PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brent Barber (ranked 25303 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hyett Zarith (ranked 5743 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Brent Barber has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Barber
vs
Zarith

211 cm
24
193 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brent Barber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hyett Zarith!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Barber clinches up against the cage.

Zarith gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Barber has one foot on Zarith's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Barber avoids a punch combination nicely.

Barber gets a double leg takedown into Zarith's guard.

Zarith has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Barber has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zarith pulls guard successfully.
Barber is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Zarith doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Barber missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Barber drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Barber jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barber wants to stand but Zarith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zarith wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Barber wants to get up but he can't break Zarith's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barber avoids the head kick by Zarith.

Zarith tries to keep at a distance but Barber has taken the fight into the clinch.

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

Barber explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Barber really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarith with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Zarith shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zarith stands up and beckons Barber to join him on the feet.

Barber is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Zarith's half guard.

Zarith has one foot on Barber's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Barber drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barber gets a takedown into half guard.

Zarith makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Zarith closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Zarith is controlling the pace.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Barber wants to get back to his feet.
Barber missing with punches from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zarith stalling.
Zarith scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Zarith not doing much here.
Barber trying to control from the bottom.

Barber looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hyett Zarith dominated that round.
That's time! Barber's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Barber drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Zarith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barber defends well.
Zarith controlling Barber's posture.
Barber sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zarith is controlling Barber's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barber throws a big elbow that misses.
Zarith seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Zarith working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Barber has passed into half guard!
Zarith wants to improve his position but Barber is controlling well.
Zarith trying to control but Barber postures up.
Barber is trying to control. Zarith wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

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.
Zarith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Barber.
Zarith is concentrating on defense, preventing Barber from advancing position.

Zarith is defending against the submission attempts here by Barber.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barber trying to control from half guard but Zarith is working away.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Barber misses with a low kick as Zarith jumps back.

Zarith darts in and clinches Barber up against the cage.
Barber pressing his opponent against the cage.

Zarith pulls guard effortlessly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barber is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Barber throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zarith keeping moving, preventing Barber from controlling successfully.
Barber will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Zarith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Barber decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Barber feints and as Zarith raises his hands in defense, Barber changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Zarith scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zarith pushes Barber up against the cage in a clinch.

Zarith gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Barber regains guard.
Barber is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Zarith dives into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Barber is trying to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Zarith is trying to get an arm triangle but Barber is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hyett Zarith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Zarith connects with a body shot that sends Barber's belly button to the back.
Barber moves out of range as Zarith throws a body kick.
Barber throws a big counter combination but Zarith scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Zarith moves into the clinch.

Zarith breaks the clinch.
Zarith misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Zarith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zarith showed some decent athleticism there.

Barber makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Barber there.
Barber misses with a wild combination.

Zarith gets a double leg takedown into Barber's guard.

Barber wriggles free and stands up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zarith enables Barber to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zarith manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zarith keeping moving, preventing Barber from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarith trying to keep a closed guard but Barber is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barber throwing strikes from guard but Zarith blocks nicely.
Barber trying to control the position from guard on top but Zarith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zarith closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Barber quickly recovers to half guard.

Barber kicks off Zarith and gets to his feet.
Zarith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barber takes the fight into the clinch.

Barber manages to pull guard.
Barber can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zarith controls the pace.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barber is on top in guard.

Barber works over Zarith with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zarith has his hands on Barber's head, controlling the position.
Barber stopping the sweep attempt from Zarith.
Zarith is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Barber would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Zarith looking to control.
Brent Barber has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hyett Zarith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Barber is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Zarith is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Zarith has escaped and now he's on top!

And that's the end of the fight!
Brent Barber showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zarith 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hyett Zarith!