PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Foster Barkley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Baptiste (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Baptiste's choice of entrance music: Rodrigo y Gabriela - Orion Cover. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barkley
vs
Baptiste

180 cm
23
145 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

172 cm
21
149 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Foster Barkley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jean Baptiste!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barkley throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Barkley has a takedown stuffed.
Barkley fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Baptiste avoids it really well and circles away.
Barkley throws a hook but Baptiste avoids it easily.
Baptiste misses with a takedown attempt
and Barkley counters with a head kick. That will keep Baptiste thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Barkley scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Baptiste tries to buck Barkley off but Barkley is having none of it.
Baptiste wants to control but Barkley postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley trying to control the action but Baptiste is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Baptiste's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Barkley tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Barkley has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Baptiste is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baptiste keeps working.
Barkley really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Barkley lands with a nice combination. Baptiste backs away looking to recover.
Barkley misses with a takedown

and Baptiste counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Baptiste.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Foster Barkley. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barkley looking to control.
Baptiste forces his way into half guard.
Baptiste trying to control from half guard but Barkley is working away.
Baptiste thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Barkley's head.
Baptiste is looking to take a break and control but Barkley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Baptiste throws a strike but Barkley avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barkley misses with a takedown attempt

and Baptiste counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Baptiste is looking for a kimura but Barkley is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Baptiste to get the leverage.
Baptiste looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Baptiste stops Barkley from getting back to his feet.
Baptiste drops an elbow to the side of Barkley's head.
Baptiste landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Baptiste is trying to work for a kimura but Barkley is defending well.
Barkley is trying to maintain the position but Baptiste is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baptiste trying to pass the guard but Barkley defending well.

Baptiste is working for a submission of some sort.
Baptiste is breathing heavily.
Barkley is trying to maintain the position but Baptiste is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Barkley doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Baptiste counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jean Baptiste has got the better of the ground game so far.
Baptiste trying to control but Barkley is working from the bottom.
Baptiste throws a strike but Barkley rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Barkley controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Barkley trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Baptiste trying to keep a closed guard but Barkley is proving a slippery customer.
Barkley content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Baptiste showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Barkley gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Baptiste counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Barkley's guard now.

Baptiste is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Barkley is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Barkley has escaped and now he's on top!
Baptiste has his hands on Barkley's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barkley is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Barkley trying to control but Baptiste is working from the bottom.

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.
Barkley tries to free his leg and advance position but Baptiste is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barkley wants to control from the top but Baptiste keeps moving.
Barkley stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Baptiste swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Baptiste is pulling down on Barkley's head to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Barkley slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Baptiste comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Baptiste 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jean Baptiste!