barca defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barca blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kage.

Kage seems to be working for a kimura but Barca defends the submission attempt.
Barca is positioning himself well to prevent Kage advancing to mount.

Kage is looking for a kimura here.

Kage seems to be working for a kimura but Barca defends the submission attempt.
Barca tries to get to full guard but Kage has control of the leg.
Kage trying to control from half guard but Barca is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kage passes the guard and advances to mount!
Barca is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kage looking to control but Barca is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Barca tries to lock up and control but Kage gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kage landing strikes from the mount.
Kage trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Barca slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kage is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Barca reverses the position - he's now on top in Kage's guard.
Kage utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Barca scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kage is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barca is aware though and is defending well.
Kage throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Kage keeping moving, preventing Barca from controlling successfully.
Barca working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kage's head.
Barca looking to sit in guard and control but Kage gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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!

Barca is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kage is aware though and is defending well.

Barca working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kage doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kage manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kage looking to pass the guard.
Kage postures up in Barca's guard and throws a big left but Barca blocks it.
Barca keeping full guard, as Kage tries to pass.
Kage throwing strikes from guard but Barca blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raijin Kage dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Barca is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kage.
Kage throws a head kick but Barca moves out of range.
Kage takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Barca swats away the attempt to clinch by Kage.
Barca changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Barca avoids the body shot from Kage.
Kage throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Barca shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kage napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Barca trying to control the position but Kage is working away.
Kage manages to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barca wants to control but Kage is keeping him busy.
Kage is trying to control but can't.
Kage moves into full guard.
Barca pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kage is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barca stopping the sweep attempt from Kage.
Kage trying to control the position.
Barca trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Barca chips away with some ground and pound.
Kage keeping moving, preventing Barca from controlling successfully.

Kage is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kage not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kage keeping moving, preventing Barca from controlling successfully.
Barca wants to pass the guard but Kage is keeping the position.

That's two 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.

Kage had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Barca defends it easily.
Barca landing with the ground and pound.

Kage is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Barca controlling from the top position.
Barca in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kage working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barca.

Kage had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Barca defends it easily.
Barca trying to control the position from guard on top but Kage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barca lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Kage escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barca gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Barca throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kage works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Kage is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barca defends well.
Barca keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kage's head.

Kage working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Barca doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Barca manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Barca is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Barca showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kage keeping moving, preventing Barca from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barca passes Kage's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hannibal Barca overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kage punching from the bottom.
Kage misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Kage is looking for a sweep. Barca is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barca is nestled in close to Kage, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Barca is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Barca winds up and cracks Kage with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kage wants to get back to full guard but Barca has passed into side control.
Barca wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kage keeps working.
Kage is looking to regain half guard here but Barca keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannibal Barca dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kage lands a nice hook to Barca's body. Barca takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kage lands a head shot.
Kage tries to clinch but Barca moves out of range.
Kage throws a leg kick that is checked

and Barca counters with a single leg into guard. Kage didn't expect that.

Kage escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Barca gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kage throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Barca's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kage keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kage lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kage thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kage is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kage stands and throws Barca's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Barca gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Barca actively working from the bottom here.
Barca is trying to control but can't.

Kage looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Barca is not content to let Kage control the position.
Barca tries to roll over but Kage keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barca is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kage's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kage's back!
Kage trying to control the action but Barca just sinks the hooks in.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Barca's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Kage tries to escape the position.
Kage is still trying to improve position.

Barca patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Barca is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Barca is looking to control Kage but Kage is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Barca thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kage can't escape the position.
Barca doesn't have the hooks in and Kage manages to turn into his guard.
Kage stands and throws Barca's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Barca is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Kage tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kage has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Barca regains half guard.
Kage wants to get back to his feet.
Barca tries to get to full guard but Kage has control of the leg.

Barca actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barca wants to improve his position but Kage is controlling well.

Barca looking for submissions off his back.
Kage wants to pass the guard but Barca is defending well.
Barca keeping hold of Kage's head, controlling as best he can.

Barca is defending against the submission attempts here by Kage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barca is looking to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Raijin Kage.
I think Kage has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raijin Kage!
A relieved looking Raijin Kage thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
In defeat, Hannibal Barca stepped up to the mic, saying 'I will either find a way, or make one.'.