PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jake Barken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valentin Hristov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Barken
vs
Hristov

185 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
23
220 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jake Barken!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Valentin Hristov!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hristov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barken tries to bum rush Hristov with a series of wild strikes but Hristov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barken swats away the attempt to clinch by Hristov.
Barken tries to bum rush Hristov with a series of wild strikes but Hristov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Barken looks to land a right hand but Hristov moved out of range.
Barken swinging wildly here.
Barken misses with the combination.

Hristov has Barken up against the cage in a clinch.
Barken wants to break free but Hristov has control.
Barken can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hristov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barken wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hristov effectively controlling the action here.
Barken tries to break the clinch but Hristov is controlling the position.
Hristov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Barken has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hristov is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hristov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Barken wants to break free but Hristov has control.
Stalling in the clinch from Hristov.
Hristov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Barken in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hristov connects with a knee to the head.
Hristov has Barken pressed against the cage, preventing Barken from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hristov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barken's face.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hristov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hristov.
Hristov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barken's face.
Barken is breathing heavily.
Hristov misses with a knee to the head.
Hristov scores with a knee to the head.
Barken wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hristov has him pressed against the cage.
Hristov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Barken wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hristov will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Barken up against the cage.
Hristov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hristov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hristov lands a nice knee to the body.
Hristov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hristov lands a knee to the head.
Hristov stalls.
Hristov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barken's face.
Hristov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hristov slowing the pace effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barken takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hristov landing knees to the head.
Hristov landing knees to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Hristov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hristov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hristov with a knee to the head.
Hristov lands a nice knee to the body.
Hristov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hristov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hristov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Hristov connects with a knee to the head.
Hristov lands a knee to the head.
Hristov crunches a lovely knee into Barken's ribcage.
Barken takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hristov stalling.
Hristov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barken's face.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hristov obliges.
Barken takes a knee right on the jaw!
A bit of stalling here from Hristov.
Hristov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barken's face.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Hristov dominated that round.
That's time! Barken's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hristov clinches.
Barken is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Barken has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Barken on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Barken is trying to break free.
Hristov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barken's face.
Hristov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barken's face.
Hristov keeps control of Barken as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Barken letting Hristov take a breather here.
Barken is trying to force a seperation but Hristov has the dominant position.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Hristov in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hristov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Barken wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A knee to the head by Hristov.
Hristov manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hristov keeps control of Barken as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hristov lands a good knee to the midsection. Barken won't want to take too many of those.
Hristov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hristov connects with a knee to the head.
Hristov has Barken pushed against the cage.
A knee to the head by Hristov.
Barken is trying to force a seperation but Hristov has the dominant position.
Barken takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hristov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hristov landing knees to the head.
Hristov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two 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.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hristov.
A knee to the head by Hristov.
Hristov content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Hristov working Barken over with knees to the body.
Hristov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Barken in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hristov.
Hristov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hristov working Barken over with knees to the body.
Hristov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Barken is trying to break the clinch but Hristov is controlling him.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hristov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hristov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Barken has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hristov will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Barken up against the cage.
Hristov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Hristov.
Hristov connects with a knee to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Hristov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Barken in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hristov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hristov stalling.
Hristov scores with a knee to the head.
Barken takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hristov looking to throw knees to the head but Barken is blocking nicely.
Hristov will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Barken up against the cage.
Barken wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

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.
Barken being controlled against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Valentin Hristov.

Hristov darts in and clinches Barken up against the cage.
Hristov lands a knee to the body.
Hristov effectively controlling the action here.
Hristov receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Hristov lands a knee to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hristov connects with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Hristov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Hristov wants to clinch.

Hristov rushes Barken and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hristov lands a nice knee to the body.
Barken can't break the clinch.
Hristov landing knees to the body.
Hristov scores with a knee to the head.
Hristov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Barken can't break the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hristov.
Hristov lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barken wants to break free but Hristov has control.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Hristov with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hristov tries a knee to the head but Barken blocks it.
Hristov landing knees to the body.
Hristov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Barken has had enough of the clinch but Hristov keeps him there for the moment.
Hristov taking a breather.
Hristov lands a knee to the head.
Hristov misses with a knee strike.
Hristov landing knees to the head.
Hristov leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hristov looking to throw knees to the head but Barken is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hristov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hristov scores with a knee to the head.
Barken is trying to break free.
A knee to the head by Hristov.
Barken wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hristov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barken blocks it with crossed arms.
Hristov tries a knee to the head but Barken blocks it.
Hristov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hristov connects with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Hristov.
Hristov keeps control of Barken as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hristov dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hristov lands a nice knee to the body.
Hristov scores with a knee to the head.
Hristov connects with a knee to the head.
Hristov taking a breather.
Hristov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hristov tries to land a knee to the head but Barken blocks with his arms.
Barken is trying to break free.
Valentin Hristov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Barken working hard to break the clinch.
Hristov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barken's face.
Hristov misses with a knee to the head.
Hristov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Barken up against the cage.
Hristov looking to throw knees to the head but Barken is blocking nicely.

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.
Hristov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Barken wants to get back to striking at distance but Hristov won't allow it.
Hristov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hristov connects with a knee to the head.
Barken wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hristov taking a breather.
Valentin Hristov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Barken tries to break free but Hristov pushes him back against the cage.
Hristov has Barken pressed against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hristov keeps control of Barken as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valentin Hristov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hristov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valentin Hristov!