PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ephraim Baraka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Street (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baraka comes to the cage accompanied by Loyal - Chris Brown Ft Lil Wayne & Tyga. Street has chosen The Truth as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Baraka
vs
Street

183 cm
29
195 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

196 cm
41
226 lbs
32 - 31 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Sin City Allstars

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 Las Vegas, Ephraim Baraka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 31 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Street!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baraka scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Baraka gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Baraka seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Street pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Baraka misses the target.
Baraka misses with a wild combination.
Baraka changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Baraka.
Baraka throws a jab but it's blocked by Street.
Baraka keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nice body kick from Street.
Street lands a nice hook to Baraka's body. Baraka takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Baraka closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Baraka lands in his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Street utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Baraka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baraka trying to control the position from guard on top but Street is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Street tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Street is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Baraka won't allow Street to sweep him here.
Baraka is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Street keeping moving, preventing Baraka from controlling successfully.
Baraka is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Street is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Baraka content to stall in guard here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Street working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Baraka has passed into half guard!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Baraka is working for a submission of some sort.
Street is trying to get back to full guard.
Baraka moves into full mount! Street won't be happy about that!

Baraka working for a guillotine from mount but Street is in no mood to give up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Street is squirming around, avoiding Baraka's attempts to control the action.
Baraka connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Baraka controlling the position easily from mount.
Street is squirming around, avoiding Baraka's attempts to control the action.

Baraka is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Street has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Street can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baraka avoids the attempt from Street to control.
Baraka trying to control but Street is having none of it.
Street is looking to get to half guard.

Baraka is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Street has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Baraka controlling from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baraka tries to control but Street wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ephraim Baraka dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Baraka shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Street wants to get back to full guard but Baraka has mounted him!
Street is working to get back to half guard.
BOOM! Baraka connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Street tries to reverse the position but Baraka maintains control.
Street is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Street is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Street is trying to escape the mount.
Baraka looking to control but Street is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Street is in all sorts of trouble here.
Street holds on, trying desperately to control.
Baraka landing punches.
Street is squirming around, avoiding Baraka's attempts to control the action.
Street regains half guard.
Street makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Street.
Baraka passes into half guard.
Street slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Street looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baraka is one step ahead there.
Baraka engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Baraka won't allow Street to sweep him here.
Baraka trying to control but Street is working from the bottom.

Baraka drops back looking for a leg! Street is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Street manages to kick Baraka off! Baraka jumps back into Street's guard.
Baraka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Street can do to turn this around?
Street 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.
Street can't keep his opponent in guard - Baraka advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Street is looking to improve his position.
Street taking some punishment here, with Baraka in his half guard.
Well, if Baraka is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Street is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Street trying to get back to full guard but Baraka takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

Baraka is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Street is surviving well by controlling Baraka's body position as best he can.
Street is looking to get to half guard.
Ephraim Baraka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Baraka working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Street tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Baraka is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Street is surviving well by controlling Baraka's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ephraim Baraka dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Street lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Baraka has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Baraka and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Baraka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Street but Street pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Baraka swings for the body but Street moves out of range.
Baraka avoids the head kick by Street.
Baraka half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Street throws a head kick but Baraka moves out of range.
Street steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Baraka.
Baraka fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Michael Street seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Street connects with a high kick.

It looks like Ephraim Baraka has been cut.
Street lands a nice looking body kick.
Street tries to move into range but Baraka moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baraka shoots in for a takedown but Street shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ephraim Baraka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baraka moves away from the strike by Street.
Street slips a jab and a cross from Baraka.
Baraka backing away here, and Street unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Baraka has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Street.
Baraka misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice leg kick lands there from Baraka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baraka avoids the head kick by Street.
Baraka checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Street misses with a two punch combination.
Street throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Baraka on the side of the head.
Street throws a half hearted mid kick.
Street misses with a head kick.
Baraka is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Street fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Baraka checks it well.
Baraka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Street.
Street is looking to chop away at Baraka's legs.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Baraka here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Baraka swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Street counters with a nice body kick.
Ephraim Baraka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Baraka fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Street to the ground. Baraka is now in Street's guard.
Baraka trying to control but Street is working from the bottom.
Michael Street has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Street wants to sweep but no luck.
Baraka with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Street is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Baraka has his hands clasped together but Street extends and breaks Baraka's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Street.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Michael Street!
Michael Street managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Sin City Allstars, into his post fight interview.