PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hong Giles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Avon Barksdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hong Giles had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Giles
vs
Barksdale

154 cm
23
215 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

195 cm
25
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hong Giles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Avon Barksdale!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Emerson Jorge and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barksdale dives in and grabs Giles's left leg, looking for a takedown. Giles pushes down on Barksdale's head and hops out.
Barksdale looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Barksdale throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
As Barksdale looks to move away, Giles throws a big counter combo but Barksdale just gets out of the way.
Barksdale shoots in for a double leg but Giles sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Barksdale gets caught flat footed, as Giles shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Barksdale escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Giles gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Giles postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Giles with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Giles throwing strikes from guard but Barksdale blocks nicely.
Giles postures up and lands a big shot to Barksdale's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giles postures up in Barksdale's guard and throws a big left but Barksdale blocks it.
Giles throws a big elbow that misses.
Giles could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Barksdale has a closed guard, preventing Giles from standing up.
Giles has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Giles is working Barksdale over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Giles working some strikes from top position.
Giles trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Giles lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Giles trying to control the position from guard on top but Barksdale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Giles in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Giles controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Giles throwing strikes but missing.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice sprawl there from Barksdale as Giles shoots in.
Giles changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barksdale tries to avoid it but Giles manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barksdale to the ground. Barksdale escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Barksdale gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Barksdale wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Giles manages to pass to side control.

Giles drops an elbow to the side of Barksdale's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giles not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Giles missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Barksdale is not content to let Giles control the position.
Giles sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Giles working the head and body with strikes.

That's four 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.
Barksdale is looking to improve his position.
Barksdale is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Giles scores with a couple of nice shots.
Giles keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Giles thows a huge punch but Barksdale dodges it nicely.
Giles looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Barksdale wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Giles sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barksdale defending well though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hong Giles dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Giles shoots in and drives through. Barksdale sprawls well.
Barksdale is trying hard to land a takedown here. Giles sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Giles jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Barksdale throws a head kick that misses
and Giles counters with a stiff right hand.

Giles drives through and clinches with Barksdale against the cage.
Giles jumps guard but Barksdale turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Giles drags the fight down to the ground.
Giles lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Giles is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Giles pulls Barksdale in to control the position.
Barksdale is breathing heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Giles is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giles working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Giles content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Giles lands a couple of elbows.
Hong Giles overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Giles seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Giles has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Barksdale is proving hard to escape from.
Giles working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Barksdale's head.

That's two 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.
Giles content to stall in guard here.
Giles missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've been informed that Barksdale has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Giles is in close to Barksdale's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Giles scoring with some ground and pound.
Giles with a flurry of punches that miss.
Giles might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Giles postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Barksdale stuffs the takedown attempt from Giles. Giles gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hong Giles. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giles changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Barksdale tries to avoid it but Giles manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Barksdale to the ground. Barksdale escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Giles shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Barksdale but Barksdale pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Barksdale shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Giles as he jumps to the side.
Barksdale swings for the body but Giles moves out of range.
As Barksdale looks to move away, Giles throws a big counter combo but Barksdale just gets out of the way.
Avon Barksdale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Giles fails with the takedown.
Barksdale flicks out a counter leg kick but Giles steps away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Giles scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Giles is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barksdale can do to turn this around?

Barksdale is defending against the submission attempts here by Giles.

Giles seems to be working for a kimura but Barksdale defends the submission attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Giles 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.

Hong Giles dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Giles shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Barksdale's guard.
Giles postures up in Barksdale's guard and throws a big left but Barksdale blocks it.
Giles connects with a couple of short punches.
Giles trying to control the position from guard on top but Barksdale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barksdale thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Barksdale takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Giles is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Giles wants to stand but Barksdale has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giles throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Giles misses with a takedown attempt - Barksdale sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Barksdale closes the distance and pushes Giles back into the cage.

Giles jumps guard.

Giles is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Giles trying to strike off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giles wants to sweep here but Barksdale controlling him for the moment.
Barksdale looking to sit in guard and control but Giles gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Giles stands up over Barksdale, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Giles is stalling in the full guard.
Giles postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giles looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Giles postures up in Barksdale's guard and throws a big left but Barksdale blocks it.
Barksdale can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Giles controls the pace.
Giles seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Barksdale for as long as he can get away with.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.
Giles throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Barksdale works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice sprawl there from Giles as Barksdale shoots in.
Giles fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Giles misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hong Giles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Giles tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Barksdale defends well and Giles ends up having to push Barksdale into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Avon Barksdale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hong Giles is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barksdale stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Barksdale wants it to stay on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hong Giles showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Giles, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hong Giles!