PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Barton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Holt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Barton
vs
Holt

189 cm
25
212 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

185 cm
24
270 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Springfield HW Nutrition
Springfield HW Nutrition

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 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack Barton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manny Holt!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holt fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Barton scores with a nice body kick.
Barton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Holt throws out the jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Holt. Barton does a little dance to reset his feet.
Holt misses with a low kick as Barton jumps back.
Holt avoids the head kick by Barton.
Holt avoids the head kick by Barton.
Holt misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barton.
Holt blocks a head kick by Barton.
Barton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Holt sprawls well. Holt wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Barton gets slowly back to his feet.
A shot to the liver by Barton. Beautiful body shot.

Barton fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Holt to the ground. Barton is now in Holt's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Holt keeping full guard, as Barton tries to pass.
Barton postures up in Holt's guard and throws a big left but Holt blocks it.
Holt avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Barton throws an elbow that misses. Holt uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Barton's guard. Nice move by Holt!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Holt accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barton bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Holt's guard.
Barton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Barton works over Holt with some ground and pound from guard.
Barton stopping the sweep attempt from Holt.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barton's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barton keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Holt's head.
Barton distracts Holt with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Holt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holt has momentary wrist control but Barton slips an elbow through the middle.
Barton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barton throwing strikes from guard but Holt blocks nicely.
Barton wants to control from the top but Holt keeps moving.
Barton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Holt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Barton lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Barton with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barton trying to control but Holt is working from the bottom.
Holt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holt controls Barton momentarily but Barton frees himself.
Barton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Barton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Holt working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barton.
Barton is looking to work some ground and pound but Holt has wrist control.
Holt pulls Barton in close to prevent any damage.
Barton throws a big right hand that misses.
Barton wants to pass the guard but Holt is keeping the position.
Barton working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Holt's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holt 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.
Barton distracts Holt with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Holt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Barton with a flurry of punches that miss.
Barton pushes down on Holt's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Barton is nestled in close to Holt, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barton throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Barton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barton throwing shots but Holt is blocking nicely.
Barton throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Holt to regain full guard.
Barton chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barton shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Holt defends it nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Holt misses the target.
Barton misses with a body kick.
Barton wants to clinch.
Jack Barton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barton shoots in looking for a takedown but Holt manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Barton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Barton fails in his attempt to clinch.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Barton here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Barton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Barton throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Holt tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Barton is in Holt's guard.
Holt keeping moving, preventing Barton from controlling successfully.
Barton throws a strike but Holt rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Barton wants to sweep here but Holt controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holt looking to sit in guard and control but Barton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Holt avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Barton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Barton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Holt looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Barton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Holt works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Barton looking to sit in guard and control but Holt gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barton is pulling down on Holt's head. It's preventing any offense from Holt, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barton is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Barton lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Barton working over Holt with some ground and pound. Holt looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Holt taking some punishment here, with Barton in his half guard.
Holt makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Holt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barton throws a strike but Holt rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Holt stands up over Barton, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Barton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Holt is aware though and is defending well.
Barton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Holt.
Holt with a nice head shot there.

Barton looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Holt has picked Barton up and slammed him! Barton can't keep hold of the triangle and Holt manages to pass to side control!
Holt lands some shots froms side control.
You can see the frustration on Barton's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barton regains half guard there - taking advantage of Holt's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Barton trying to control but Holt postures up.
Holt sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Barton defending well though.
Holt lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Barton actively working from the bottom here.
Holt is stalling here. Barton is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Holt seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Barton has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Barton dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Holt is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Barton's half guard.
Holt prevents Barton from improving his position.
Barton works his way to full guard. Good work.
Barton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Holt is one step ahead there.
Barton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Holt trying to control the position from guard on top but Barton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Barton tries to strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barton has Holt pulled in close to control his posture.
Holt stopping the sweep attempt from Barton.
Barton is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Holt wants to get back to full guard.
Holt really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Barton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Holt on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Holt avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Barton.
Barton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barton throwing shots but Holt is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barton takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Barton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Holt wants to control but Barton is keeping busy.
Holt keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Holt works his way to full guard. Good work.
Barton working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Barton throwing strikes but missing.
Barton scoring with punches to the head and body.
Barton landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barton with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barton controls from within his opponent's guard.
Barton won't allow Holt to sweep him here.
Barton is looking to work some ground and pound but Holt has wrist control.
Holt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Barton throwing strikes but missing.
Barton distracts Holt with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barton is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Barton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Holt can do to turn this around?
Barton preventing the sweep.
Barton scoring with punches to the head and body.
Manny Holt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Barton throwing strikes from guard but Holt blocks nicely.
Holt avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barton works over Holt with some ground and pound from guard.
Barton with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holt looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barton is one step ahead there.
Holt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Barton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Barton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Barton has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Barton!
Jack Barton decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.