PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between bo barker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael McKay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

barker
vs
McKay

195 cm
22
219 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, bo barker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael McKay!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Eddie Farnsworth and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
barker wants to clinch.

barker pushes McKay up against the cage in a clinch.
barker tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
barker gets underhooks to prevent McKay's takedown attempt.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

McKay breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McKay moves in looking to clinch but barker pushes him off.
barker throws a head kick that McKay semi-blocks.

It looks like Michael McKay has been cut.
barker throws a sloppy head kick and McKay moves out of range easily.
McKay avoids the head kick by barker.
barker changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McKay tries to avoid it but barker manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McKay to the ground. McKay escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
McKay tries to clinch but barker moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKay wants to clinch
and barker counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
McKay uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from barker.
McKay clinches but barker breaks the clinch

and barker counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by barker.
McKay is looking to stand back up but barker counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by McKay.
McKay is looking to escape.
McKay is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McKay tries to kick barker off but barker keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
McKay looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
barker is figuring out what he wants to do next.
barker's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
barker is trying to control the action in half guard but McKay is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKay wants to improve his position but barker is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
barker wants to stand but McKay has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
McKay is trying to control but can't.

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.
McKay is looking to improve his position.
McKay wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
McKay is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
barker shoots for a double leg takedown but McKay sprawls well. He's pushed barker's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for bo barker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McKay gets in close and instigates a clinch.
barker managing to block the knees to the body from McKay.
barker jumps guard but McKay stands there with barker around his waist. barker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A hook to the body from McKay.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

bo barker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael McKay's cut.
That's time! barker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McKay fails with an attempt to clinch.
barker fails with the takedown.
McKay tries to land a body kick

and barker counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by barker.

barker breaks from the clinch.
barker slips a jab and a cross from McKay.
barker shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McKay pinned against the cage. McKay gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
barker blocks a head kick by McKay.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by McKay.
barker is trying to control McKay's posture but McKay avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
barker manages to work his way to half guard, despite McKay's best efforts.
McKay is tying to control. barker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
barker tries to get to full guard but McKay has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McKay working barker over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
McKay wants to stand but barker has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
barker misses with some strikes from the bottom.
McKay wants to stand up but barker has a hold of him and won't allow it.
barker is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McKay's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McKay's back!
McKay tries to roll but barker sticks to his back.

barker has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
barker is hanging on to McKay's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
barker loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can McKay hold on?
McKay tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
barker scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish McKay?

That's four 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.
McKay wants to hold on but barker pushes him away.
barker lands with some vicious ground and pound - can McKay hang on?
McKay gets back to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with barker in particular looking to stall.
barker trying to mount his opponent but McKay defends it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that bo barker will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Michael McKay's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

McKay wants to clinch but barker slips to the side

and barker counters by moving into the clinch.

McKay breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
barker misses with a takedown attempt
and McKay counters with a solid body kick.
bo barker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

McKay moves into the clinch.
McKay lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down barker.
McKay holding his opponent close, against the cage.
barker tries to pull guard but McKay holds him up against the cage and eventually barker drops back down to his feet.

McKay breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McKay misses with a double jab.
McKay tries to clinch up

and barker counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McKay's guard now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKay looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
barker wants to control from the top but McKay keeps moving.
McKay has his hands on barker's head, controlling the position.
barker trying to control the position from guard on top but McKay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

barker decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on McKay, up you get!

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.
McKay shoots in looking for a takedown. barker tries to sprawl out of it but McKay keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. barker manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
McKay doesn't manage to clinch there - barker circles away.
barker tries to clinch but McKay moves out of range.

McKay gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
McKay wants to sweep here but barker controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKay working a defensive guard here.
McKay throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
McKay trying to keep a closed guard but barker is proving a slippery customer.
barker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McKay swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McKay looking to hit a scissor sweep but barker is one step ahead there.
barker trying to stand up but can't free himself from McKay's guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
McKay is looking to clinch but barker is avoiding it.
Michael McKay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
bo barker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McKay throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

And that's the end of the fight!
bo barker showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for barker, 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... bo barker!