PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between LaTroy Johnson (ranked 2559 p4p, 2352 weight class) and Tu Barrels (ranked 275 p4p, 255 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Johnson
vs
Barrels

196 cm
26
280
10 - 7 - 0

195 cm
26
265
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, LaTroy Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Tu Barrels!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Daniel Blasius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barrels rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Barrels.
Barrels bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Johnson's head.
Barrels throws out a loose jab but Johnson uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab lands there for Barrels.
Barrels ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Barrels throws an overhand right that lands on Johnson's shoulder, as Johnson tries to avoid the shot.
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Barrels.
Johnson throwing a counter right hand but Barrels manages to avoid it.
Barrels throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Barrels fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.
Johnson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Johnson misses the jab.
Barrels doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Barrels fails with the takedown.
Johnson on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson misses the jab.
A slow jab from Barrels misses its intended target.
Johnson half committed to a counter leg kick.
Barrels bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Barrels lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Johnson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Barrels.
A low kick from Johnson is predictable there

and Barrels counters with a nice double leg into side control. Johnson won't be happy with that.
Barrels misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Barrels postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Barrels throws a strike aimed at the side of Johnson's head but Johnson avoids it well.
Johnson parries the strikes from Barrels easily there. Barrels is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Johnson to escape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barrels is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barrels throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrels sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Johnson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Johnson can't do much from the bottom here.
Barrels throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Barrels looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Johnson is avoiding damage well.
Johnson stops Barrels from passing to mount.
Barrels has knee on belly momentarily but Johnson bucks him off and regains half guard.
Barrels trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Barrels throws a strike but Johnson avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrels advances position into side control!
Barrels sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Johnson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Johnson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Barrels in side control lands a decent elbow.
Barrels misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Barrels tries to score with some ground and pound. Johnson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Johnson defending against the ground and pound.
Barrels sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Johnson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Johnson parries the strikes from Barrels easily there. Barrels is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Johnson to escape.
The ground and pound from Barrels seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrels fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The strikes coming from Barrels are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Barrels working away.
Barrels trying to control the action but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Barrels working the head with strikes.
Johnson is not content to let Barrels control the position.
Barrels looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Johnson is avoiding damage well.
Johnson defending against the ground and pound.
Barrels is looking to take a break and control but Johnson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tu Barrels dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Barrels missing with a left hand there. Johnson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Barrels is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johnson.
A big right from Barrels misses.
Barrels waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Johnson.
Barrels throws a jab when Johnson was well out of range.
Johnson's corner calls for a 1-2. Johnson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Barrels throws a left and a right that both miss
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Tu Barrels has been cut.
We've been told by Johnson's head coaches at Academia dos Brasucas that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Barrels just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson dips to his left and cracks Barrels with an uppercut!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barrels misses with a hook

and Johnson counters with a crisp right hand that drops Barrels! Johnson lets Barrels back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

Barrels is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barrels is aggressively charging in as Johnson backs up avoiding any damage. Johnson tosses out a jab and Barrels runs right into it face first! Barrels is out cold! Johnson dropped down on all fours and is barking in Barrels's face like a pit bull in celebration until the ref was finally able to pull him away!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). LaTroy Johnson!
LaTroy Johnson bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.