PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Omar Barksdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Barksdale
vs
Smith

180 cm
20
163 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

200 cm
22
163 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Team S.W.A.T.

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Omar Barksdale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aaron Smith!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Joseph Jones and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Smith or perhaps it was just good defense by Barksdale which made him look bad.
Barksdale wants to clinch.

Barksdale gets a takedown into half guard.
Barksdale wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Smith is pressing down on Barksdale's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Barksdale stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Barksdale is fighting to break Smith's control of his arms but Smith is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Barksdale preventing the sweep.
Barksdale postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Barksdale might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Barksdale drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Barksdale jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Barksdale thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith is looking for a triangle but Barksdale pushes his legs off easily.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barksdale trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Barksdale looking to pass the guard.

Barksdale drops back looking for a leg! Smith is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smith manages to kick Barksdale off! Barksdale jumps back into Smith's guard.
Barksdale stopping the sweep attempt from Smith.

That's two 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Barksdale looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.

Barksdale scores with a takedown into Smith's guard.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Barksdale lands a couple of digs.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Barksdale from controlling successfully.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Barksdale wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.

Smith is looking for a triangle but Barksdale pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Barksdale is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Smith is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Smith checks a leg kick.
Smith tries for a takedown but Barksdale circles away easily

and Barksdale counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Smith looks gassed!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barksdale accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barksdale wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Barksdale cracks Smith with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smith is trying to control the position but Barksdale postures up.

Barksdale thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Smith working a defensive guard here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Barksdale clinches.

Barksdale wants the takedown. Smith is fighting it off but Barksdale persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Smith's guard against the cage.
Barksdale loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Barksdale!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Barksdale tries to hold on but Smith postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Smith moves out of range of the strikes.
Barksdale tries to clinch up.
Barksdale gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barksdale won't be happy with that.
Smith trying to control the action but Barksdale is working from the bottom.
Barksdale struggling a bit here.
Barksdale is looking to regain half guard here but Smith keeps moving and retains side control.
Smith tries to advance to mount but Barksdale denies him.
Omar Barksdale overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale is trying to control Smith's posture but Smith avoids it.
Smith takes a little break here. Barksdale wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Smith working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Barksdale shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Smith's guard.

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Barksdale throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Barksdale is proving a slippery customer.
Barksdale sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Smith's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale moves nicely into side control.
Barksdale lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Barksdale misses with the ground and pound.
Smith is not content to let Barksdale control the position.
Smith is looking to reverse the position.
Barksdale working the body and head with strikes.
Barksdale working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale trying to control the position but Smith is working away.

Barksdale is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Barksdale thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Smith tries to bench press Barksdale off him but Barksdale keeps the position.
Smith prevents Barksdale from moving into mount.
Barksdale looks up at the clock and then as Smith takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Barksdale smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Barksdale is trying to get an arm triangle but Smith is defending well.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Barksdale's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale wants to free his trapped foot but Smith is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Barksdale is working hard here to advance position.
Barksdale working the head and body with strikes.
Smith wants to control but Barksdale is keeping busy.

Barksdale is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Smith doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Barksdale.
Smith trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Omar Barksdale dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Barksdale looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Smith tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Barksdale is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Barksdale is looking for a kimura here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith trying to control but Barksdale postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is pressing down on Barksdale's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barksdale pushing down on Smith's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Smith is trying to control but can't.
Barksdale thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Barksdale is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Barksdale has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Smith moves into full guard.
Barksdale forces his way into half guard.
Smith wants to control but Barksdale is keeping busy.
Barksdale is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Barksdale is keen to just control but Smith is a slippery customer.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Barksdale sits in half guard.
Barksdale takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Smith is looking to control Barksdale's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?
Smith won't allow Barksdale to pass to mount.
Barksdale is nestled in close to Smith, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Barksdale looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Smith!
Barksdale connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale lands with some strikes.
The referee warns Smith that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Barksdale lands a nice shot to the head.
Barksdale connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Barksdale postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Smith looks a forlorn figure.
Barksdale lands a big elbow.

Barksdale is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Smith can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Smith is looking to improve his position but Barksdale isn't that keen on the idea.

Barksdale is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Barksdale extends the arm and Smith is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Omar Barksdale!