PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Charles Sobhraj (ranked 2594 p4p, 4192 weight class) and Sonny Barella (ranked 143 p4p, 223 weight class). Sobhraj kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is hurragutt. Sonny Barella has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sobhraj
vs
Barella

171 cm
29
135
8 - 9 - 0

167 cm
22
135
3 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Charles Sobhraj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sonny Barella!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Reed Andrews and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Barella.
Sobhraj displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barella.
Barella shoots in looking for a takedown. Sobhraj tries to sprawl out of it but Barella keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sobhraj manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sobhraj will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Barella shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sobhraj as he avoids it easily.
Sobhraj tries to counter with a takedown but Barella is quick to defend against it.
Charles Sobhraj has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sonny Barella.
Sobhraj smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sobhraj throws a looping overhand right but Barella ducks down to avoid it.
Barella is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sobhraj sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Barella wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barella fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sonny Barella seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barella wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Barella wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Barella, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A big left from Sobhraj misses.
Sobhraj cracks a nice hook into Barella's ribs.
Sobhraj connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Barella momentarily.
Barella throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barella fails to land with a series of punches.
Sobhraj fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barella manages to avoid it.
Barella dives in for a single leg takedown but Sobhraj sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sobhraj tries to counter with a takedown but Barella is quick to defend against it.
Sobhraj swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barella throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sobhraj.
Barella tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sobhraj manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sobhraj takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sobhraj dives in for a single leg takedown but Barella sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sobhraj is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Sobhraj is working for takedown but Barella is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sobhraj drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Our sources have told us that Sobhraj has been working on his elbows in the gym.

Barella is fighting off a takedown attempt but Sobhraj is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Barella to the mat. Barella regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Sobhraj looking to sit in guard and control but Barella gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sobhraj wants to sweep but no luck.

Sobhraj is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Barella in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barella with a flurry of punches that miss.

Sobhraj is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Barella defends well.

Sobhraj throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sobhraj 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.
Barella slips nicely into half guard.
Barella is thwarting Sobhraj's attempts to control the position.
Barella is looking to take a break and control but Sobhraj is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Barella looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Barella is trying to work for a kimura but Sobhraj is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Barella thows a huge punch but Sobhraj dodges it nicely.
Sobhraj wants to get back to his feet.
Barella trying to control from Sobhraj's half guard. Sobhraj has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Barella with a flurry of punches that miss.

Barella is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Barella has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Sobhraj has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barella can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Sobhraj looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Charles Sobhraj will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sobhraj shoots in looking for a takedown. Barella tries to sprawl out of it but Sobhraj keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Barella manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A right-left combo lands from Barella.
Barella tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Sobhraj defends well and Barella ends up having to push Sobhraj into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Barella closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sobhraj is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barella wants to take a breather but Sobhraj is having none of it.
Barella might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sobhraj haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sobhraj is pressing down on Barella's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Barella slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Barella is looking to take a break and control but Sobhraj is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobhraj is trying to control Barella's posture but Barella avoids it.

Barella is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sobhraj has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sobhraj gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Barella is working for a submission of some sort.
Barella is thwarting Sobhraj's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sobhraj is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Barella is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Well, if Barella is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sobhraj is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barella pulls his head out easily.

Barella is trying to work for a kimura but Sobhraj is defending well.
Sobhraj is looking to improve his position.

Barella is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sobhraj defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sobhraj looking for submissions off his back.

Barella is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sobhraj has managed to free his arm - good work.

Barella is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sobhraj is just riding it out for now. Barella eventually gives up the hold.

Barella is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Barella looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four 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.
Sobhraj wants to control but Barella is keeping busy.

Sobhraj manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Barella keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Sobhraj is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Barella is defending well.
Barella tries to stall but Sobhraj uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sobhraj gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Barella is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sobhraj's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sobhraj's back!
Barella has the hooks in. Sobhraj is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Barella showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Barella looks for a takedown but Sobhraj sprawls well.
Barella wants to clinch.
Sobhraj throws a body shot but no joy.
Sobhraj throws an overhand right that lands on Barella's shoulder, as Barella tries to avoid the shot.
Barella uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sobhraj.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Barella!
Sobhraj slips a jab and a cross from Barella.
Sobhraj half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sobhraj misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barella tries to clinch but Sobhraj moves out of range.

Barella looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Sobhraj!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Barella tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sobhraj is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobhraj is not content to let Barella control the position.

Barella wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sobhraj, who protects the arm well.
Sobhraj is pushing Barella's head away, looking to escape. Barella manages to hold on to the position though.
Sobhraj tries to bench press Barella off him but Barella keeps the position.
Barella advances to mount.

Barella is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sobhraj is surviving well by controlling Barella's body position as best he can.
Sobhraj tries to improve his position but instead Barella has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sobhraj is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Barella gets his way!
Sobhraj is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Sobhraj is working hard here to advance position.
Sobhraj is trying to get back to his feet but Barella has full control of the position and if anything, Sobhraj has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Sobhraj just trying to survive but Barella is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Barella has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Sobhraj rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Sobhraj is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barella is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Barella is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Barella wants to take a breather but Sobhraj is having none of it.

Barella wants to work for an arm triangle but Sobhraj is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Sobhraj actively working from the bottom here.
Sobhraj wants to control but Barella is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Sobhraj looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Barella is keen to just control but Sobhraj is a slippery customer.

That's four 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.
Sobhraj trying to hold on to Barella's head to control him but Barella postures up.
Sobhraj looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sobhraj tries to roll over but Barella keeps him under control.
Sobhraj wants to control but Barella is keeping busy.
Barella blocks the strikes from Sobhraj.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barella fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sonny Barella comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Barella 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sonny Barella!
A very excited looking Sonny Barella made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.