PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Branham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oakley Bark (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.

Branham
vs
Bark

188 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Derrick Branham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Oakley Bark!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Branham darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Bark is looking to escape.
Branham content to control rather than advance.
Branham has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Bark is trying to get back to full guard.
Bark wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Branham controlling the action here.
Branham prevents Bark from improving his position.
Branham content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Bark is trying to stand back up but Branham is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Branham in particular looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Branham'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.
Branham prevents Bark from improving his position.
Branham stops Bark from getting back to his feet.
Bark is staying active underneath Branham, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bark wants to get back to his feet.
Branham sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Bark tries to roll over but Branham keeps him under control.

Bark looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Branham swats away the attempt to clinch by Bark.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Branham takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A left and a right from Bark both land. Nice combination.
Oakley Bark seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Branham throws a series of punches but Bark moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Branham throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bark fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bark has his takedown stuffed

and Branham counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bark!
Bark working to try and regain half guard.
Branham controlling from mount.
Bark flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Bark is desperately trying to improve his position but Branham has a good base and remains in mount.
Bark tries to improve his position but instead Branham has taken his back!
Bark rolls, trying to escape but Branham keeps control of the position.
Branham is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bark is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Branham's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Branham has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Bark's body.
Branham not allowing Bark to control his hands.
Bark manages to reverse the position and now he's in Branham's guard. Nice work there by Bark.

Bark has gone for a leg lock! Branham slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bark's guard.
Bark throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Bark throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Branham escapes and throws Bark's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Branham trying to control the action but Bark is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bark gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Bark makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bark.
Bark working a defensive guard here.
Branham trying to control the position from guard on top but Bark is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Branham slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Bark keeping full guard, as Branham tries to pass.
Branham seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Bark looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bark closes the distance looking to clinch

and Branham counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bark wants to control but Branham is keeping busy.
Branham trying to control from half guard but Bark is working away.
Bark is looking to escape.
Bark is trying to get back to full guard.
Branham perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bark is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bark is not content to let Branham control the position.
Branham looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bark misses with a takedown

so Branham counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Bark has his foot on Branham's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Branham works his way back into a safe position though.
Bark is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bark wants to stand and escape but Branham is having none of it.
Branham trying to control but Bark is working from the bottom.

Branham avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Branham advances position into side control!

Bark throws Branham to one side and escapes!
Bark misses with a takedown

and Branham counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bark won't be happy with that.
Branham working away.
Bark is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Bark explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Bark tries to clinch up.
Bark shoots and misses

and Branham counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bark!
Derrick Branham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oakley Bark.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Branham looking to control but Bark is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bark swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Branham controlling from mount.
Bark tries to reverse the position but Branham maintains control.
Branham wants to control the pace but Bark is squirming around nicely.
Branham sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bark wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Derrick Branham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bark is trying desperately to improve position.
Bark sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Bark is trying to maintain the position but Branham is very close to passing his half guard.
Branham perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bark wants to control but Branham is keeping busy.
Bark makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bark.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branham trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bark trying to control the position.

Bark is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Branham frees his head nicely. Oh but Bark has switched to an armbar! Branham is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Oakley Bark!