PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eli Barden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Vasyl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vasyl has chosen My Life Be Like- by GRITS as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Don Vasyl acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Barden
vs
Vasyl

191 cm
26
185 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

180 cm
31
183 lbs
16 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eli Barden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Don Vasyl!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Russell Pearce and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasyl tries to clinch but Barden moves out of range.
Barden misses the jab.
Barden avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vasyl throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vasyl tries to clinch but Barden is having none of it.
Vasyl lands with a cross.
Vasyl keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A slow jab from Vasyl misses its intended target.
Don Vasyl seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vasyl throws a combination that misses
and Barden connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barden avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vasyl is looking to clinch.
Barden misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Barden has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Vasyl clinches with his opponent.
Barden blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Barden pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vasyl tries to clinch but Barden moves out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Barden.
Vasyl's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Barden connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Vasyl scrambles back to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Barden works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barden swats away the attempt to clinch by Vasyl.
Barden fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Vasyl looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Vasyl throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barden tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Barden avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vasyl lands a nice hook to Barden's body. Barden takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Barden throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A telegraphed right hand from Barden misses the target.
Vasyl tries to clinch but Barden moves away
and Barden counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vasyl thinking.
Barden scores with a jab.
Vasyl throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Barden.
Vasyl fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vasyl throws a wild body kick that Barden sees coming a mile off.
Vasyl avoids a punch combination nicely.
Vasyl misses with a combination
letting Barden counter with a right hand.
Barden throws a leg kick but Vasyl moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barden missing with a left hand there. Vasyl was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Barden cracks Vasyl with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Vasyl will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Barden misses with a double jab.
Vasyl has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Vasyl moves into the clinch.
Barden wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Vasyl scores with a nice short uppercut.
A hook to the body from Vasyl.
Vasyl misses with a short punch on the inside.
Barden is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Vasyl lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Barden.
Vasyl lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Barden backwards.
Vasyl softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vasyl.
Vasyl goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Barden scores with a nice short uppercut.
Barden struggles to land a body shot inside as Vasyl controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasyl with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Barden's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vasyl falls off balance throwing a combination
and Barden counters with a nice uppercut.
Vasyl looks to land a combination but Barden avoids it well.
Vasyl thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Barden if he has to take too many more of those.
Vasyl lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barden circles away quickly and effectively.
Vasyl fails with an attempt to clinch.
Barden throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barden wants to land a leg kick but Vasyl is out of range.
Vasyl tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barden swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barden scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Barden bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Barden gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Vasyl.
Barden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vasyl moves away.
Vasyl dodges the punch combination from Barden.
Barden misses with a hook. Vasyl ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasyl misses with a series of wild punches.
Vasyl looks to clinch
and Barden counters with a right hand to the body.
Barden throws a leg kick which misses Vasyl's front leg but catches the back leg as Vasyl tries to avoid it.
Vasyl throws a right and a left that Barden avoids nicely.
Vasyl staying out of range there.
Vasyl misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vasyl swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A decent looking cross lands there for Barden.
Vasyl tries to clinch but Barden moves out of range.
Barden throws a nice inside leg kick.
Barden keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vasyl is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vasyl tries to clinch up.
Vasyl throws a series of punches but Barden avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Don Vasyl will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Vasyl takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Vasyl takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Vasyl misses with a series of wild punches.
Vasyl scores with a body shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barden.
Barden lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Barden.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Vasyl, as that shot connected.
Vasyl moves to clinch but Barden breaks away
and Barden counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Barden cracks Vasyl with a right hand to the side of the head.
Barden lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vasyl darts in trying to clinch
letting Barden counter with a right hand.
Vasyl showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barden.
Barden swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasyl tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Barden counters with an inside leg kick.
Vasyl is looking to clinch but Barden is avoiding it.
Vasyl doesn't manage to clinch there - Barden circles away.
Vasyl doesn't manage to clinch there - Barden circles away.
Vasyl tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Barden manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Vasyl tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vasyl uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Barden.
Barden staying out of range there.
Vasyl takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Vasyl fails to land with a series of punches.
Vasyl throws a head kick that misses.
Barden throws a leg kick but Vasyl sees it coming and checks it nicely.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Barden misses with a looping left.
Vasyl wants to clinch but Barden slips to the side
and Barden counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Barden circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barden uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vasyl.
Vasyl tries to close the distance and clinch but Barden swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barden throws a low kick but Vasyl moves out of range easily.
Vasyl's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Vasyl throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vasyl is breathing heavily.
Barden is looking to slow Vasyl down with leg kicks.
Vasyl uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Barden has time to react.
Vasyl fails with an attempt to clinch.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Barden, as that shot connected.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barden throws a leg kick which misses Vasyl's front leg but catches the back leg as Vasyl tries to avoid it.
Vasyl avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vasyl looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Eli Barden is winning the standup battle so far.
Vasyl swinging wildly here.
Barden scores with a leg kick.
Vasyl takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Vasyl fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Vasyl avoids the body shot from Barden.
Vasyl takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Barden.
Barden lands a nice shot to the body.
Vasyl tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Barden jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Vasyl tries to clinch but Barden moves away
and Barden counters with a stiff right hand.
A decent looking cross lands there for Barden.
Vasyl tries to clinch there but Barden circles away.
Vasyl throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vasyl wants to clinch.
Nice straight punches there by Barden. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Barden.
Vasyl throws a nice looking combination but Barden bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barden misses with a series of wild punches.
Barden lands with a shot to the body.
Don Vasyl is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vasyl throws a head kick but Barden moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barden with a nice cross.
Barden connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Vasyl momentarily.
Vasyl wants to clinch.
Vasyl throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vasyl is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vasyl's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Vasyl duly obliges.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vasyl is looking to clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Barden.
Vasyl on the wrong end of a nice hook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barden throws a looping overhand right but Vasyl ducks down to avoid it.

Vasyl gets a clinch.
Vasyl throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Barden blocks it with crossed arms.
Vasyl misses with some punches.

Barden breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Barden dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Barden avoids the head kick by Vasyl.
Vasyl tries a head kick but it misses.
Barden steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vasyl.
Barden lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Vasyl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barden paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barden throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barden's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Vasyl connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Barden scrambles back to his feet.
Vasyl tries to clinch up but Barden circles away and keeps his distance.
Vasyl tries to clinch
and Barden cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barden lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vasyl circles away quickly and effectively.
Vasyl doesn't manage to clinch there - Barden circles away.
Vasyl throws a wild body kick that Barden sees coming a mile off.
Vasyl is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Barden circles away from the clinch attempt.
Barden misses with a straight left.
Barden misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasyl throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vasyl takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vasyl has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Barden.
Some wild striking there from Vasyl.
Vasyl tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barden swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barden moves out of range of the strikes.
Vasyl tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barden swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vasyl uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barden.
Barden looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Vasyl lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barden circles away quickly and effectively.
Barden will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Barden is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Vasyl takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Vasyl is looking to clinch.
Vasyl throws a nice looking combination but Barden bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Barden throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Barden avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasyl tries to clinch
and Barden counters with a three punch combo that has Vasyl backing up. Vasyl nods at Barden to acknowledge the strikes.
Barden avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Barden keeps the fight on the outside.
Vasyl on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Barden. Barden obviously looking to wear him down.
Vasyl on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vasyl tries to close the distance and clinch up but Barden swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Barden connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Barden lands a slapping body shot.
Vasyl takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Barden swinging wildly here.
Barden paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Vasyl uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Barden has time to react.
Barden lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Barden circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vasyl throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Barden counters with a nice low kick that buckles Vasyl's knee momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barden lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Barden paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Vasyl tries to close the distance and clinch but Barden swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Barden feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Vasyl's calf.
Vasyl tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Barden manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Vasyl takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Vasyl walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Barden feints and then cracks Vasyl's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Vasyl down.
Barden throws a quick inside leg kick.
A big left from Barden misses.
Vasyl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barden paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Barden fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vasyl manages to avoid it.
Barden connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Vasyl's hands.
Vasyl tries to clinch up but Barden circles away and keeps his distance.
Vasyl's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Vasyl duly obliges.
Vasyl is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barden misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vasyl.
Barden misses with a looping right.
Barden misses with a body shot.
Vasyl is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Barden chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Vasyl looks for the body kick but Barden saw that one coming.
Vasyl has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Barden lands with a kick to the temple. Vasyl shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Barden digs a good hook to Vasyl's body.
Vasyl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Barden paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vasyl is looking to clinch but Barden is avoiding it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barden avoids a punch combination nicely.
Barden looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barden misses with an attempted mid kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eli Barden showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Barden has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eli Barden!
Eli Barden was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.