PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Booker Block (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin Barkley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Block
vs
Barkley

190 cm
21
220 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
210 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Nutrition 101

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Booker Block!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Benjamin Barkley!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Block.
A head kick misses from Block.
Barkley wants to clinch.
Block tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Barkley counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barkley.
Barkley looking to pass the guard.
Block bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barkley's guard.

Barkley is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Block trying to control the position from guard on top but Barkley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Barkley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Block gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Block trying to control the position from guard on top but Barkley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Block sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Barkley keeping moving, preventing Block from controlling successfully.

Barkley working for a triangle but Block defends it easily.

Barkley has his foot on Block's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Block works his way back into a safe position though.
Block wants to control from the top but Barkley keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barkley is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Block keeping moving, preventing Barkley from controlling successfully.
Barkley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Block is keeping the position for now.
Block wants to sweep here but Barkley controlling him for the moment.
Block working a defensive guard here.
Barkley tries to free his leg and advance position but Block is retaining full guard.
Block is trying to keep Barkley in close.
Block is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Barkley passes Block's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barkley is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Block defends it well.
Block wants to improve his position but Barkley is controlling well.

Barkley is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Block defends it well.
Barkley looks gassed!

Barkley wants to work for an arm triangle but Block is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Barkley wants to free his trapped foot but Block is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Block is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Barkley is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Block wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Block is staying active underneath Barkley, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Block knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Barkley on the ground.
Block trying to hold on to Barkley's head to control him but Barkley postures up.
Barkley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Block keeps working.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Barkley misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Barkley misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Barkley dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Block connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Block misses with a two punch combination.
Barkley fails to land with a series of punches.
Barkley shoots in for a double leg but Block sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Block moves in looking to clinch but Barkley pushes him off.
Barkley wants to clinch but Block slips to the side
and Block cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barkley with a poor takedown

and Block counters by clinching up.
Block lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Block.
Block tries to stall but Barkley uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Block escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good standup being displayed there by Block as he connects with a hook.
Barkley misses with a series of wild punches.
Block circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Block to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Block counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Block closes the distance and pushes Barkley back into the ropes.
Block digs a right hand underneath Barkley's ribcage. Barkley let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Block breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Block keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barkley.
Booker Block is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Block misses with a few strikes there.
Benjamin Barkley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A lazy left from Block finds it's target.
Block scores with a push kick.
Block looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barkley misses with a takedown attempt

and Block holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Booker Block has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benjamin Barkley.
Barkley fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Block landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Block is trying to stall.
Barkley wants to break free but Block has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barkley tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Barkley jumps guard but Block stands there with Barkley around his waist. Barkley gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Block wants to stall.
Block throws a head punch that misses.
Barkley is trying to drag Block to the mat but Block just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Barkley tries to pull guard but Block won't allow it.
Barkley is trying to break free.

Block breaks the clinch.
Block misses with a body kick.
Block throws out a loose jab but Barkley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barkley wants to clinch
and Block counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkley misses with an uppercut.
Block keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Barkley shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Block clinches.
Barkley throws a head punch that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Block creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Block.
Barkley tries to score a body lock takedown but Block shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Barkley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Block digs a right hand underneath Barkley's ribcage. Barkley let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Block breaks from the clinch.
Barkley shoots in but Block avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Block clinches with his opponent.
Barkley is trying to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Block breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch combination from Barkley misses.
Barkley avoids the head kick by Block.
Block on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Barkley scores with a takedown into Block's guard.
Barkley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Barkley postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Block is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Barkley, into his guard.
Barkley wants to sweep here but Block controlling him for the moment.
Barkley tries to strike from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Booker Block dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Barkley misses with a combination

and Block counters by moving into the clinch.

Block breaks from the clinch.
Block closes the distance but Barkley moves to the side
and Barkley counters with a straight right hand.
Barkley moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Barkley misses with a jab, cross combination.
Block thows a body shot but no joy.
Barkley doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Block connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barkley stalks Block and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Block's face. Block staggers backwards, shaken.
Barkley showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Block.
Block looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley misses with a combination
and Block counters with a left and a right that stings Barkley.
Barkley fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Barkley has his takedown stuffed
and Block counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Booker Block has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benjamin Barkley.
Block wants to clinch.
Barkley misses with a takedown
and Block counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Block darts in trying to clinch
and Barkley counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barkley dodges the punch combination from Block.
Barkley throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Block counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Barkley changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Block looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Block tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Barkley wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Barkley thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Barkley scoring with punches and elbows.
Barkley throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Barkley cracks Block with a big elbow.

Barkley is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Block has escaped the position, nice work there.
Barkley landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkley is trying to move to mount but Block reverses beautifully and ends up in Barkley's guard.
Barkley keeping moving, preventing Block from controlling successfully.
Barkley keeping full guard, as Block tries to pass.

Block avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Barkley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Block gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Block postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Block avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Barkley working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Block doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Block manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Block keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Barkley's head.
Block trying to control the position from guard on top but Barkley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Barkley is looking for a triangle but Block pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benjamin Barkley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barkley 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benjamin Barkley!