PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ross Barkley (ranked 9014 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saharian Defence (ranked 6416 p4p, 690 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Barkley
vs
Defence

185 cm
23
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ross Barkley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Saharian Defence!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Yves DeLean and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Defence feints a jab promting Barkley to slip. Defence then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Barkley slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Barkley.
Defence is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Defence circles away from the clinch attempt
and Defence counters with a left to the body.
Good exchange - Defence coming out on top.
Barkley tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barkley fails with the takedown
and Defence counters with a series of strikes. Barkley will be more careful next time no doubt.
Barkley misses with a takedown attempt
and Defence counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ross Barkley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barkley is looking to clinch but Defence is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley doesn't manage to clinch there - Defence circles away.
Saharian Defence is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A left and a right from Defence both land. Nice combination.
Barkley looks to clinch
and Defence counters with a stiff right hand.
Barkley darts in trying to clinch
and Defence counters with a straight right hand.
Barkley tries to clinch but Defence is having none of it.
Barkley tries to clinch but Defence moves out of range.
Defence is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Barkley shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Defence pinned against the cage. Defence gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barkley closes the distance but Defence moves to the side
and Defence counters with a nice uppercut.
Defence misses with a wild combination.
Defence connects with a looping right hand.
Barkley throws a left and a right that both miss
and Defence counters with a nice uppercut.
Barkley misses with a low kick.
Defence lands a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkley closes the distance looking to clinch
and Defence counters with a nice uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barkley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barkley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Defence swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barkley tries to clinch but Defence is having none of it.
Defence unleashes a big counter combination but Barkley bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Defence is working the combinations to good effect here.
Defence clobbers Barkley with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Defence bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Barkley's head backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barkley misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Defence to counter with a crisp jab.
Ross Barkley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barkley dives in and grabs Defence's left leg, looking for a takedown. Defence pushes down on Barkley's head and hops out.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Defence! But no joy.
Barkley lands a jab-cross combination.
Barkley tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Defence connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice sprawl there from Defence as Barkley shoots in.
Defence misses with a two punch combination.
Defence is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Barkley had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barkley tries to clinch but Defence moves away
and Defence connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barkley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Barkley misses with a takedown
and Defence connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saharian Defence dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Defence looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Saharian Defence seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barkley darts in trying to clinch
and Defence counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Barkley moves to clinch but Defence breaks away
and Defence counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Barkley will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Defence is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Barkley with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barkley stalks Defence and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Defence's face. Defence staggers backwards, shaken.
Barkley dives in and grabs Defence's left leg, looking for a takedown. Defence pushes down on Barkley's head and hops out.
Defence throws out a counter right but Barkley avoids it with no problem.
Defence has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barkley closes the distance but Defence moves to the side
and Defence cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Defence counters with a nice uppercut.
Barkley throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A little jabbing left from Defence on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Barkley gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Defence digs a right hand into Barkley's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Barkley's gas tank.
Defence scores with a shoulder strike.
Defence tries to break free but Barkley pushes him back against the cage.

Defence breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No joy there for Barkley, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Defence! But no joy.
Barkley shoots in for a takedown but Defence shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ross Barkley. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barkley moves into range and clinches up with Defence.
Defence is trying to break the clinch but Barkley has him pressed against the cage.

Defence manages to break the clinch.
Barkley has his takedown stuffed
and Defence counters with a straight right hand.
Defence misses with a series of wild punches.
Defence blocks a head kick by Barkley.
Barkley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Defence connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkley shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Defence but Defence pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barkley on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Defence misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barkley shoots in looking for a takedown but Defence manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Barkley's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Barkley has his takedown stuffed
and Defence counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Defence scores with a nice right hand.
Left hook, right uppercut from Defence.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barkley shoots in for a double leg but Defence sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A head kick misses from Barkley.
Defence throws a one two combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Defence keeps the fight on the outside.
A little jabbing left from Defence on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Barkley tries to clinch but Defence is having none of it.
Barkley with a lazy takedown attempt
and Defence counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Good shot there by Defence.
Barkley will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Defence scores with a jab to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saharian Defence showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Barkley moves in looking to clinch but Defence pushes him off.
Barkley tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Defence defends well and Barkley ends up having to push Defence into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Defence slips a jab and a cross from Barkley.
Defence scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ross Barkley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barkley fails to land with a series of punches.
Despite the aggression on Defence's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Barkley with a poor takedown
and Defence counters with a straight right hand.
Barkley looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Barkley fails with an attempt to clinch.
Defence let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barkley tries to clinch but Defence moves away
and Defence connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Defence works over Barkley's head and body with a nice combination.
Barkley throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Defence scores with a hook to the body. Barkley takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Barkley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Defence to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ross Barkley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Barkley takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Defence stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Barkley misses with a takedown attempt - Defence sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Defence swats away the attempt to clinch by Barkley.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Defence scores with a jab to the body.
Jab by Defence.
Barkley tries to clinch
and Barkley takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Barkley with a poor takedown
and Defence counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Barkley doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Defence counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Barkley misses with a jab, cross combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barkley throws a right hand that Defence ducks under and follows up with a left that Defence also avoids with ease.
Barkley takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkley tries for a takedown but Defence circles away easily
and Defence connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Defence fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Barkley.
Defence cracks Barkley with a good jab.
Defence tries to bum rush Barkley with a series of wild strikes but Barkley uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Defence lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barkley fails in his attempt to clinch.
Defence keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Defence throws a counter combo.
Defence lands a nice looking body shot.
Defence scores with a body shot.
Barkley closes the distance and clinches up with Defence, looking for a takedown. Barkley pushes Defence against the cage but Defence circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd cheers as Defence lands an impressive looking overhand right. Barkley doesn't seem phased though.
Ross Barkley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barkley lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Defence circles away quickly and effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saharian Defence comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Defence winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 William Peck scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saharian Defence!