PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bobby McBarz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taylor Powell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McBarz's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Die Antwoord - Ugly Boy. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

McBarz
vs
Powell

183 cm
20
180 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

180 cm
20
179 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bobby McBarz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Taylor Powell!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Ivan Kurochkin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Powell moves into range and clinches up with McBarz.
Powell goes for a takedown in the clinch but McBarz prevents it.

Powell has clasped his hands together around McBarz's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

McBarz throws Powell to one side and escapes!
McBarz throws a body shot but no joy.
Bobby McBarz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Powell closes the distance and clinches.
McBarz is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Powell is defending well for now.
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!
Powell has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. McBarz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Powell drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bobby McBarz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Taylor Powell.
McBarz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Powell avoids it.

Powell tightens his grip and picks McBarz up, before dumping him to the ground. McBarz manages to land in guard.
McBarz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Powell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Powell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McBarz works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McBarz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Powell is controlling him.
Powell stands up over McBarz, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Powell stopping the sweep attempt from McBarz.
McBarz is looking to stand back up but Powell counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by McBarz.
McBarz is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Powell scores with a couple of nice shots.
Powell controlling the action here.
Powell is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
McBarz is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at The Factory that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powell controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Powell working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Powell throws a big elbow that misses.
Powell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Powell's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Powell postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Powell postures up in McBarz's guard and throws a big left but McBarz blocks it.
Powell trying to control the position from guard on top but McBarz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McBarz looking for a sweep. Not yet McBarz, not yet.
Powell is in close to McBarz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Powell working his ground and pound in the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell throws an elbow that misses. McBarz uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Powell's guard. Nice move by McBarz!

Powell wants to sweep here but McBarz controlling him for the moment.
McBarz trying to stand up but can't free himself from Powell's guard.
Powell looking for a sweep. Not yet Powell, not yet.
Powell has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Powell is on top in guard.

McBarz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Powell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McBarz wants to sweep here but Powell controlling him for the moment.
Powell scoring with punches to the head and body.
Powell with a nice head shot there.
Powell with a nice head shot there.
Powell's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Powell lands a couple of digs.

McBarz uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Powell scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Powell lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Powell lands a nice short elbow.
Powell lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taylor Powell dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Powell scores with a kick to the midsection.

It looks like Bobby McBarz has been cut.
Powell moves away from the strike by McBarz.
Powell steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McBarz.
Powell takes one to the side of the head.
Powell dives in for a single leg takedown but McBarz sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Powell throws a push kick but McBarz slaps the foot to one side.
McBarz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McBarz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Powell.
McBarz throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Some wild striking there from McBarz.
That kick from Powell tenderised McBarz's leg. McBarz is trying to keep his angry face on.
McBarz throws a right hand that Powell ducks under and follows up with a left that Powell also avoids with ease.

Powell moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McBarz is trying to break the clinch but Powell is controlling him.
Powell wants a takedown.
Still in the clinch, Powell scores with a nice short uppercut.
Powell managing to block the knees to the body from McBarz.
Powell scores with a hook to the body.
McBarz prevents a body shot from Powell.

Powell wants the takedown. McBarz is fighting it off but Powell persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in McBarz's guard against the cage.
Powell looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
McBarz throws a couple of heel strikes.
Powell works over McBarz with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powell landing some decent shots from guard.
McBarz lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

McBarz wanted to stand there but Powell had control of the position.
Powell lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Powell lands a couple of decent looking shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Powell with a nice head shot there.
Powell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Powell scoring with some ground and pound.
Powell trying to control but McBarz is working from the bottom.
Powell lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Powell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Powell chips away with some ground and pound.
Taylor Powell has got the better of the ground game so far.
Powell cracks McBarz with a solid left hand.

McBarz is rocked!
Powell stops McBarz from standing up.
Oh McBarz is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Powell with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
McBarz seems to have got his legs back now.
Powell keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McBarz's head.
Powell distracts McBarz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Powell lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Powell makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Powell lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powell scoring with punches to the head and body.
Powell trying to control but McBarz is working from the bottom.
Powell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Powell postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! McBarz covers up, he's hurt! Powell keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Powell and the ref steps in to end the fight! Powell can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Taylor Powell!
Taylor Powell bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.