PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Barton Ferguson (ranked 25090 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lion King (ranked 5767 p4p, 0 weight class). Lion King has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Barton Ferguson's chin.

Ferguson
vs
King

151 cm
19
278 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Barton Ferguson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lion King!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

King tries to keep at a distance but Ferguson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ferguson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ferguson misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Ferguson drags the fight down to the ground.
Ferguson is trying to control the position but King postures up.
Ferguson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
King wants to control from the top but Ferguson keeps moving.
Ferguson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Ferguson scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Ferguson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ferguson throws a series of punches but King moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

King fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ferguson, pushing him back against the cage.
King dodges an elbow strike from Ferguson.

King pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

King closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson is trying to break the clinch but King has him pressed against the cage.
King tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
King can't get the takedown.
Ferguson is working for takedown but King is calmly controlling the position for now.
Knees to the body from King.

King manages to break the clinch.
King moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
King throws a right hand that Ferguson ducks under and follows up with a left that Ferguson also avoids with ease.
King fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ferguson shoots in looking for a takedown. King tries to sprawl out of it but Ferguson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. King manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ferguson sets himself, and King steps forward looking for the clinch! Ferguson avoids it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King clinches up with Ferguson and pushes him back against the cage.
King keeps control of Ferguson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
King drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ferguson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Barton Ferguson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lion King.
King gets underhooks to prevent Ferguson's takedown attempt.
Ferguson has had enough of the clinch but King keeps him there for the moment.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ferguson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for King!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ferguson is trying to get an arm triangle but King is defending well.
King tries to get back to half guard but can't.
King manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ferguson's best efforts.
Ferguson prevents King from improving his position.

Ferguson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. King doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ferguson.

Ferguson is looking for a kimura here.
Ferguson is breathing heavily.
Ferguson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

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.
King tries to get to full guard but Ferguson has control of the leg.

Ferguson is working for a submission of some sort.

Ferguson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and King defends it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
King is pressing down on Ferguson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lion King will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

King fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ferguson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
King scores with a punch to the head.

It looks like Barton Ferguson has been cut.

King pushes Ferguson up against the cage in a clinch.

King's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

King shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ferguson is trying to defend but King finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Ferguson has one foot on King's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

King has closed the distance and engaged Ferguson in a clinch.
King prevents Ferguson from breaking the clinch.

King manages to break the clinch.
King shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ferguson defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ferguson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

King manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
King lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ferguson backwards.
King jumps guard but Ferguson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

King manages to break the clinch.
Ferguson closes the distance and clinches up with King, looking for a takedown. Ferguson pushes King against the cage but King circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

King clinches.
Ferguson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but King has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
King blocks the elbow strike.
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!
Ferguson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
King jumps guard but Ferguson stands there with King around his waist. King gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Barton Ferguson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lion King.
Ferguson struggles to land a body shot inside as King controls his hands.

King turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Ferguson sneaks out the side door and pushes King away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
King is breathing heavily.
King throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ferguson tries to close the distance and clinch up but King swats him away and circles back towards the center.

King takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King pressing his opponent against the cage.
King prevents Ferguson from breaking the clinch.
King drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ferguson gets the underhooks and prevents it.

King jumps guard and drags Ferguson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Ferguson stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Ferguson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. King did well to prevent Ferguson getting side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ferguson is looking for a kimura but King is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ferguson to get the leverage.
King is trying to get back to full guard.
Ferguson slips a nice elbow through King's hands, connecting with King's forehead.
King moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ferguson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Ferguson drops back looking for a leg! King is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and King manages to kick Ferguson off! Ferguson jumps back into King's guard.
King is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lion King will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Barton Ferguson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

King tries to keep at a distance but Ferguson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Lion King seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ferguson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ferguson jumps guard but King turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
King avoiding damage.

King jumps guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ferguson being controlled here momentarily.

King looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ferguson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King controls Ferguson momentarily but Ferguson frees himself.
King takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ferguson passes King's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ferguson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Ferguson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ferguson seems to be looking for submissions.
King is trying to stand.

Ferguson seems to be looking for submissions.
King controlling the position for now.

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.

Ferguson is working for a kimura but King is defending it quite comfortably.

Ferguson postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for King to stand up.
Some wild striking there from Ferguson.
Lion King seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
King dives in for a single leg takedown but Ferguson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

King takes the fight into the clinch.

King pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King misses with a low kick.

King clinches up against the cage.
Ferguson prevents the takedown attempt.
King dodges an elbow strike from Ferguson.
Ferguson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ferguson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
King wants a takedown.
Barton Ferguson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lion King.
Ferguson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
King wants to get back to striking at distance but Ferguson won't allow it.
Ferguson throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ferguson tries to break the clinch but King is controlling the position.
King misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ferguson.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lion King seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ferguson shoots in but King avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Ferguson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ferguson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Ferguson is trying to get an arm triangle but King is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Barton Ferguson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think King has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27

The fight is ruled a draw!